New Releases

VOCALION CDLK 4356 :

SONG HITS FROM THEATRELAND (Original LP SKL 4037, 1959, STEREO)

CARNIVAL ( Original LP PS 242, 1961, STEREO)

Track Listing
SONG HITS FROM THEATRELAND
ORIGINAL LP SKL 4037 (1959) STEREO

If I Loved You (Rodgers; Hammerstein) from “Carousel”
Wunderbar (Porter) “Kiss Me Kate”
I’ve Never Been in Love Before (Loesser) “Guys and Dolls”
Bewitched (Rodgers; Hart) “Pal Joey”
I Talk to the Trees (Loewe; Lerner) “Paint Your Wagon”
Some Enchanted Evening (Rodgers; Hammerstein) “South Pacific”
Out of My Dreams (Rodgers; Hammerstein) “Oklahoma”
Stranger in Paradise (Wright; Forrest) “Kismet”
C’est Magnifique (Porter) “Can Can”
Almost Like Being in Love (Loewe; Lerner) “Brigadoon”
Hello, Young Lovers (Rodgers; Hammerstein) “The King and I”
They Say it’s Wonderful (Berlin) “Annie Get Your Gun”

THEME FROM CARNIVAL AND OTHER GREAT BROADWAY HITS
ORIGINAL LP PS 242 (1961) STEREO

Theme from “Carnival” (Merrill)
I Feel Pretty “West Side Story” (Bernstein; Sondheim)
You are Beautiful “Flower Drum Song” (Rodgers; Hammerstein)
Shall We Dance “The King and I” (Rodgers; Hammerstein)
Till There Was You “The Music Man” (Willson)
I Know About Love “Do Re Mi” (Styne; Comden; Green)
Do Re Mi “The Sound of Music” (Rodgers; Hammerstein)
Till Tomorrow “Fiorella” (Bock)
So in Love “Kiss Me Kate” (Porter)
Ascot Gavotte “My Fair Lady” (Lerner; Loewe)
My Heart Is So Full of You “The Most Happy Fella” (Loesser)

Review:
"Song Hits From Theatreland / Theme From Carnival and Other Broadway Hits" (Vocalion CDLK 4356):

If I Loved You, Wunderbar, I've Never Been In Love Before, Bewitched, I Talk To The Trees, Some Enchanted Evening, Out Of My Dreams, Stranger In Paradise, C'est Magnifique, Almost Like Being In Love, Hello Young Lovers, They Say It's Wonderful // Theme From Carnival, I Feel Pretty, You Are Beautiful, Shall We Dance, Till There Was You, I Know About Love, Do-Re-Mi, Till Tomorrow, So In Love, Ascot Gavotte, If Ever I Would Leave You, My Heart Is So Full of You (time 71:31).

This comprehensive selection of Broadway hits reveals Mantovani's

special understanding of theatreland. He spent over ten years there in

the immediate period before the formation of his large orchestra in 1951

and in the 1930s also toured extensively on the British theatre circuit.

It was not surprising, therefore, that he raided theatreland in later

years for much of his best selling material. He had a canny eye on the

American market, too, knowing that all the best theatre songs were

American. If you feel like disputing that statement, consider the array

of composers on offer in these two sparkling albums: Rodgers and

Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Frank

Loesser, Bernstein and Sondheim and a host of other well known names. It all adds up to an unforgettable collection of songs which Mantovani cleverly adapts with his special arrangements, capturing their mood and flavour in truly beautiful presentations. By revealing their emotion and warmth without using lyrics, he shows here just what a master of melody he really was.

Colin MacKenzie

VOCALION CDLK 4351 :

GYPSY (Original LP SKL 4950, 1970, STEREO)

STEREO SHOWCASE (Original LP SS1, 1959, STEREO,

with Mantovani's voice presenting each piece)

Track Listing
GYPSY SOUL
ORIGINAL LP SKL 4950 (1970) STEREO

The Heart of Budapest (Vidor)
Czardas (Monti)
Golden Earrings (Young; Livingston; Evans)
Theme from ‘Villa Rides’ from film (Jarre)
‘Carmen’: Gypsy Dance (Bizet arr Milner)
Gypsy Carnival (Krein)
The Singer Not the Song from film (Green arr Shaw)
Hejre Kati (Hubay arr Mantovani)
Gypsy Flower Girl (Mantovani)
Hora Staccato (Dinicu arr Milner)
Zapateado (Sarasate arr Milner)
Hungarian Rhapsody no.2 (Liszt arr Binge; Mantovani)

