Burt Bacharach has broken form by writing his first ever lyrics in a career that spans almost 50 years.

The composer's latest album, At This Time, contains a number of political songs described as being "very personal" to him.

Bacharach has won six Grammys, three Oscars, and has risen to chart success with more than 50 hits, including "Make It Easy On Yourself" and "What the World Needs Now is Love."

He points out that he has never been a political person previous to this, saying that he felt it necessary to write about what he felt about the Iraq War as "I couldn't have somebody else write these lyrics."

Bacharach calls his latest album "streety," although with guest vocals from Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and drum loops from Dr Dre, it seems more like an intriguing mix of genres.