The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Wonderful video of Burt and Cilla

oh, god. that terrible voice and she's such a musical idiot. and her remarks aren't that smart either

go for this...

Oh my god !!!... thats beautiful...best version I've ever heard !!!

God bless Dionne!!!

People seemed to be polarized about Cilla Black...They either like her or hate her...
Personally, I love this video, and I find her fascinating...

Steveo

CC-
Regardless of what our more opinionated (so much for saying nothing if you don't have anything good to say) forum-mates think of Miss Black's performance and comments about the recording of Alfie, I, for one, appreciate the time invested in finding and posting the link. I'm guessing Mr. Bacharach thought enough of her talents to give her first crack (over Miss Warwick) at the song. It was great fun to see the inside of the legendary Abbey Road Studios too. Thanks for the post.

Bonjour KeithBurke;

I could be wrong. But if I recall, Burt & Hal wanted Dionne to have 1st crack at Alfie.

Since it was a British Flick, the powers that be, wanted a British singer.

So, Cilla Black was given the song.

KeithBurke, I like many on the forum I love these gems that you put out!

Vincent-
You are absolutely correct about how Miss Black came to be the first to record the song. Interestingly enough it was Cher's version which made the American release final cut of the film. Probably few would argue Dionne's version stands the test of time and will always be the quintessential version.

KeithBurke;

In retrospect, I did see a video clip of Dionne in concert in the 80’s, where she talked about Alfie.

Dionne indicated, that there were 24 singers (maybe more) before her who sang this song, and she was the only to have a hit with it! Not surprised!

Bonjour Vincent,
Cilla's rendition peaked at no. 9 in the U.K.
while it didn't do much in the U.S. (possibly due to the lack of promotion-
Cilla's version did not appear on the american release prints of the film) Cher's version was on the track and as such it made the top 40.
Dionne recorded it the folloowing year at it peaked at no.5 in the USA.

Steveo

Bonjour steveo_1965;

Thanks for the info on when these 3 versions of Alfie charted!

P.S. What is so special about, 1965? Is it the year that you got hooked on Burt?

Hi Vincent,
Further research indicates Cher's version peaking at no.32..
while Joannie Summers had a version which peaked higher (but I don't remember than one, I'll admit)
Well, I got interested in Burt in 1968...but his music completely took over my head in MArch of 1970 when I went backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
(in Los Angeles Area) and stood listening to his magnificent orchestra...
The Steveo_1965 connotation in my nick is based on my car, a 1965 White Chevrolet Corvair....(remember those?) Been daily driving it since Oct. 1995.

Many years ago, I opined in this forum that Cher's raggedy vocals and jangling Sonny Bono production actually captured the very mid-1960s, working class spirit of the film more effectively than any other rendering and was virtually eviscerated for heresy! As I loved the film and experienced her recording for the first time in that context, I found the song to be a very moving encapsulation of the story, as tragically misogynistic Alfie and that metaphorical tramp of a dog sauntered off into the night.

I think, of all of Burt's songs, particularly from the Dionne Warwick era, this is truly a standard without definitive interpretation. Cilla Black's has her distinctly British, throbbing, although somewhat stridently phrased vocal, but Burt's original, exquisite orchestration. (I think Cilla's track toiled in the nether regions of the U.S. Hot 100 for a week or so.) Dionne Warwick's hit has the benefit of her warm, gracious delivery and range, but the arrangement feels a little 'awards show' anonymous. (As I recall, her recording missed the U.S. pop Top 10, but hit #5 on the R&B charts.) Cher's take matches the sadness and era of the film, but is delivered by way of Phil Spector and The Byrds, lacking Burt's fingerprints. (A #32 peak chart position out of the hundreds of excellent singles released in the summer of 1966 ain't so bad, either.) And then, of course, there are all the others that have ensued over the years, many of which have their own unique merits.

Here's a missed opportunity: Given that the distributors wanted a British hit to accompany the U.K. release, wouldn't it have been something if they'd engaged Dusty Springfield for the original Bacharach recording, as was done with "The Look of Love" for Casino Royale the following year? Instead of 29 or so takes, there would have been 60!

Scotsgreg,
I recall you mentioning you felt that Dionne's version was cabaretish or award showish..I don't feel that at all about her version...It's simply the best...
Perhaps the echo on the track makes you think of it that way..the record is kind of "glob" of sound in mono...but I love it.
It's a effect that a friend of mine Tim and I used to call KPOL'ish...
There used to be a Los Angeles radio station called KPOL that played a lot of MOR songs, many with echoing strings on the track ala "Mrs. Jones"(Billy Paul)

Cheers.

Steveo

Talking of Cilla, i think her version of Alife wasn't bad. BUT when
compared with Dionne's perfect version, what more could she say.

Cilla had better do songs written by Paul who isn't musically trained
Here's a rare demo version of Step Inside Love with just Paul
strumming his acoustic guitar.