The Knack...and How to Get It (Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack)

by Richie Unterberger A superbly atmospheric John Barry score effectively conveyed the mood of swinging London for this 1965 film by Richard Lester . Usually playing around with variations of the haunting main theme, Barry used vivacious horns, melancholic strings, and above all a groovy jazz organ (played by Alan Haven ). A couple of the tracks don't work well in isolation: the vaudevillian "Something's Up!," and the vocal version of the main theme (not used in the film) by mediocre singer Johnny De Little . But overall, it's got a consistently captivating groove, rating as one of Barry's best scores; the Rykodisc CD reissue has extensive liner notes about the film and the soundtrack, as well as good stills from the movie.