I remember this film extract on TV very well. Cilla says how hard it was because the range of the voice required was so great. Bacharach really worked on recording her singing his and Hal David's songs - he said over 28-29 days. In the film you see George Martin the great producer watching too. Historic film clip indeed. RIP Burt Bacharach aged 94 - today 9 February 2023. Sad that Cilla Black left us so long ago now.
I'm happy to see this has surfaced on TH-cam again, though it's just the introduction an eventual video showing an entire recording studio take of "Alfie," which was once posted on TH-cam, but removed by the copyright holders. When I first saw that a few years ago I was mesmerized. I'm of the opinion that, for a variety of reasons, it was one of the greatest moments in the history of popular music recording. That amazing song, with one of the most beautiful melodies in popular music, was rendered in an extraordinary performance. I was so moved by this that I asked anyone, anywhere, where I might obtain a video on any medium possible. Luckily (and quite surprisingly), a man in the UK made a DVD of this entire BBC program and sent it to me in NTSC format. It's one of my most treasured items in my video collection. This is simply superb.
I have no idea why Burt came down so hard on Cilla during the recording session for this classic song, since he treated Warwick with kid gloves in the studio and-for my money-Cilla Black could sing circles around Dionne Warwick any day of the week.
É simples: dionne foi a primeira voz para burt, escolhida a dedo e o envolvimento deles era enorme pois dionne praticamente gravou o auge de suas músicas. Havia entre ele - incluindo Hal David - uma intimidade que ele não tinha com Cilla; a outra questão, já mencionada por Bacharach em outras ocasiões, é que a voz de Cilla era muito "estridente", o que dificultava a ele e a seu arranjo, ajustes na orquestração.
The songs that Burt wrote with his co-writers, demands a lot from the singer. Alfie is one of those, a specially with demanding Burt who is in charge here! But Alfie is an iconic song
Fabulous....now realize...Cilla was an untrained vocalist....THAT is totally out of bounds.....SO many people practice for YEARS to get 1/10 of her vocal quality... man...how can some one produce such an incredible sound like that without training?
Both Burt Bacharach and George Martin recorded purely orchestral versions of 'Alfie' which are definitely worth checking out. However, the George Martin track is sadly not on TH-cam.
I think the orchestration by George Martin is so much better than the American version with Dionne Warwick....of course, this is Abbey Road and it is George Martin.....
The orchestration for this recording was by Burt Bacharach. Cilla Black would only record the song if Bacharach agreed to write the orchestration and come over to London for the session to conduct the orchestra and play the piano, and to her amazement he agreed! Both Cilla Black and Burt Bacharach have confirmed this version of the events in their respective autobiographies and several times in interviews. Bacharach went onto to write a slightly altered orchestration for the Dionne Warwick recording a year later and a drastically different arrangement for his own instrumental take on the tune for his 'Reach Out' album.
You really wouldn’t know she met all the music greats in her day then to see her on Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. Her version was good, but there was a lot of politics who sand Alfie for the US market, Australian and etc etc, so we ended up with Cher as she was signed up with the film company of whatever. I prefer Dionne Warwick’s one but they are all great tbh.
You have to know that the session is a live recording where everyone plays at the same time. That's old school stuff. Nowadays you can record per line if you want. During those days if you make a mistake you have to start all over again until you get it perfectly. Burt is conducting the orchestra. That's what all the hand waving was about. He had the control the dynamics of how the orchestra played, when to play soft and when to play louder and also the cadence and timing of the orchestra's playing.
When I saw this in the miniseries CILLA I wanted to think it was exaggerated. But I had heard too much about Bacharach through the years. I had no doubt it was true. If most of the scene is true George Martin wanted to take it easier, be knew Cilla was close to breaking. But Burt wouldn’t hear of it; his song, his time, his way! Being an American, and 13 or so when the movie came out, I’d never seen it. There’s just lyrics in that song that don’t make much sense to me. They struck me as gibberish. But Cilla’s version is TOPS over Dionne Warwick’s, original or not.
Burt was a great songwriter but he seemed to have been an egomaniac. He had a terrible voice but insisted on singing his own songs. There is a duet between him and Barbara Streisand which is ruined by Burt's contribution. Streisand is a wonderful singer and I just wanted to hear her sing. I don't understand why he was so tough on singers like Cilla because he could not carry a tune.
@@daviddixon1011 Both she and her husband, highly unpleasant people, very well documented and described by many many people. Cilla destroyed her TV career simply by not being a human being. Back in the days of 'Blind Date' there was a person working as a runner whom Cilla shat all over, because they were an underling. When this same person became somebody later on they refused to commission anything with Cilla in it. It didn't all that many years to happen. The lesson is to always be nice to people like Nicholas Parsons was.
