HENRY MANCINI - The Classic Soundtrack Collection
One Records: 59801
Personnel: Henry Mancini and his Orchestra featuring Conrad Gozzo, Pete Candoli, Frank Beach, Graham Young, Vince DeRosa, Sinclair Lott, John Grass, Dick Nash, Ted Nash, Harry Klee et al.
Williams. Silvestri. Goldsmith. Elfman. The list of legends from the world of film composition contains many titans that define the soundtracks to our lives. One name that stands out among them is Henry Mancini. Few composers have had such an effect on the pop culture landscape as the legendary American composer. One of my earliest musical memories is hearing a full orchestra playing the theme from the Pink Panther which is perhaps Mancini’s most famous tune. So it was with great excitement I approached the latest Mancini release from One Records. Essential Henry Mancini, a 3 disc deluxe set, offers a perfect introduction to one of the twentieth century’s greatest composers.
The three discs are split into three separate categories. Disc one presents us with The Jazz Sides a collection of original Mancini compositions and a selection of classic standards. Mancini is joined by the likes of Ted Nash, Ronnie Lang and Dick Nash on twenty tracks. It’s hard to pick a favourite from such a fantastic selection of tracks from classic Mancini albums Combo, The Blues and the Beat, and The Mancini Touch. Personally the stand out track for me is Sing, Sing, Sing which is a real toe tapper.
The second disc is subtitled Film & TV Songs and is the disc I was most excited about as an amateur film buff. This disc presents the listener with a selection of pieces from the silver and small screen. Peter Gunn is well provided for on this disc and as always it’s always great to hear the phenomenal Peter Gunn theme. Other standouts on this disc include Baby Elephant Walk which will be a familiar tune to most. Mancini’s work on Hatari, Mr Lucky, Touch of Evil, Experiment in Terror and High Time comprise the remainder of the disc but I can’t help being a bit disappointed I wasn’t able to jive along to the Pink Panther Theme with this release.
The third and final disc is a real treat for fans of classic film as we are presented with the soundtrack to one of most famous movies in cinema history, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in its entirety. The obvious jewel in the crown on this release is Moon River a song the world has fallen in love with. It appears on this release no fewer than ten times including a rather lovely version sung by the delightful Audrey Hepburn. This is bound to appeal to fans of the film and to fans of music in general. Moon River alone makes this a five star release and pepper it with a bit of cha cha cha and you’ve got the perfect easy listening album.
The set itself is very well put together featuring a sixteen page booklet featuring a very brief interview segment with the great man himself and an essay by Arnold Jason that will appeal to the true aficionado. Splitting the discs into the three separate segments also allows the listener to find the Mancini they’ll enjoy the most. This may not be a release for those who only have ears for classic jazz but for film fans this collection is a real treat.
One Records: 59801
Personnel: Henry Mancini and his Orchestra featuring Conrad Gozzo, Pete Candoli, Frank Beach, Graham Young, Vince DeRosa, Sinclair Lott, John Grass, Dick Nash, Ted Nash, Harry Klee et al.
Williams. Silvestri. Goldsmith. Elfman. The list of legends from the world of film composition contains many titans that define the soundtracks to our lives. One name that stands out among them is Henry Mancini. Few composers have had such an effect on the pop culture landscape as the legendary American composer. One of my earliest musical memories is hearing a full orchestra playing the theme from the Pink Panther which is perhaps Mancini’s most famous tune. So it was with great excitement I approached the latest Mancini release from One Records. Essential Henry Mancini, a 3 disc deluxe set, offers a perfect introduction to one of the twentieth century’s greatest composers.
The three discs are split into three separate categories. Disc one presents us with The Jazz Sides a collection of original Mancini compositions and a selection of classic standards. Mancini is joined by the likes of Ted Nash, Ronnie Lang and Dick Nash on twenty tracks. It’s hard to pick a favourite from such a fantastic selection of tracks from classic Mancini albums Combo, The Blues and the Beat, and The Mancini Touch. Personally the stand out track for me is Sing, Sing, Sing which is a real toe tapper.
The second disc is subtitled Film & TV Songs and is the disc I was most excited about as an amateur film buff. This disc presents the listener with a selection of pieces from the silver and small screen. Peter Gunn is well provided for on this disc and as always it’s always great to hear the phenomenal Peter Gunn theme. Other standouts on this disc include Baby Elephant Walk which will be a familiar tune to most. Mancini’s work on Hatari, Mr Lucky, Touch of Evil, Experiment in Terror and High Time comprise the remainder of the disc but I can’t help being a bit disappointed I wasn’t able to jive along to the Pink Panther Theme with this release.
The third and final disc is a real treat for fans of classic film as we are presented with the soundtrack to one of most famous movies in cinema history, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in its entirety. The obvious jewel in the crown on this release is Moon River a song the world has fallen in love with. It appears on this release no fewer than ten times including a rather lovely version sung by the delightful Audrey Hepburn. This is bound to appeal to fans of the film and to fans of music in general. Moon River alone makes this a five star release and pepper it with a bit of cha cha cha and you’ve got the perfect easy listening album.
The set itself is very well put together featuring a sixteen page booklet featuring a very brief interview segment with the great man himself and an essay by Arnold Jason that will appeal to the true aficionado. Splitting the discs into the three separate segments also allows the listener to find the Mancini they’ll enjoy the most. This may not be a release for those who only have ears for classic jazz but for film fans this collection is a real treat.
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Reviewed by Ben Calverley
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