1981 Soundtrack – Arthur

Arthur is a 1981 American comedy film written and directed by Steve Gordon. The film stars Dudley Moore as the eponymous Arthur Bach, a drunken New York City millionaire who is on the brink of an arranged marriage to a wealthy heiress, but ends up falling for a common working-class girl from Queens. It was the first and only film directed by Gordon, who died in 1982 of a heart attack at age 44.

Arthur earned nearly $96 million domestically, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1981. Its title song, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”, won the Best Original Song. Co-written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen, it was performed by Christopher Cross. Sir John Gielgud also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film was nominated for two other Academy Awards.

Tracks

Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross, Carole Bayer Sager) 3:56
2  Fool Me Again (Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager) 4:06
3  Poor Rich Boy (Burt Bacharach) 3:22
4  It’s Only Love (Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager) 2:55
5  Touch (Burt Bacharach) 3:21
6  It’s Only Love (Burt Bacharach) 2:47
7  Money (Burt Bacharach) 2:22
8  Moving Pictures (Burt Bacharach, John Phillips) 3:25
9  Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross, Carole Bayer Sager) 3:31

Media

Musicians

1 Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)

Bass David Hungate
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar Steve Lukather
Guitar Marty Walsh
Guitar Christopher Cross
Keyboards Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer Michael Boddicker
Sax Ernie Watts
Percussion Paulinho Da Costa
Vocals Christopher Cross


2 Fool Me Again

Bass Bob Glaub
Drums Rick Shlosser
Guitar Andrew Gold
Piano Tom Salsbury
Piano Andrew Gold
Sax Jim Horn
Percussion Andrew Gold
Background Vocals Andrew Gold
Vocals Nicolette Larson


3 Poor Rich Boy

Bass Joe Puerta
Drums Burleigh Drummond
Guitar David Pack
Keyboards Christopher North
Keyboards David Lewis
Percussion Royce Jones
Background Vocals Royce Jones
Vocals David Pack


4 It’s Only Love

Bass David Hungate
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar (solo) Andrew Gold
Guitar Lee Ritenour
Keyboards Burt Bacharach
Keyboards Mike Lang

Other Musicians

Flute Larry Williams
Flute John Phillips
Oboe John Phillips
Sax John Phillips
Sax Larry Williams
Trumpet Chuck Findley
Trumpet Warren Luening
Tuba Tommy Johnson
Harmonica Tommy Morgan
Background Vocals Richard Page
Background Vocals Steve George

Liner Notes

Producer – Andrew Gold (Track 2)
Producer – Burt Bacharach (Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Producer – Carole Bayer Sager (Track 4)
Producer – Michael Omartian (Track 1)
Producer – Stephen Bishop (Track 4)
Producer – Val Garay (Track 3)
Executive Producer – Stephen Paley
Arranged By (Strings) – Michael Omartian (Track 1)
Arranged By (Strings) – Nick DeCaro (Track A2)
Arranged By (Strings) – Burt Bacharach (Track A4)
Arranged By Burt Bacharach (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Engineer – Henry Lewy (Track 4), Pat McDonald (Track 4), Val Garay (Track 3)
Mastered By – Bobby Hata
Recorded By – Chet Himes (Track A1)
Recorded By – Jim Isaacson (Track A2)
Recorded By – Lee Herschberg (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Stuart Gitlin (Track 1)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Stephen McManus (Track 2)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Niko Bolas (Track 3)
Recorded By (Assistant) – Ken Deane (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Recorded at Warner Bros. Recording Studio