The film What's New Pussycat marked several firsts: it was Bacharach's
first major movie score and it was Woody Allen's introduction as both actor
and screenwriter and it showed, after Peter O'Toole's more serious roles
in Becket and Lawrence of Arabia that he had a considerable
flair for comedy. O'Toole played Michael James who is instantly adored by
every beautiful woman who sees him (what a lovely problem to have). Peter
Sellers (dys)functioned as James's sexually obsessed psychiatrist who was
really more in need of help than his patient while Woody was a totally
incompetent would-be womaniser. The beauties were led by Capucine, Romy Schneider
and Paula Prentice. Such a farcical comedy cried out for a score that not
only included romantic material and Paris scene-setting stuff à la
accordians, but also music that was as anarchic as the events of this improbable
story.
Burt Bacharach cames up with the ideal mix. The CD includes the three songs
that all made the charts: husky-toned Tom Jones singing the brassy, raunchy
title song complete with raspberry-blowing trombones and "beer-stained" saloon
piano; Dionne Warwick rendering "Here I Am" more romantic yet seamed with
a somewhat sleazy accompaniment; and the frenetic up-beat "My Little Red
Book" sung by Manfred Mann. The score was liberally peppered with wacky material
to underscore the wilder slapstick moments of the film. It employed almost
everything but the kitchen sink, from polka-style oompah-pah tuba-playing
to squawking kazoos.
As usual Ryko include a ROM element as a nice reminder of the wildness of
the screenplay and the foldout booklet has the original striking poster design
and very good informative notes by David Konjoyan. Amusing and enjoyable
- mainly for fans of the film.
Reviewer
Ian Lace
OST