@@3replybiz Destroyed her tv career!!!! Whatever you say about Cilla she continued to be a star all her life and since her death has continued to be much loved both on tv and record.It's so esay to condemn people once they are gone.Comments like yours achieve nothing.I have never read a bad word about Cilla anywhere except on good old social media.That speaks volumes.I respect your opinion but what is the point in blackening the name of someone who cannot defend themselves.?
she had a tenor range and her voice sounded more like musical Broadway very powerful voice, RIP Pricilla
Thank-you Cilla for doing us all a favour and recording this classic song. "Alfie", your rendition is the BEST.
I can’t say she was underrated, she was huge, just an amazing singer & so little ego . A true star
Her vibrato makes my heart crying, such a heavenly voice 😭😭😭
When she sang "What's it all about, when you sort it out, Alfie?" my hair about stood on end.
A magical moment in recording history.
So BEAUTIFUL it brought tears to my eyes. Magnificent song, magnificentally executed.
I remember this film extract on TV very well. Cilla says how hard it was because the range of the voice required was so great. Bacharach really worked on recording her singing his and Hal David's songs - he said over 28-29 days. In the film you see George Martin the great producer watching too. Historic film clip indeed. RIP Burt Bacharach aged 94 - today 9 February 2023. Sad that Cilla Black left us so long ago now.
An endearing, friendly person, with a heart of gold, kind, loving and educated, that was Cilla.
I'm happy to see this has surfaced on TH-cam again, though it's just the introduction an eventual video showing an entire recording studio take of "Alfie," which was once posted on TH-cam, but removed by the copyright holders. When I first saw that a few years ago I was mesmerized. I'm of the opinion that, for a variety of reasons, it was one of the greatest moments in the history of popular music recording. That amazing song, with one of the most beautiful melodies in popular music, was rendered in an extraordinary performance. I was so moved by this that I asked anyone, anywhere, where I might obtain a video on any medium possible. Luckily (and quite surprisingly), a man in the UK made a DVD of this entire BBC program and sent it to me in NTSC format. It's one of my most treasured items in my video collection. This is simply superb.
I miss that video as well.
I could not agree more, Bobbr3. She just brought a passion and expression to this song that I have not heard in any other performance of the song.
..I loved that video you mention..
@@him12672 Oh! I am quite happy to learn of that! Bravo! Thanks for posting that information. I'll look!
I have no idea why Burt came down so hard on Cilla during the recording session for this classic song, since he treated Warwick with kid gloves in the studio and-for my money-Cilla Black could sing circles around Dionne Warwick any day of the week.
É simples: dionne foi a primeira voz para burt, escolhida a dedo e o envolvimento deles era enorme pois dionne praticamente gravou o auge de suas músicas. Havia entre ele - incluindo Hal David - uma intimidade que ele não tinha com Cilla; a outra questão, já mencionada por Bacharach em outras ocasiões, é que a voz de Cilla era muito "estridente", o que dificultava a ele e a seu arranjo, ajustes na orquestração.
Thankyou you !
Rest in peace Cilla ✝️🕊️
I miss Cilla and Burt is enjoying the time he has left. What a gift the brought us!
One of the best..
So perfect for this movie
She knocked this out of the park
Pure perfection
Total class 2 very talented one offs , bravo 👏
The greatest woman singer of all time ! Bravo Cilla ! 🙂👍❤️
Not even close.
CONNIE FRANCIS recorded this too in 1968 on her DAVID/BACHARACH LP.
I agree!! 💖
Please post the whole documentary!!
imho this is her BEST song.
The songs that Burt wrote with his co-writers, demands a lot from the singer. Alfie is one of those, a specially with demanding Burt who is in charge here! But Alfie is an iconic song
i am a long time fan of Burt so i know who the lyric wrote! The late great HAL DAVID. But Thnx anyway :-)
Her voice is far from perfect but it so wonderfully soulful and heartfelt
Her voice is perfect.
this is fascinating....thank you
Burt Bacharach was a musical mensch !
I think we got the magic on take 3
Fabulous....now realize...Cilla was an untrained vocalist....THAT is totally out of bounds.....SO many people practice for YEARS to get 1/10 of her vocal quality... man...how can some one produce such an incredible sound like that without training?
And that 'clipped' northern pronunciation just makes the rendition.
In jazz few of the greats have received formal training. Instructors often impede talent rather than enhance it.
