Alfie -the story of a song

[Peter Greenhill]

When the film of Alfie opened in the UK in March 1966, Cilla Black's version of the Bacharach/David was released at around the same time and became a major hit. I saw the movie in May 1966 with my Dad at the Capitol, Forest Hill in South London, fully expecting to hear the song but it wasn't there.There are no opening credits and Sonny Rollins score was used over the closing credits. Also, it wasn't used as source music.

Subsequently the version of the song recorded by Cher and produced by Sonny Bono replaced the Rollins music over the end credits. Here's The final scene of Alfie walking over Waterloo Bridge with the dog and the end credits with the song:



Here's the Cilla Black recording at Studio 2 Abbey Road conducted by Burt Bacharach:



What's the true story here?.

Were Bacharach/David asked to compose the song for the movie only to have it rejected but reinstated when the it became a big hit?

Did Bacharach/David compose it as an 'inspired by' piece only to have taken on by the film company at a later date when it became a success?

Or something else?

In fact Bacharach/David were asked by Paramount to compose the song specifically for the US version which opened some months after the UK opening. Lewis Gilbert didn't like the Cilla Black version and wanted to keep Rollins score.

According to an apparently well informed reviewer at amazon uk, "Malcolm Loves His Dad", written for the scene in which Michael Caine realises his young son regards another man as his father, was incorrectly credited to Rollins by Oliver Nelson, when in fact the theme had been worked out on the soundtrack sessions by Stan Tracey. Years later Tracey tried for a settlement but to no avail. The full review giving lots of info about Rollins score can be found here:



Well the full story of the song and score for Alfie can be found in these two articles from Jazzwax:

http://www.jazzwax.com/2010/02/alfie.html

http://www.jazzwax.com/2010/02/the-maki ... JazzWax%29


Enjoy

[GehVorbei]

Black actually was only third choice. Burt and Hal naturally wanted Dionne but Paramount insisted that the film's setting demanded an English singer. Then Bacharach/David offered the song to the great Sandy Shaw who unfortunately declined and then they ended up with that musical idiot Priscilla White.