The Italian Job. Quincy Jones

Cockney criminal Charlie Croker (Michael Caine), recently released from prison forms a gang for the job of stealing a cache of gold bullion being transported through the city of Turin, Italy in an armoured security truck. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars, and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the gold, and escape. This leads to a car chase sequence through Italian streets, buildings, rivers, sewers, highways, and rooftops, which lasts for several minutes of the film.

Although it was a weird decision to hire an African-American jazz musician and composer for such an intrinsically British film, the choice of Quincy Jones proved a triumph. He provided a catchy, intrepid score, including the hit theme “On Days Like These” Just simply superb example of how good arrangement, production, soloist and back line musicianship will always surpass any digitally produced music of today. However, it must be listened to in the context of the entire album.