Alfie [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [SOUNDTRACK]

Sonny Rollins

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 1997)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1966
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B000003N9Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,406 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Soundtracks > By Decade > 1960s

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While Sonny Rollins's saxophone solos epitomized his best free-flowing improvisational ideas, he let the story of Michael Caine's philandering character determine the mood of this 1966 soundtrack. But knowing the movie's plot is not essential to hearing how this disc is a unique part of Rollins's oeuvre. A long-standing individualist, Rollins worked with director Lewis Gilbert to devise a narrative, and then conductor Oliver Nelson wrote arrangements based on his charts. Rollins is famous for his small groups, but here he leads an 11-piece band and gives considerable space to guitarist Kenny Burrell. The collaboration embellishes Rollins's playing, which was as strong in the mid-'60s as in his more celebrated years. And "Alfie's Theme" has become an unlikely jazz standard. --Aaron Cohen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonny's only movie soundtrack, September 20, 2008

By	Dennis W. Wong - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's a pity that after listening to this soundtrack album by Sonny Rollins that he wasn't given any more movie assignments. The big band led by Oliver Nelson is a who's who of the jazz world such as J.J. Johnson, Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion, Roger Kellaway, Jerome Richardson, etc. The film itself is a classic of its period later remade in a less satisfying film with Jude Law in the lead in lieu of Michael Caine who was superb. My only complaint of the album is that it is very short, like just over 30 minutes but the music is fabulous and this score along with Herbie Hancock's "Blow-Up" demonstrated that jazz provided great music for the movies.

5.0 out of 5 stars what's it all about? sonny., May 26, 2007

By	Case Quarter (CT USA) - See all my reviews

undoubtably one of the recordings i would want with me on a desert isle or any other place of exile. the 60s, jazz orchestras as soundtracks did not do this music or any other music justice, unless it got the movieviewer to the record shop. the music on vinyl was...well, 60s orchestra, maybe dated, though i rather say fixed in time as what jazz orchestration was, and one of the most popular jazz orchestra leaders was oliver nelson. on alfie his orchestra accompanies the tenor of sonny rollins. you have to keep in mind a concerto to appreciate what's going on between rollins and the orchestra. rollins masterfully holds his own, his sound as grand as the orchestra.

i've commented much on the orchestra because if anyone has a reservation about this recording it would be about the orchestration taking space away from sonny rollins' playing. and it doesn't. sonny rollins here is just brilliant, and the compositions on the recording open a new vista to the film.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY IT FOR ALFIE.......BUT LISTEN TO, March 2, 2006

By	James E. Dollison (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I FIRST HEARD THIS "CUT" IN 1967 WHEN IT WAS ON VIYNL. I WAS ALL AGLOW OVER THE TITLE TUNE "ALFIE". DIONNE WARWICK HAD THE LYRICAL VERSION OUT AND SONNY REALLY DOES THIS TUNE JUSTICE TOO.SEEING THE MOVIES HELPS YOU TO GET A FEEL FOR THIS MUSIC. ALFIE ASK THE AGE OLD QUESTION " WHAT IS LIFE REALLY ABOUT" ? AND THE KILLER TUNE FOR THIS ALBUM REALLY IS " HE'S YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE". WHEN A GIGOLO OR ANY MAN IS TOLD THAT BY A WOMAN, HE WILL BE CRUSHED. "HE'S YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE" IS SUCH A SMOOTH BALLAD BY SONNY.
IF YOU LIKE SONNY ROLLINS, HELL YOU WILL LOVE THIS CD.