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Friday, November 5, 2010

The Versatile Henry Mancini

Flamingo

The Versatile Henry Mancini And His Orchestra
Producer: Si Waronker
Engineer: Ted Keep
Cover Design: Pate/Francis & Assoc.
Liberty Records LST-7121
1959

The Versatile Henry Mancini
An S. W. Production
Cover Design: Studio Five
Liberty Records LRP-3121
1959

From the back cover: Henry Mancini is one of the arranger-composer stalwarts at Universal-International Studios. He is best known for his background music to the Peter Gunn television series and his score for The Glenn Miller Story.

Surrounding himself with a noteworthy crew, Mr. Mancini chose as his first mate the brilliant guitarist Laurindo Almeida, literate and unique interpretations of the tropic mood. The boatswain is one of the world's top accordionists, Dominic Frontiere. His impeccable musicianship is well displayed in "Driftwood And Dreams" and "The Breeze And I." Lulu Jean Norman adds spice and warmth with her beautiful obligatos on "Flamingo" and "Moon Of Manakoora."

Bob Bain's bass guitar and Lou Maury's tasty organ stylings join Mr. Mancini to create some wonderful moods.

To those who long for balmy tropic breezes and gently swaying palms, this album is dedicated.


From Billboard: July 13, 1959: This is a new Mancini. Unlike the "Peter Gunn" jazz-oriented material for which he's best known currently, this is lush, almost ethereal music that suggests the languorous tropics. Included in the group are Dom Frontiere, accordion, the great Laurindo Almeida on guitar, Lou Maury on organ, Bob Bain on bass guitar, and the high soprano voice of Lulu Jean Norman. "Bali Hai," "Poinciana," "Return To Paradise" are samples. Splendid mood music in the relaxed setting. Mancini name will also add sale potential.

Poinciana
Bali Hai
Flamingo
The Whispering Sea
Return To Paradise
The Naked Sea
The Breeze And I
Driftwood And Dreams
Moon Of Manakoora
Sleepy Lagoon
Ebb Tide
Off Shore

3 comments:

  1. Absolutely love this album.

    It was originally called Driftwood and Dreams, and was recorded in mono. This is a stereo re-release of that album. The soprano who sings on here is the same one who sang on the orginal Star Trek theme song. You can buy a CD of The Versatile Henry Mancini from Amazon that includes the mono and stereo versions.

    ReplyDelete

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