Sonny Rollins’ 1966 soundtrack to the hit film Alfie is set to receive a vinyl reissue courtesy of Verve’s Acoustic Sounds series.
Alfie was released in as the soundtrack to the British film of the same name. This six-cut date was arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson, featuring a mix of musicians supporting Rollins including Kenny Burrell (guitar), J.J. Johnson (trombone), and Phil Woods (alto sax), among others.
Rollins attempts to capture the textures of life through his incisive and energetic playing, his coherent improvisations and variations on musical themes. While “Alfie’s Theme” and its variants make the most lasting impression, “He’s Younger Than You” is touching, laced with regret. And the sensual, relaxed “On Impulse” has a nice sense of immediacy.
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
“What’s it all about, Alfie?” the opening line from the Hal David and Burt Bacharach song inspired by the 1966 film Alfie sums up some of the confusion and misinformation that surrounds the song, the soundtrack, and the subsequent album released by Sonny Rollins on the Impulse! label in October 1966.
The British movie starring Michael Caine, Millicent Martin, Jane Asher, and Julia Foster premiered in the UK in late March 1966 and was an immediate hit. Director Lewis Gilbert commissioned the eccentric Sonny Rollins to score the movie. There are some 11 minutes of music in the film that were recorded in London over three or four days in late October 1965.
Recorded at Twickenham Film Studios, the soundtrack features saxophonist Sonny Rollins along with some of Britain’s finest jazz musicians.
Order Alfie (Acoustic Sounds Vinyl Series).
Alfie Soundtrack Tracklist:
Side 1
Alfie’s Theme
He’s Younger Than You Are
Side 2
Street Runner With Child
Transition Theme For Minor Blues Or Little Malcolm Loves His Dad
On Impulse
Alfie’s Theme Differently