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This was written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It included some unusual time changes, which were according to All Music Guide "5/4, 4/4, to 7/8 and resolving on 5/8 in only eight bars. Bacharach was not aware of the shifting time changes and never bothered counting the bars, regarding seeing whether or not there were eight bars in the first section etc. He once said: "I never paid any attention to a changed time signature. I think it was Dionne who told me the turn-around bar on 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' was in 7/8. She counted it out, and I couldn't believe it. It wasn't intentional, that's just the way it came out." (From Bacharach and David (c)1978 Almo Productions)

This was Dionne Warwick's first US Top 10 single.

In the UK Cilla Black's cover, which sold over 900,000 copies, became the first UK #1 by a solo female artist since Helen Shapiro's "Walking Back To Happiness" in 1961. A former hatcheck girl at the Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Beatles used to play in the early sixties, Cilla Black went on to become the most successful female singer of the Mersey boom achieving 11 UK Top 10 hits in total. Later she became a leading TV presenter, hosting shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 3)

Burt Bacharach (from Record Collector magazine): "It's very rich, it's very emotional. It's soft, it's loud, it's explosive. It changes time signature constantly, 4/4 to 5/4, and 7/8 bar at the end of the song on the turnaround. It wasn't intentional, it was all just natural. That's the way I felt it."

Kenny Vance and The Planotones recorded this for their album Countdown To Love. Vance, who was an original member of Jay and The Americans, says of the song: "I kind of did it like you're sitting in your living room just telling somebody, that's how I interpreted that." (read more from Kenny in his Songfacts Interview)

Comments:

I actually thought it started as two thirds and then it went down to a half.
- Jon McKenzie, Sydney, Australia

This was written by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was the most complex piece of music that Bacharach has possibly ever attempted, with some truly unusual time changes such as 5/4, 4/4, to 7/8 and resolving on 5/8 in only eight bars. Bollox.... the chorus is in 6/8 ... ! how come you didn't mention that?
- Kristian, Cornwall, England

What pisses me off about all this helpful information....is that it's in need of citation! who can prove they're right then eh.... what about all the kids who are looking for information on the songs for exams etc...???/ imagine learning this song with you time sig description!!! This song is actually moving between 9/8 and 6/8 ok! The reason poor musicians find it ODD! is because Whoooo....it's got three extra beats stuck on the end of 6/8 ...well that's called 9 ... it boild my blood to think this is supposed to be clear concise information.....however....it's a bloody cut 'n' paste job from poorly researched sources...! understood!
- Kristian, Cornwall, England

This is one of the few songs written in 5/4 time, the other two most notables being the instrumental "Take 5" and "Danny Boy" ("Londonderry Air")
- Alexander, London, England

Being at the age of 58 it's hard for me to believe that Burt Bacharach is 80 and Hal David is 86. Of course this is just one of many, many songs this team wrote, one of the greatest song writing teams in history. I would love to see them get together and talk about all of there music on TV so that all of us that loves them can see them together on more time.
- Gary, Huntington, WV

Dionne Warwick once complained that Cilla Black's version was an outrageous note-for-note copy and allegedly remarked that if she had coughed in the middle of her recording. Cilla would have done the same!
- Tony, Devon, England

Anyone who had a heart was not written by Dionne Worwick! Dionne Worwick sang it, but Burt Bacharach wrote it for her to sing!
- Bob, Boone, NC

Kimberley Locke sung this on the 2nd season of American Idol
- AJ, Cleveland, GA

Gorgeous, ornate and complex tune that Dionne Warwick gives her most skilled vocal performance. Phenominal studio carftsmenship and orchestration. Anyone Who Had a Heart and Don't Make Me Over are musts for any 1960's fan.
- Vince, Phoenix, AZ

Luther Vandross covered this song as part of his album, "Always And Forever, The Classics". Very Sweet and Tender.
- Annabelle, Eugene, OR