CONNIE FRANCIS DID IT ALL no training either.
She came from a generation before TV when you sang in the family room as entertainment taking turns with other family members.
R.I.P Burt Bacharach
Wow...
❤
Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with Cilla's voice....but mostly love.
Burt sings Burt is always the best. David was a genius too obviously.
But Burt playing and singing is something else.
👌❤️🇬🇧
No multitrack. All down to stereo.
This is the best version, better than Dionne and far better than Cher.
Gotta say I love Burt's instrumental version better. Much more uptempo. I do think Cilla had the best vocal though..
Sorry, Dionne Warwick is the best at singing this song.
what do you think of Connie Francis version in 1968.
I think Burt expected too much. The end result was perfect.
Both Burt Bacharach and George Martin recorded purely orchestral versions of 'Alfie' which are definitely worth checking out. However, the George Martin track is sadly not on TH-cam.
Magnificent effort by Cilla and Burt. But don't take my word for it. See the live performance here th-cam.com/video/glpIgnmKrZc/w-d-xo.html
Bacharach might have whipped Cilla hard but it was so worth it.
hahaha....so true.
I think the orchestration by George Martin is so much better than the American version with Dionne Warwick....of course, this is Abbey Road and it is George Martin.....
The orchestration for this recording was by Burt Bacharach. Cilla Black would only record the song if Bacharach agreed to write the orchestration and come over to London for the session to conduct the orchestra and play the piano, and to her amazement he agreed! Both Cilla Black and Burt Bacharach have confirmed this version of the events in their respective autobiographies and several times in interviews. Bacharach went onto to write a slightly altered orchestration for the Dionne Warwick recording a year later and a drastically different arrangement for his own instrumental take on the tune for his 'Reach Out' album.
You really wouldn’t know she met all the music greats in her day then to see her on Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. Her version was good, but there was a lot of politics who sand Alfie for the US market, Australian and etc etc, so we ended up with Cher as she was signed up with the film company of whatever. I prefer Dionne Warwick’s one but they are all great tbh.
What IS all the arm waving about? What does it actually mean?????👍👍👍😅😂💓💖💗
It is to signal to the orchestra the timing and cadence of the song. There are 40 people that have to be in synch.
You have to know that the session is a live recording where everyone plays at the same time. That's old school stuff. Nowadays you can record per line if you want. During those days if you make a mistake you have to start all over again until you get it perfectly. Burt is conducting the orchestra. That's what all the hand waving was about. He had the control the dynamics of how the orchestra played, when to play soft and when to play louder and also the cadence and timing of the orchestra's playing.
Haha! She certainly wouldn't have done it for a Quasi-modo.
When I saw this in the miniseries CILLA I wanted to think it was exaggerated. But I had heard too much about Bacharach through the years. I had no doubt it was true.
If most of the scene is true George Martin wanted to take it easier, be knew Cilla was close to breaking. But Burt wouldn’t hear of it; his song, his time, his way!
Being an American, and 13 or so when the movie came out, I’d never seen it.
There’s just lyrics in that song that don’t make much sense to me. They struck me as gibberish.
But Cilla’s version is TOPS over Dionne Warwick’s, original or not.
Singers would have done better without cigarettes in the studio.
For a quasi moto? haha
Burt was a great songwriter but he seemed to have been an egomaniac. He had a terrible voice but insisted on singing his own songs. There is a duet between him and Barbara Streisand which is ruined by Burt's contribution. Streisand is a wonderful singer and I just wanted to hear her sing. I don't understand why he was so tough on singers like Cilla because he could not carry a tune.
Voted by employees of British Airways as Most Unpleasant Celebrity. In fact, banned by BA for a time.
An urban myth simply not true this rubbish always comes courtesy of 'someone I know knows someone'
@@daviddixon1011 Both she and her husband, highly unpleasant people, very well documented and described by many many people. Cilla destroyed her TV career simply by not being a human being. Back in the days of 'Blind Date' there was a person working as a runner whom Cilla shat all over, because they were an underling. When this same person became somebody later on they refused to commission anything with Cilla in it. It didn't all that many years to happen. The lesson is to always be nice to people like Nicholas Parsons was.
@@3replybiz Destroyed her tv career!!!! Whatever you say about Cilla she continued to be a star all her life and since her death has continued to be much loved both on tv and record.It's so esay to condemn people once they are gone.Comments like yours achieve nothing.I have never read a bad word about Cilla anywhere except on good old social media.That speaks volumes.I respect your opinion but what is the point in blackening the name of someone who cannot defend themselves.?