Musician Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones (better-known for his production of several Michael Jackson records, and has worked with stars such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald) was handed the task of producing the music score for The Italian Job as director Peter Collinson wanted to give the pennyless musician a chance.


Quincy Jones back in the 60's

Apparently Quincy had no job, no money and he and his wife were expecting a baby, but he was talented. So producer Michael Deeley brought Quincy and his family over to England and set then up in a flat in Marble Arch and was commissioned hired.

The production team were worried about the last few minutes of the film as the editing was a little choppy and Quincy was credited in saving the film by creating a music score that pulled it all together.

Get a Bloomin' Move On...
Highly regarded lyricist Don Black wrote the lyrics for the two vocal tracks on the score - On Days Like These and Get a Bloomin' Move On. Matt Monroe sang On Days Like These, as he was working with Don Black at the time.


Music Sheet

Get a Bloomin' Move On (or The Self-Preservation Society as it is sometimes referred to) originated from old East End tunes like My Old Man's a Dustman. Quincy had a fascination with Cockney rhyming slang, he found it very funny and apparently created it for the amusement of the production team.

For years many fans of the film believe that Michael Caine himself is performing the lyrics on the infamous track, and in the book 'The Making of The Italian Job', the author Matthew Field conducts an interview with Caine and he confirmed that he is on the track with many of the other 'lads' from the film!

Quincy Jones and Michael Caine became good friends during the production and they still keep in contact today, they even share the same birthday, March 14th 1933!

Quincy Jones went on to be a highly successful musician, working on over 1600 titles spanning five decades, for more info, visit his website: www.quincyjonesmusic.com




Listen to Get a Bloomin' Move On as it appears at the end of the film
Complete with Caine's line "Hang on a minute lads, I've gotta great idea... err.. err"
(762kb)



Getting Hold of a Copy...
Bagging a copy of The Italian Job soundtrack seemed to be getting increasingly hard, but we've discovered that it's now widely available!tracked down where you can

So if you wanna buy it on CD, go to the Merchandise section.



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Track Listing

 
1. On Days Like These
Quincy Jones - vocals Matt Monro
2. Something's Cookin'
Quincy Jones
3. Hello Mrs. Beckerman!
Quincy Jones
4. Britannia and Mr Bridger, If You Please
Quincy Jones
5. Trouble For Charlie
Quincy Jones
6. On Days Like These
Quincy Jones Sax Solo by Peter King
7. It's Caper Time
(Self Preservation Society Instrumental)
Quincy Jones
8. Meanwhile, Back In The Mafia
Quincy Jones
9. Smell The Gold!
Quincy Jones
10. Greensleeves And All That Jazz
Trad. Arr. by Quincy Jones
11. On Days Like These (Reprise)
Quincy Jones
12. Getta Bloomin' Move On!
(Self Preservation Society)
Quincy Jones - vocals Michael Caine & the lads!



The Lyrics To "Get A Bloomin' Move On"
To make the film even more English, large sections of the lyrics to "Get a Bloomin' Move On" are in Cockney rhyming slang.

We are the self-preservation society, the self preservation society

We are the self-preservation society, the self preservation society

Put on your almond rocks and daisy roots

Brush your Hampstead Heath, wear your whistle-and-flute

Lots of lah-de-dahs and Cockneys here

Look alive and get out of here

Get your skates on mate, get your skates on mate

No bib around your Gregory Peck today, hey!

Drop your plates of meat right on the seat

This is the self-preservation society, the self-preservation society (etc)

This is the self-preservation society, the self-preservation society (etc)

Cockney Translation!
Almond rocks
Daisy roots
Hampstead Heath
Whistle-and-flute
Lah-de-dahs
Gregory Peck
Plates of meat

Socks
Boots
Teeth
Suit
Posh people!
Neck
Feet



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