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The Maurice Micklewhite mixtape: Michael Caine’s ultimate chilled music compilation

Thu 18 April 2024 20:45, UK

Plenty of actors have taken the plunge and recorded albums to try and display a new side of their performative arsenal, but Michael Caine was wise enough to realise that he didn’t have a musical bone in his body to speak of.

That’s one of the reasons why he never took the plunge that so many thespians have done over the years by lending his talents to a full-blown musical that allowed him to indulge in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza, but that doesn’t mean music hasn’t been an important part of his life.

Everyone needs to unwind at the end of a long day at work, whether they’re sitting behind a keyboard in an office or delivering powerhouse performances that yield two Academy Award wins for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ as part of a legendary career that spanned more than 70 years.

Thanks to his celebrity connections, though, Caine was fortunate to be able to share his ultimate chillout playlist with the world. As one does, it came about when he was dining with Elton John on the French Riviera, when the star-powered duo decided that the actor’s taste in musical relaxation was so impeccable it needed to be released as an album.

Admitting that “it was weird the way this record came about,” Caine shared that when he was sitting down with the bestselling recording artist for a nice dinner, “several of my favourite chill records were played, and I kept naming the tune or the artist, much to Elton’s surprise”. His eyes now opened to his opposite number’s encyclopaedic knowledge of all things chill, and a lightbulb went off in his head.

“He asked me how I knew about this kind of music, and I told him, and he got me a three-record deal,” Caine modestly continued. “As they say in showbusiness, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” There’s a reason why that’s such a well-known turn of phrase, and enjoying a picturesque meal with Elton before instantly being awarded a record contract encapsulates it perfectly.

The end result was Cained, an 18-track compilation of the star’s preferred relaxation songs, which he effectively branded as his own bespoke mixtape. Caine shared how “over the years I have made literally thousands of tapes,” but this one was deemed so important it demanded a wide release.

It’s the sort of thing to be put on in the background when the best option on the table is to kick back, relax, and do absolutely nothing for a while, and coming with the Caine seal of approval makes it something cinephiles all over the world have no doubt added as part of their musical rotation.