Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'

Subject: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,BeesWing
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 10:45 PM

OK...at risk of being BOOOOED outta mudcat-ville, I have come with such a request out of total desperation. I KNOW this song wasn't anything CLOSE to being traditional. I know that ...but you see, I done bin everywhere else on the web tonight and ( sobbing into tattered hankie) and,...well, I promised me mum that I would FIND out for her just who DID sing that song. She's finally realizing her dream of persueing her musical passions through senior's university classes and this is her assignment ... If no one here knows exactly WHO did record that song, maybe someone can tell me where I can go to find out? Thanks, guys. Love BeesWing

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,Luther
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:03 PM

Cher sang on the original soundtrack, in a rather cheesy '60s pop-rock arrangement. Seemed like an odd choice, it's a good tune.

I'd guess it's been recorded many times since. Why not try a search at www.cdnow.com, that may turn up more versions.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:14 PM

..from Dog World--"What is in you mouth, Alfie?"

That great folk songstress Barbara (I demand my political speech get heard if not on Baba Wawa, then on Rosie) Streisand I before E except after C or when sounding like A as in neighbor or way or if you just don't care.

John Hardly a fan

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,Beth Cornell
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:21 PM

The original singer of that song was Dionne Warwick.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:27 PM

...knew the second I hit submit that I was wrong. I'm going to bed
John

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:29 PM

was it lulu

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:46 PM

No, Maybe it was shirley bassy

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:50 PM

Obviously many people sang the song, but the big pop recording was (as beth said) by Dionne Warwick.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Seth
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 11:53 PM

Dionne Warwick had the hit. I don't know who sang it in the movie "Alfie" that Peter Sellers was in in the sixties

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: BigDaddy
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 12:26 AM

Not a Peter Sellers vehicle. Michael Caine was the cad.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 01:08 AM

I can't believe the number of screwups on this one.....LOL....Glad I'm not the only one along with Bert suffering from CRS Syndrome!!! And you too Big Daddy....I'd point out that although you correctly state it was not a Peter Seller's vehicle, Michael Caine is also NOT a Cadillac. The Peter Sellers vehicle in the "Panther" series was mainly a Citroen.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Bugsy
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 01:12 AM

OK It was recorded by Cilla Black but I think the original screen version was done by Millicent Martin of "That Was The Week That Was" fame.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Gary T
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 01:54 AM

As mentioned above, Dionne Warwick certainly had a U.S. chart hit with this song. Other recordings, such as those Bugsy suggested , may not have been played much here in the States.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Gary T
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 02:01 AM

By the way, I'm pretty sure that the name of the song is simply "Alfie". That may help in looking for a recording of it.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Helen
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:45 AM

Hi guys,

You were all partly right.

Helen

http://rhino.com/features/liners/75339lin.html

20.Alfie Cilla Black (Burt Bacharach/Hal David)

Musical Direction & Arrangement: Burt Bacharach Produced by George Martin Capitol single #5674 (8/66) * Pop #95 "If you press me for what my favorite song is, the one I'm most proud of, that just about is number one." That's what Burt Bacharach said about "Alfie" on the One Amazing Night telecast that aired on the TNT network during the first half of 1998.

The song was written for the Michael Caine film Alfie. "I saw the script of Alfie, I didn't see the film," says Hal David. "Burt was in Los Angeles and I was in New York. I called Burt, and I asked him if the script and the film were pretty much the same. He said 'yes,' so I felt comfortable working off the story in the script. I wrote a lot of the lyric and gave it to Burt."

Bacharach struggled with the music to accompany Hal's (exceptional) words. "That was a tough song," he told KCRW's Chris Douridas. "[It] took me three weeks to write." Once the song was done, Burt flew to England to record it at Abbey Road with Beatles producer George Martin and the Liverpool-bred, Brian Epstein-managed girl singer Cilla Black.

Cilla may have earned Dionne Warwick's eternal chagrin (due to Cilla's soundalike U.K. hit of "Anyone Who Had A Heart"), but Burt seemed to harbor few ill feelings as he took the singer through the paces of recording "Alfie." As seen in the BBC-TV documentary This Is Now, Burt himself played the piano, conducted the orchestra, and coached the singer simultaneously, pushing a weary Cilla for take after take. "I certainly wouldn't have done it for a Quasimodo," Cilla said in the documentary. "[I did it] because it was Burt, and he was gorgeous and so talented, and I enjoyed his company anyway."

George Martin, who produced the session, claims the British filmmakers turned down the song (!) for inclusion on the movie soundtrack. American prints of the movie later contained Cher's version of the song, produced in Sonny's shaggy pseudo-Wall of Sound style. Dionne recorded the song almost a year later with Burt in New York (the only version to become a sizable hit on the U.S. charts). "I didn't want to record it," she says. "I told them, 'How many versions do you need?'"

Like "A House Is Not A Home," "Alfie" is a genuine standard -- not just an orchestral pop classic, or a '60s oldie, or a bit of lovable kitsch. Due to Hal's brilliant lyric and an astonishingly sympathetic Bacharach melody, the song will certainly outlive us all.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 04:00 AM

Definitely Priscilla White herself - I can still hear the nasal scouse twang echoing in my ear'oles...