STEREO SHOWCASE
ORIGINAL LP SS1 (1959) STEREO

Mantovani: stereo demonstration and Limelight;
Theme from ‘Limelight’ from film (Chaplin)
Mantovani speaks: introduction – Village Swallows
Village Swallows (Josef Strauss arr Mantovani)
Mantovani speaks: introduction – Tammy
Tammy from film ‘Tammy and the Bachelor’ (Livingston; Evans; Skinner)
Mantovani speaks: introduction – Come Prima
Come Prima (For the First Time) (Panzeri; Taccani; Di Paola)
Greensleeves (Trad arr Binge; Mantovani)
Mantovani speaks: Greensleeves and introduction – Schön Rosmarin
Schön Rosmarin (Kreisler arr Mantovani)
Mantovani speaks: introduction – I Could Have Danced All Night
I Could Have Danced All Night from ‘My Fair Lady’ (Lerner; Loewe)
Some Enchanted Evening from ‘South Pacific’(Rodgers; Hammerstein arr Binge)
Mantovani speaks: conclusion to stereo showcase

Review:
"Gypsy Soul / Mantovani Stereo Showcase" (Vocalion CDLK 4351): The Heart Of Budapest, Czardas, Golden Earrings, Theme From Villa Rides, Carmen: Gypsy Dance, Gypsy Carnival, The Singer Not The Song, Hejre Kati, Gypsy Flower Girl, Hora Staccato, Zapateado, Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 // Mantovani stereo demonstration and Limelight, Village Swallows, Tammy, Come Prima, Greensleeves, Schon Rosmarin, I Could have Danced All Night, Some Enchanted Evening - all introduced personally by Mantovani. (time 75:49).

In his early days Mantovani frequently recorded gypsy themes, and on forming his large orchestra occasionally returned to the rich musical textures of this exotic music. Several of his own compositions in the 1950s reflected his interest in this music before finally he recorded a whole album of melodies in June 1968 associated, more or less, with the gypsy world. As well as revisiting The Heart Of Budapest, Czardas, Hejre Kati and Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, this time in sparkling new stereo versions, Monty included film themes from Villa Rides, The Singer Not The Song and Golden Earrings. Several light classics such as Zapateado, Gypsy Carnival, Hora Staccato and Zapateado and his own beautiful melody Gypsy Flower Girl add to the appeal of a superbly recorded album, undoubtedly one of Monty's best stereo productions. Its companion, the "Mantovani Stereo Showcase" is a one-off sampler album released in 1959 to cash in on the stereo revolution that was sweeping the United States.

In his own interesting way Monty talks about the instruments in his

orchestra while giving a unique stereo demonstration of Limelight, then proceeds to introduce and conduct some of his most popular pieces of the 1950s.

Colin MacKenzie

New Release from Vocalion: Incomparable Mantovani - Songs To Remember

Tracks (underlined tracks are linked to sample MP3 segments):

With these hands (Davis; Silver)
Faraway places (Kramer; Whitney)
A very precious love (Fain; Webster)
Jamaica farewell (Burgess)
Tenderly (Gross; Lawrence)
Blue star (Young; Heyman) with Edward Rubach (piano)
Gigi (Lerner; Loewe)
When I fall in love (Young; Heyman) with Mantovani (piano)
No other love (Rodgers; Hammerstein)
Vaya con Dios (Russell; James; Pepper)
Two different worlds (Wayne; Frisch)
Tonight (Bernstein; Sondheim)

I wonder who’s kissing her now (Howard; Orlob; Hough; Adams)
As time goes by (Hupfeld)
Catch a falling star (Vance; Pockriss)
Where are you (McHugh; Adamson)
(I left my heart) in San Francisco (Cross; Cory)
I’ll be seeing you (Fain; Kahal)
Yesterdays (Kern; Harbach)
Fly me to the moon (Howard)
I’ll get by (Ahlert; Turk)
September in the rain (Warren; Dubin)
Long ago (Kern; Gershwin)
More – theme from Mondo Cane (Ortolani; Oliviero; Newell)

We expect reviews on this marvelous offering soon. This is a fantastic offering of Mantovani music with some tracks that will take your breath away.

