<P> Although Bacharach has cited "Alfie" as his personal favorite of his compositions, he and Hal David were not eager to write a song to promote the film Alfie (a release from Paramount Pictures, which owned Famous Music) when approached by Ed Wolpin of the Composers' Guild . David thought the title character's name pedestrian: "Writing a song about a man called' Alfie' didn't seem too exciting at the time ." </P> <P> The composers agreed to submit an "Alfie" song if they could complete it within three weeks . Bacharach, in California, was inspired by a rough cut of the film about the Cockney womanizer played by Michael Caine . Bacharach felt that: "with' Alfie' the lyric had to come first because it had to say what that movie was all about". He arranged for David--in Long Island--to receive a script of the film to enable him to compose the lyrics . David utilized one of Caine's lines, "What's it all about?", as the opening phrase . David's lyrics were then set to music by Bacharach . The original was recorded in the key of F - sharp major, but Bacharach usually plays it live in B - flat major, the same key in which Cilla Black recorded it . </P> <P> Although Bacharach and David suggested "Alfie" be recorded by Dionne Warwick, their most prolific interpreter, Paramount felt the film's setting demanded the song be recorded by a UK singer . Accordingly, Sandie Shaw, who had had a UK #1 hit with the Bacharach / David composition "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me", was initially invited to record "Alfie". When Shaw declined, the song was offered to Cilla Black, who had also had a UK #1 with a Bacharach / David number, "Anyone Who Had a Heart". </P> <P> Black was invited to record "Alfie" in a letter from Bacharach, and Black recalls him saying that the song had been written specially for her . Brian Epstein, her manager, was sent a demo of the song, originally performed by 22 - year - old Kenny Karen, with Bacharach on piano, accompanied by a string ensemble . Black reacted negatively on hearing the demo "of some fella singing' Alfie'...I actually said to Brian' I can't do this .' For a start - Alfie?? You call your dog Alfie!...(Couldn't) it be Tarquin or something like that?" </P>

Who sang the theme song in the movie alfie