D the G

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 06:22 AM

Thanks Helen, but I see no mention of a Cadillac OR a Citroen.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,BeeWing
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 11:26 AM

I knew I could count on you folks. A BIG -a-thank-a-YOUS!! ...and Helen , whoever you are...You're amazing. ...and point well taken, I never realized the song was simply "ALFIE" - coulda helped me in my original search!. On behalf of Mother Beeswing, Merci.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: BigDaddy
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 12:25 PM

catspaw49, are you unfamiliar with the word "cad," as in "a cad and a bounder?" It's not in reference to the car. It refers to a "ne'er-do-well." Check your dictionary. That is, unless you're just having fun zinging me. In which case consider me chuckling. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Gary T
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 02:02 PM

BigDaddy, I believe you've been zinged. I imagine the words "vehicle" and "cad" in the same line were too much to resist.

Now just what kind of a car is a "Bounder"?

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,Bob P
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:16 PM

Just wanted to add . . .

Stevie Wonder did a breathtakingly beautiful harmonica solo version.

Strangely, though I lean toward the poetic side of folk, and Alfie's lyrics are superb, I prefer SW's wordless version.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,John in Runcorn
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 11:24 AM

Cilla Black had a hit in the UK with Alfie and Dionne Warwick recorded it as well as many other artists.

The big screen version was sung by... wait for it... none other than Cher! none of these other versions have come any where near Cilla's version.

Hope that is the info for everyone who wanted to know.

John!

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: jeffp
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 11:34 AM

Did you actually read the thread, John? If you had, you would have seen that all that information and more was placed there 6 years ago. Thanks for playing, anyway!

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 11:38 AM

I'll get yer coat...

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: open mike
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 11:43 AM

a Bounder is a fleetwood motor home
http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/bounder/
http://www.bounder.org/

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 11:54 AM

Fancy that...!

;o)

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tyke
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 01:36 PM

Millicent Martin Sang the song in the original Film Alfie. If my memory is correct. She was Married to Frankie Vaugan and she was best know, at thet time, for her songs on "That Was The Week That Was".

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,what, what, what ?
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 01:50 PM

This thread seems to be a bouncing ground for erroneous "facts" each individual is convinced are correct - so I'll throw one in too.

Wasn't Millicent Martin once married to Ronnie Carroll rather than Vaughan ?

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tyke
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 02:27 PM

If you know so much why ask us old fogies. Your lucky I didn't tell you the name of the girl I took to the pictures, The Lyric in Armley, to see Alfie. She may or may not have been married to Ronnie Carroll, Millicent I mean, who also came from Leeds but who was not at the Pictures on the same night that I went to see "Alfie" with a girl who name I can remmember but won't tell you. PS she moved to New Zeland not Millicent Martin the girl I took to the pictures. You may have notice that this has as much to do with your question as your question has to do with "Folk".

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,what, what, what ?
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 02:32 PM

LOL
and many thanks for achieving that today

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 02:35 PM

Sung regularly in the UK by Burly Chassis or something like that

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,Back Row Betty
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 02:40 PM

Oh Tyke I'm so flattered that you remember out night of passion on the Back Row of the Lyric. I'm sure you are right it was Millicent Martin who sang on the Original Sound Track. I don't remember much else after that about the film you were so hot! I can't remember Ronnie being married to Millicent Martin. He told me he was not married when I had him down the Odeon.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: fat B****rd
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 03:31 PM

And Sonny Rollins got a Grammy nomination for best sountrack music.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,harryrages
Date: 25 Nov 06 - 04:36 PM

I thought it was Cilla Black who sang it for the movie?

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 08:04 AM

The info that Helen posted six years ago was correct then, and is still correct now.

Didn't Millicent Martin play the role of one of Alfie's conquests in the film? I don't think she sang.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 08:51 AM

Yes, Cilla Black sang the theme song, although I gather in the US it was replaced by a version by Cher.

Millicent Martin did indeed play the part of one of Alfie's conquests, and although she was a singer herself, I don't think she recorded the song, at least not for the film. Yes, she was married to singer Ronnie Carroll for a while.

Is that everything or have I overlooked something?

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 10:54 AM

Some sources indicate that the the film as originally released in UK in early 1966 did not contain the song - the original soundtrack was totally instrumental by Sonny Rollins.   Later in 1966 for US Release and UK RErelease the song was added - definitely initally recorded by Cilli.   Cher subsequently recorded it later in 1966 (but I'm not sure if it was used for the US version of the film) followed by a few others, and Dionne Warwick's big hit version came in 1967.   That's the one I remember - could have sworn hers was the movie version, but my memory is clearly not what I remember it being.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 11:08 AM

In the UK, the Cilla Black version was the hit version (issued 25/03/66 according to her website. Her version was released on Capitol in the US in August 1966 (after Cher's version there) as far as I can tell, but presumably wasn't a hit there.