New Release Announcement:

Song Hits From Theatreland//Film Encores

1. If I Loved You (From Carousel)
2. Wunderbar (From Kiss Me Kate)
3. I've Never Been In Love Before (From Guys And Dolls)
4. Bewitched (From Pal Joey)
5. I Talk To The Trees (From Paint Your Wagon)
6. Some Enchanted Evening (From South Pacific)
7. Out Of My Dreams (From Oklahoma)
8. Stranger In Paradise (From Kismet)
9. C'Est Magnifique (From Can Can)
10. Almost Like Being In Love (From Brigadoon)
11. Hello Young Lovers (From The King And I)
12. They Say It'S Wonderful (From Annie Get Your Gun)
13. My Foolish Heart (From My Foolish Heart)
14. Unchained Melody (From Unchained)
15. Over The Rainbow (From The Wizard Of Oz)
16. Summertime In Venice (From Summertime)
17. Intermezzo (From Intermezzo)
18. Three Coins In The Fountain (From Three Coins In The Fountain)
19. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (From Love Is A Many Splendored
Thing)
20. Laura (From Laura)
21. High Noon (From High Noon)
22. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo (From Lili)
23. September Song (From Knickerbocker Holiday)
24. Theme From `Limelight' (From Limelight)
From the producer:
"Digitally re-mastered edition with 2 original complete LPs on a

single CD. "Song Hits From Theatreland" (for the first time ever on

CD) and "Film Encores" are classic gems from Mantovani's vast

discography. As the original liner notes attest, "Although his music

is acclaimed enthusiastically by audiences in Europe, Africa and

America and the sales of his recordings are among the largest in the

world, Mantovani still remains the same modest, charming personality

and one of the best-liked men in British popular music. But the

secret of Mantovani's success lies in the fact that he is a complete

musician: a gifted violinist, an inspired conductor, and a brilliant

orchestrator. A fabulously successful tour of the United States and

Canada in the autumn of 1956 saw Mantovani cover 14,000 road-miles

and play 64 concerts, ending with three at New York's famous Carnegie

Hall".

From our Dutch friend Theo Gelderblom:

I saw the announcement of the new Mantovani CD

"Song Hits From Theatreland / Film Encores". My information is, that this CD contains the MONO-versions of the LPs, as produced in 1955 (LK 4112) and 1957 (LK 420 0). The picture below is the cover of this new CD, produced by Fine & Mellow in Spain :

As you can see (above), it is a picture of the the MONO-version of Film Encores" (LK 4200, 1957)

The producer claims that "Song Hits From Theatreland" has never been released on CD. That may be true for the MONO-version, but the STEREO-version is released as LONDON 820465-2 in 1987 (see picture above) and at this moment out of print. But I am sure Vocalion will come with a release of the STEREO-version in the near future.

Vocalion released the STEREO-version of "Film Encores", produced as SKL 4002 in 1958 on Vocalion CDLK 4255. So, why should I buy the MONO-version? (Good question Theo!)

Please, check this and correct me if I am wrong.In case my information is correct, I think it is good to inform readers of your website that the new CD contains the MONO-versions.

Thank you for your submission, Theo. It is always good to hear from you.

Wes

New Release Announcement:
WALTZ ENCORES & AMERICAN WALTZES

ORIGINAL DECCA LONDON LP PS 119 (1958) STEREO
We will provide the link to Amazon.com USA as soon as they offer the CD.

Track Listing
WALTZ ENCORES ORIGINAL DECCA LONDON LP PS 119 (1958) STEREO

Charmaine (Rapee; Pollack); Wyoming (Williams); Love Makes The World Go

'Round La Ronde de L'Amour (Straus; Cochran; Ducreux);

Love, Here Is My Heart (Silesu; Ross); Lovely Lady (McHugh; Koehler); The Moulin Rouge Theme (Auric; Engvick); Greensleeves (Trad arr Binge); Lonely Ballerina (Carr; Lambrecht); The Kiss In Your Eyes Also may be called, "Suddenly"(Heuberger; Burke);

Dear Love, My Love (Friml; Hooker); I Live For You (Trenet; Eiger; Sigman);

Dream, Dream, Dream (McHugh; Parish)
American Waltzes:

The Waltz You Saved For Me (King; Flindt; Kahn); Beautiful Ohio (Earl;

MacDonald)SC; When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain (Smith; Woods; Johnson); The Sidewalks Of New York (Lawlor; Blake; arr Shaw);

Marcheta (Schertzinger)SC; The Whiffenpoof Song (Galloway; Minnigerode;

Pomeroy); Let Me Call You Sweetheart (Friedman; Whitson); Missouri Waltz (Eppel; Shannon; Logan)SC; The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi (Vernor; Stokes); Meet Me In St Louis, Louis (Mills; arr Shaw); Clementine (Montrose; arr Milner)SC;

Alice Blue Gown (Tierney; McCarthy) SC SC with The Sammes Chorus

2 LPS ON 1 CD . CDLK 4341 765387434120
To many Mantovani fans there may be no more glorious release of Monty's work than Waltz Encores/American Waltzes from Vocalion. No music style speaks Mantovani better than his waltzes and absolutely no-one in the world does a waltz better than Mantovani And His Orchestra. You will not find better performed waltzes even in Vienna. If you like Mantovani you will love this CD. This is truly a treasure from Vocalion.

