Blow-Up (soundtrack)

Blow-Up
Soundtrack album by Herbie Hancock and The Yardbirds
Released	1966
Recorded	Late 1966 (except #7) New York City
Genre	Lounge Surf music Rock & Roll Swing Dance Gypsy Jazz Stride and Doo-wop Psychedelic rock
Length	33:12
Label	MGM SE-4447
Producer	James Austin, Julie D'Angelo
Herbie Hancock chronology
Maiden Voyage (1965) Blow-Up (1966) Speak Like a Child (1967)

Professional ratings
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Allmusic	[1]

Blow-Up is a soundtrack album by Herbie Hancock featuring music composed for Michelangelo Antonioni's film Blow-Up released in 1966 on MGM Records. The album features performances by Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Newman, Phil Woods, Joe Henderson, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, and Jack DeJohnette. Although Jimmy Smith is credited with playing organ on the album some sources claim it was Paul Griffin that was present at the recording sessions.^[2]

The album also includes "Stroll On", a rewrite of Tiny Bradshaw's "Train Kept A-Rollin'", by the Yardbirds featuring Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. The liner notes to a 2000s CD release indicate that Hancock first recorded his score in London with British musicians, but rejected the results and re-recorded the music in New York with American jazz musicians.^[3] The bassline to "Bring Down the Birds" was sampled by Deee-Lite for their 1990 single "Groove is in the Heart."^[2]

A mono mix of this album (MGM E4447ST) features slightly longer versions of several songs. The CD of this soundtrack currently in print includes along with Hancock's material, two Lovin' Spoonful songs recorded by British musicians which are used as incidental music in the film and two songs recorded by British rock act Tomorrow which were originally intended for use in the film. This CD also features an alternate take of "Bring Down the Birds."

Track listing

1. "Main Title from Blow Up" - 1:41
2. "Verushka (Part 1)" - 2:47
3. "Verushka (Part 2)" - 2:15
4. "The Naked Camera" - 3:27
5. "Bring Down the Birds" - 1:55
6. "Jane's Theme" - 5:02
7. "Stroll On" (Yardbirds) - 2:49
8. "The Thief" - 3:17
9. "The Kiss" - 4:17
10. "Curiosity" - 1:35
11. "Thomas Studies Photos" - 1:17
12. "The Bed" - 2:39
13. "End Title Blow Up" - 0:52

All compositions by Herbie Hancock except as indicated

Personnel

• Herbie Hancock: piano, melodica
• Freddie Hubbard: trumpet
• Joe Newman: trumpet
• Phil Woods: alto sax
• Joe Henderson: tenor sax
• Jimmy Smith: organ
• possibly Paul Griffin: organ
• Jim Hall: guitar
• Ron Carter: bass
• Jack DeJohnette: drums

Except track 7 performed by the Yardbirds

• Jeff Beck: guitar
• Jimmy Page: guitar
• Keith Relf: harmonica, vocals
• Jim McCarty: drums
• Chris Dreja: bass

References