Movie details here: IMDB page

It does say the song didn't appear in the original film release. It also says "The Oscar nominated song, by Bacharach and David, was added for the American release, and to a British re-release." I guess these were sung by Cher and Cilla, respectively. Dionne Warwick's version was apparently not released until 1967.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:08 PM

it was Cilla Black who sang it for the films 'Alfie' starring Michael Cane in the 1960's.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tyke
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 05:27 PM

Just watched the film clip following the IMDB page. The film clip/ trailer has Millicent Martin appearing as one of Alfie's conquests at the start of the film. You will have to wait till the end of the film clip to here part of the song. I was quite willing to bow to the popular view that it was Cilia Black until I heard the voice. I don't think this was our Cilla have a listen see what you think. However from the "Facts" given on the IMDB it only gives the information that the original sound track was an instrumental one which was changed for it release in the USA and for it's re-release in the UK and who song was written by but not the name of the singer.

As the IMDB site states that visitors to the IMDB pages compile the facts listed and they are not checked by anyone. I think more research is needed and while you are doing that I'm going to send in some more facts about the film. Yes I confess it was me that sang the song "What's it All about Alfie" when it was dubbed into Chinese under my fare eastern stage name of One Hung Low. Ahh the magic of Cinema it's better than train spotting on a cold night. Who wrote wish upon a star and was it one of the Seven Dwarfs that sang it? Now what were there names?

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,TRUBRIT
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 10:13 PM

Cilla Black's is the version I was raised on.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 06:39 AM

Cilla Black indelibly!!

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Scrump
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 07:23 AM

These seem to be the facts:

The film Alfie was released in 1966. Bacharach and David wrote the eponymous theme song, which was not used in the original UK release of the film, which had an all instrumental score.

Cilla Black was the first to record the song at EMI's Abbey Road studios in London, with Burt Bacharach arranging and conducting the recording sessions. The song was issued as a Parlophone single in the UK on 25/03/66, about the time of the film's release, but was not initially in the film at all. The single was also released on Capitol in the US. Apparently Bacharach and David had been impressed with Cilla's cover of Dionne Warwick's earlier hit Anyone Who Had A Heart (Cilla's first big hit in the UK).

Cher recorded a version which was used in the US release of the film. Later UK releases of the film included Cilla Black's version.

Dionne Warwick (who was the foremost interpreter of Bacharach/David songs) recorded the song the following year, issued as a single.

Although a singer, Millicent Martin did not record the song but appeared in the film as one of Alfie's 'conquests', named 'Siddie'.

According to this, a lot of other artists have also recorded the song, including a harmonica instrumental version by Stevie Wonder, and Joss Stone who sang the song for the remake.

Now, have I missed out anything? :-)

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tootler
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 07:43 AM

Now, have I missed out anything? :-)

Probably. Even if you haven't, someone is bound to think you have or, that you have something wrong :-))

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 08:10 AM

Cilla Black sang the song over the end credits.

So it was a part of them film.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Tyke
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 03:02 PM

"WIKIPEDIA MAKES NO GUARANTEE OF VALIDITY" Sorry not me shouting it's a copy and past from Wikipedia. Which is you got your facts so it the same as the IMDB disclaimer that cannot be trusted totally. Ray Padgett was not tall enough to reach the box ticket office counter and there for would not have been allowed in to see this film when it was first released. I on the other hand sneaked in through the fire exit and locked it behind me.

I'm sure that Cilla Black will have covered this song. In an interview Cilla explained that when she started singing used to buy the copy of the American Charts. So that she could use that as a good source for her material. She went on to say that once she had recorded a particular song it was not unusual for her version to be the preferred version in both England and over the Pond. Such was the popularity of the Mersey Beat and Liverpool and Cilla. So we know who wrote the song allegedly and as the question was who recorded it (not who first recorded it).

The doubts I had about the voice of Cilla Black being used on the IMDB film clip/trailer I would say are correct. So have a listen it could well be Cher if this was the trailer used to launch the Film in the US of A. Just why are we doing Bees Wing's Daughters research which on the surface is more of a pub quiz, (do they do degrees on running a pub quiz?), is another Question? Certainly the answer to who wrote "The First Time I saw your Face" surprised me. No! That wasn't Cilla Black ether or ither! So the next question is Millicent Martin a Londoner? Question3 Who made a fortune out of a song written for and English Review around 1926 called "The Spaniard Wot Blighted my Life".

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 06 - 07:07 PM

Now you're talkin'

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,anon
Date: 18 May 07 - 06:08 AM

Joss Stone sang on the original sound track for the movie. However, there have been many remakes from various artist.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: GUEST,anon
Date: 18 May 07 - 06:16 AM

"Alfie"
(1966)
Music by Burt Bacharach
Lyrics by Hal David
Performed by Joss Stone
Produced by David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart) & Mick Jagger
Joss Stone performs courtesy of S-Curve Records/EMI Music North America

go to imdb for more information on the movie and sound track.

Subject: RE: Help: Who sang 'What's it all about Alfie?'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 May 07 - 07:01 AM

Joss Stone sang on the original sound track for the movie

According to her web site Ms Stone was born in 1987 - 20 years after Cilla Black and then Dionne Warwick recorded it. Hell of a feat singing the original...

:D