The cover notes from Colin MacKenzie are an excellent source of music history and they alone are worth the price of the CD.

Vocalion's technologists continue to bring out orchestral sounds that I missed in my over fifty years of listening to Mantovani music. Congratulations Mike et al.

Wes Stillwagon

Of all the Mantovani two-in-one releases from Vocalion since the first in

2000 (by my reckoning there are 15 now), this present issue has to be right

up there with the best of them, for here are 24 glorious waltzes masterfully

directed by the maestro of the shimmering waltz, Mantovani himself. Anyone

who still needs to be reminded of the sound that brought Mantovani to world

fame in the 1950s need only listen to Waltz Encores, recorded in 1958. Yet

for many European listeners it may be a first hearing, for this album was

never issued in the UK. It was created for the American stereo market and

became a million selling disc in a very short time indeed. The contents are

drawn from the successes Mantovani had in the 1950s, Charmaine, Wyoming,

Greensleeves, The Moulin Rouge Theme, Lonely Ballerina, million sellers all,

and other waltz favourites of the time. Some of the pieces retain their

original arrangements, whereas others have been altered slightly to make

them more suitable for the concert hall. Charmaine is the best example here,

its original low string sustained introduction and faintly tinkling piano

being omitted in a new lush stereo setting. Every track is a gem, a

glittering waltz treated with the care and attention that Mantovani gave to

all of his recordings.

American Waltzes, recorded in 1962, is just as rewarding with Monty's

attention turned this time towards a collection of cherished American themes

popular with all generations for many years. Because of their perceived

homely tender nostalgia they were never considered for issue in the UK,

which was a great pity. It's only now that we Brits are in a position to

appreciate these recordings from 45 years ago, as fresh and captivating as

any Mantovani recording from the 1960s. For five of the songs the Sammes

Chorus is employed as a choral support to the orchestra. In one number, Let

Me Call You Sweetheart, a "new" 19 second introduction has been found and

restored to its rightful place; on the original LP issue it was inexplicably

omitted. This new Mantovani morsel was discovered only after Colin

MacKenzie's extensive notes had been written, and it's an unexpected late

bonus for what is truly a marvellous collection.

If you weren't able to hear these superb albums the first time around, do

not miss this opportunity. Undoubtedly, Mantovani at his very best and

highly recommended. And a big thank you to Vocalion and Mike Dutton for once

again providing us with a memorable CD issue.

Scott Raeburn.

New Release Announcement: Mantovani Golden Memories

A review to follow.

Thanks to Canadian friend, Rob for this notice

Track listing for the three CD set follows:

1. Charmaine

2. Just For A While

3. Greensleeves

4. Love Makes The World Go Round

5. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

6. Dear Love, My Love

7. Wyoming (Go To Sleep My Baby)

8. Under The Roofs Of Paris

9. For You

10. Kiss In The Dark

11. To The Land Of My Own

12. Romance

13. Indian Summer

14. Roses From The South

15. Blue Danube

16. Ramona

17. Moonlight Serenade

18. 'moulin Rouge' Theme (Where Is Your Heart)

19. Vola Columba

20. Lonely Ballerina

21. Some Enchanted Evening

22. Gypsy Love Waltz (White Dove From 'Gypsy Love')

23. Diane

24. Babette

25. Skater's Waltz

26. Midnight Waltz

27. I'm Falling Inlove With Someone

28. Sweethearts

29. Dream, Dream, Dream

30. Bewitched

31. Love's Dream After The Ball

32. Red Petticoats

33. Symphony

34. Swedish Rhapsody

35. Cara Mia (Vocal: David Whitfield)

36. Was It A Dream

37. It Happened In Monterey

38. Melba Waltz

39. We'll Gather Lilacs

40. Lovely Lady

41. Mexicali Rose

42. Love Here Is My Heart

43. Moonlight Madonna

44. Gypsy Legend

45. La Cumparsita

46. Tango Della Luna

47. Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life

48. Kiss In The Dark

49. White Christmas

New Release Announcement: The Essential Mantovani (2 CD set from Avid) A review from Colin MacKenzie is expected soon.
Order through Amazon and help support this fan website. Simply click the cover above.

From the catalog:

"Let’s go back to a time when tunes mattered and join Annunzio Paolo Mantovani as he serenades us with a host of wonderful timeless melodies.
Better known to millions as simply Mantovani , he was a global superstar in an age before rock n roll.

