Broxton Comment-MB-007-72

SCUSI, FACCIAMO L’AMORE [LISTEN, LET’S MAKE LOVE] (1969)

Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore? – internationally released as Listen, Let’s Make Love – is an Italian romantic comedy written and directed by Vittorio Caprioli. Pierre Clémenti stars as Lallo di San Marciano, who moves from Naples to Milan after the death of his tailor father, who left him nothing other than a set of elegant dresses, Lallo is welcomed into the home of his uncle Carlo, and begins using the dresses as an excuse to get close to several of his aunt Lidia’s friends – one of whom, the beautiful Ida (Claudine Auger), becomes the first of several sexual partners.

Morricone’s score is based around two recurring themes – the title track “Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore?” and “A Lidia”, Almost every cue is a variation on one of these two themes; “Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore?” is a lilting piece of lounge jazz for flutes, guitars, and percussion, enlivened by a breathy, near-orgasmic female vocalization that one should not listen to in polite company. “A Lidia,” on the other hand, is a more strident but still romantic piece of Euro-jazz for stronger pianos, stronger percussion licks, thrusting strings, and yet more enticing vocals, making da-de-da noises with a come-hither tone of voice.

The best arrangements of “Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore?” theme include the slightly off-kilter harpsichord version in “Between the Sheets,” the heavy rock stylings in “From Bed to Worse,” the dance-like and charming “Take Me Now,” the Mendelssohn-inspired waltz version in “To the Altar and Back,” and the groovy and finger-snapping “The Big One”.

Meanwhile, the subsequent performances of “A Lidia” are almost straight reprises, although the third version does have a sort of reflective, downcast attitude that offers a different tone, and features a prominent marimba. One or two cues do break the mold – “Passion Play” and “Two Cigarettes” feature whimpering noises and shuddering vocalization parts of which border on the obscene, while “Various Troubles” is a little abstract and dissonant, featuring odd sound effects and weirdly-phrased strings

The 2001 soundtrack release of the score on the GDM label is a essentially straight reissue of the original vinyl LP, with a couple of bonus tracks; the 2015 2-CD release pairs Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore with music from one of Morricone’s 1968 scores, Ruba al Prossimo Tuo.

Track Listing: 1. Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore? – Original Single Version (1:56), 2. A Lidia – Original Single Version (3:15), 3. Between the Sheets (1:01), 4. From Bed to Worse (2:23), 5. Take Me Now (1:19), 6. Dog Up A Tree (2:24), 7. A Lidia #2 (4:33), 8. To the Altar and Back (1:32), 9. After the Party (2:32), 10. Passion Play (1:33), 11. Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore? #2 (2:01), 12. Lay Down, I Think I Love You (3:45), 13. Various Troubles (2:06), 14. Knowing the Ins and Outs (1:00), 15. A Lidia #3 (2:36), 16. Two Cigarettes (2:13), 17. The Big One (2:22), 18. Scusi, Facciamo l’Amore? #3 (2:27), 19. A Lidia – Finale (3:19). GDM Music 2028, 44 minutes 17 seconds

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