Alfie is a song with music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David, written in 1966 to promote the film Alfie, starring Michael Caine. Paramount wanted a British singer, and Sandie Shaw declined the song, which went to Cilla Black. Her recording was made in autumn 1965 at Abbey Road Studio One, produced by George Martin, with Bacharach arranging, playing piano and conducting a 48-piece orchestra, and The Breakaways singing backing vocals. Released in the UK in January 1966, the single reached No. 9 on the UK chart in May that year, while in the US it reached No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The film used Cher's version on its US soundtrack. Dionne Warwick's version, released in March 1967, reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and she performed it at the 39th Academy Awards. In 2008 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Stevie Wonder released an instrumental harmonica version in 1968 under the pseudonym Eivets Rednow. Other notable versions include those by Carmen McRae, Joanie Sommers, Barbra Streisand (1969), Sarah Vaughan, Olivia Newton-John, Fujii Kaze and Cynthia Erivo. The song is classed as pop, vocal jazz and easy listening.
