Paul McCartney original song released on Ethel & Ernest soundtrack

Decca Records is proud to be releasing the soundtrack to eagerly-anticipated new feature film Ethel & Ernest – an animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ graphic-novel tribute to his parents. Available to buy and download from today, the CD features the original score, composed by internationally renowned composer and conductor Carl Davis, alongside tracks from the 1920s to the 1970s including music from Gracie Fields, Charles Penrose, Juliette Greco, The Shadows and Dave Berry and an original song written and performed by Paul McCartney.

Based on the 1998 book by acclaimed British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs, the beautifully hand-drawn film spans 40 years and tells the true story of Raymond’s parents, Ethel and Ernest – two ordinary Londoners living through a period of extraordinary events and immense social change; from their first chance meeting in 1928, through the birth of their son Raymond in 1934, to their deaths, within months of each other, in 1971. A team of top British acting talent make up the voice cast including Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn, Luke Treadaway, Virginia McKenna, Pam Ferris, June Brown, Roger Allam and Simon Day.

Ethel & Ernest is Carl Davis’s first score for an animated feature and is performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London with a piano solo by Huw Watkins. Original recordings of songs and tunes from the 1920s through to the 1970s accompany the score, including Apple Blossom Time by Victor Silvester, The Deepest Shelter in Town by Florence Desmond, We’ll Meet Again by Jack Hylton, Singing in the Bathtub by Gracie Fields, Sous Le Ciel de Paris by Juliette Greco, Foot Tapper by the Shadows and Little Things by Dave Berry.

In addition, two tracks in the film come from a very famous musical family. Back in the 1920s Paul McCartney's father, James McCartney, wrote a tune called Walking in the Park with Eloise when he was leader of the Jim Mac's Jazz band, a version of which was recorded by Paul McCartney as The Country Hams in 1974. This has been re-arranged specially for the film by Carl Davis and performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London. In addition Paul McCartney himself has written and performed a brand new song for the film, called In The Blink Of An Eye.

Carl Davis says, “I am proud to be a member of the team that translated Raymond Briggs’ profound book into an elegant and matchless film. It is a superb achievement.”

“Ethel & Ernest spans 40 years of the 20th century, from 1928 to 1971. So when it came to weaving contemporary songs and tunes into the story we were able to choose some of the finest popular music ever recorded,” says director Roger Mainwood. “You will hear the big band sounds of the 1930s, popular romantic ballads from the war years, comic songs in the music hall tradition, right through to the pop culture of the 1960s. There are familiar classics in the mix but we also wanted audiences to be surprised by some less well known tracks.”

Produced by Lupus Films in association with Ethel & Ernest Productions, Melusine Productions and Cloth Cat Animation and supported by the BFI, BBC, Film Fund Luxembourg, Ffilm Cymru Wales and the Welsh Government, Ethel & Ernest is out in cinemas from today. The BBC will broadcast the film on TV in the UK later this year.

Tracklisting:

1. Carl Davis - Opening Titles
2. Carl Davis - London 1928
3. Jim Broadbent / Brenda Blethyn (film dialogue) - Ethel and Ernest introduce Themselves
4. Carl Davis - Walking in the Park with Eloise
5. Carl Davis - We're Going To Be Married
6. Bert Lown & His Orchestra & Elmer Feldkamp - Now You're In My Arms
7. Al Bowlly With Lew Stone & His Band - What A Little Moonlight Can Do
8. Carl Davis - Homemaking Montage
9. Ambrose & His Orchestra/Denny Dennis - Blue Skies Are Around The Corner
10. Carl Davis - The Baby
11. Carl Davis - Housekeeping
12. Joe Daniels & His Hotshots - Tea for Two
13. Carl Davis - Paddington
14. Florence Desmond - The Deepest Shelter in Town
15. Ivor Kirchin & His Band - Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree
16. Jack Hylton - We'll Meet Again
17. Carl Davis - Blitzkrieg
18. Carl Davis - Dorset - A Visit
19. Gracie Fields - Singing In The Bathtub
20. Gracie Fields - A Perfect Day
21. City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Stagecoach Theme
22. Carl Davis - Grammar School
23. Carl Davis - A Clever Boy
24. Charles Jolly Penrose - The Laughing Policeman
25. Tommy Reilly & Jack Warner - An Ordinary Copper
26. Charles Williams - The Young Ballerina
27. Juliette Greco - Sous Le Ciel de Paris
28. The Shadows - Foot Tapper
29. Dave Berry - Little Things
30. Rupert’s People - Reflections of Charlie Brown
31. Carl Davis - Tea For Two Reprise
32. Carl Davis - She's Gone
33. Carl Davis - Pear Tree
34. Paul McCartney - In The Blink Of An Eye