''The Italian Job'' is the soundtrack to the 1969 film which was composed and arranged by

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...

and released on the

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

label. The lyrics to "

On Days Like These "On Days Like These" is a pop ballad by English singer Matt Monro. It was composed by Quincy Jones, written by Don Black, and produced by George Martin. It was first released on Quincy Jones' soundtrack album ''The Italian Job'' by Paramount Rec ...

" and "Getta Bloomin' Move On! (The Self Preservation Society)" were written by Don Black. "Getta Bloomin' Move On! (The Self Preservation Society)" was the closing theme of the film and was performed by members of the cast; the lyrics feature

Cockney rhyming slang Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. It is especially prevalent among Cockneys in England, and was first used in the early 19th century in the East End of London; hence its alternative name, Cockney rhymin ...

. Many incidental themes are based on English patriotic songs, such as "

Rule, Britannia! "Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the 1740 poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in the same year. It is most strongly associated with the Royal Navy, but is also used by the ...

", "

The British Grenadiers "The British Grenadiers" is a traditional marching song of British, Australian and Canadian military units whose badge of identification features a grenade, the tune of which dates from the 17th century. It is the Regimental Quick March of the R ...

" and "

God Save the Queen "God Save the King" is the national and/or royal anthem of the United Kingdom, most of the Commonwealth realms, their territories, and the British Crown Dependencies. The author of the tune is unknown and it may originate in plainchant, bu ...

Reception

The Vinyl Factory The Vinyl Factory is a large music company based in London, United Kingdom. It includes a record label, vinyl pressing plant, and a venue space. It also publishes ''Fact'' magazine and owns Phonica Records store. Overview The Vinyl Factory be ...

opined, "It may seem like a hodgepodge of quirky film cues, baroque harpsichord bits and lounge (Matt Monro’s silky turn on ‘On Days Like These’), but this album is really a brilliant mash-up of styles ... There is samba, there is country, there is harpsichord, there are a bunch of blokes shouting in cockney; it’s the sounds of the Swinging ‘60s in a 29-minute nutshell".

Track listing

All music composed by

except otherwise indicated # "

" ( Don Black,

) – 3:40 # "Something's Cookin'" – 2:30 # "Hello Mrs. Beckerman!" – 1:02 # "

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

and Mr. Bridger – If You Please" – 2:00 # "Trouble for Charlie" – 1:47 # "On Days Like These" – 3:09 # "It's Caper Time (The Self Preservation Society)" – 3:13 # "Meanwhile, Back In the Mafia" – 1:23 # "Smell That Gold!" – 1:32 # "

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fol ...

and All That Jazz" (

Traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

; arr Jones) – 2:06 # "On Days Like These" – 1:14 # "Getta Bloomin' Move On! (The Self Preservation Society)" (Black, Jones) – 3:56

Personnel

*Unidentified orchestra

arranged In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchest ...

and conducted by Quincy Jones *

Gil Bernal Gil Bernal (1931–2011) was a singer and a session musician. His saxophone can be heard on recordings such as " Searchin'" by The Coasters. In the 1950s he played on Duane Eddy's 1958 album ''Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel''. In later years, ...

− vocals (track 10) *

Matt Monro Matt Monro (born Terence Edward Parsons, 1 December 1930 – 7 February 1985) was an English singer. Known as "The Man with the Golden Voice", he performed internationally during his 30-year career. AllMusic has described Monro as "one of the m ...

– vocals on "

" *

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

et al – vocals on "Getta Bloomin' Move On! (The Self Preservation Society)" * Peter King – saxophone *Christopher Whorf – art direction *

Duffy Power Duffy Power (born Raymond Leslie Howard; 9 September 1941 – 19 February 2014) was an English blues and rock and roll singer, who achieved some success in the 1960s and continued to perform and record intermittently later. Career Ray Howard w ...

Liner from Duffy Power "Leapers and Sleapers", 2002 RPM compilation – harmonica

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Italian Job 1969 soundtrack albums ABC Records soundtracks Albums arranged by Quincy Jones Albums conducted by Quincy Jones Comedy film soundtracks Quincy Jones soundtracks Crime film soundtracks