AVID’s latest addition in the Essential Collection series features many of the great mans finest tunes including the million seller Charmaine which introduced the world to the “tumbling” and “cascading” string effect that was to become Mantovani’s enduring trademark.

Still remembered today via a worldwide fan club (Mantovani Fan Website) it’s time to sample the delights of the man with the single name that influenced a generation of single name artists from Madonna to Prince, Sting to Bono, Cher and even our very own Morrissey!

Relax and let the music wash over you taking you to another time when melody was king."

Track Listing

CD1

1. Swedish Rhapsody

2. Candlelight

3. You Stepped Out Of A Dream

4. Blue Fantasy

5. Merry-Go-Round

6. Stradivarius

7. Gold And Silver Waltz

8. Jamaican Rumba

9. Diane

10. Greensleeves

11. Music Box Tango

12. Ramona

13. Moonlight Serenade

14. Beautiful Dreamer

15. Luxembourg Polka

16. Shadow Waltz

17. Love, Here Is My Heart

18. Lovely Lady

19. Longing

20. The Song from ‘Moulin Rouge’

21. Heart Of Paris

22. Take My Love

23. Spring In Montmartre

24. Song Of Sorrento

25. Mexicali Rose

26. It Happened In Monterey

27. Charmaine

CD2

1. Warsaw Concerto (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

2. Serenata D’Amore (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

3. The Dream Of Olwen (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

4. Dance Of The Comedians

5. Pas De Deux from ‘Giselle’

6. Dance Of The Hours - Finale

7. The Legend Of The Glass Mountain (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

8. The Story Of Three Loves (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

9. Cornish Rhapsody (featuring Rawicz & Landauer)

10. If I Loved You

11. Wunderbar

12. I’ve Never Been In Love Before

13. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

14. I Talk To The Trees

15. Some Enchanted Evening

16. Blue Danube

17. Voices Of Spring

18. Roses From The South

19. A Thousand And One Nights

20. Treasure Waltz

21. Brass Buttons

MANTOVANI TODAY

&

MUSICAL MOMENTS WITH MANTOVANI

VOCALION CDLK 4315

MANTOVANI TODAY
ORIGINAL : DECCA LP PS 572 (1970) STEREO

Midnight Cowboy (Barry)
Up, up, and away (Webb)
I’ll never fall in love again (Bacharach; David)
Blowin’ in the wind (Dylan)
Deserted shore (Mantovani)
Without love (There is nothing) (Small)
Everybody’s talkin’ (Neil)
Lemon tree (Holt)
Good morning starshine (Rado; Ragni; MacDermot)
Leaving on a jet plane (Denver)
Wand’ring star (Lerner; Loewe)
Love is all (Reed; Mason)

Order through Dutton Vocalion

MUSICAL MOMENTS WITH MANTOVANI
ORIGINAL : DECCA SKL 5817 (1974) STEREO
And I love you so (McLean)
Eye-level (Trombey)
La Chanson de Maria (Datin)
For all we know (Karlin; Wilson; James)
Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree (Levine; Brown)
It’s diff’rent now (Westlake)
Say, has anybody seen my sweet Gypsy Rose? (Levine; Brown)
Our last affair (Mantovani)
Elizabethan Serenade (Binge)
Fool (Last)
Dear father (Diamond)

Review:
With "Mantovani Today" and "Musical Moments" (CDLK 4315) we encounter two productions from 1970 and 1974 not previously heard on CD. On two copies I've encountered there is a "hiccup" where the digital information shows 22 tracks instead of 23. What has happened is that tracks 1 and 2 have become a 5-minutes-plus track 1, which only becomes obvious when you are

seeking out a particular track to play. It's a little annoying, but doesn't really detract from the listening experience, which also benefits from some informative inlay notes, which the original LPs lacked. These two albums show how Mantovani's style kept abreast of developments in the pop field while still retaining some of its best known trademarks. Skilful adaptations of three numbers made famous by Peter, Paul & Mary, and lovely renditions of "Midnight Cowboy", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and others, join a surprisingly up-tempo version of "Up, Up And Away" from ace arranger Roland Shaw. "Musical Moments" fascinates in different ways in that Monty looks again at Ronnie Binge's delightful "Elizabethan Serenade", as well as tackling two somewhat less distinguished pieces originally sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In "La Chanson De Maria" and "Dear Father" we hear a return to those lush haunting film themes that he frequently paraded in the early 1960s, and there's also a chance, too, to hear sympathetic versions of "For All We Know" and Monty's own sombre "Our Last Affair".

Scott Raeburn.
Scott Raeburn update:

In a conversation with Mike Dutton yesterday I learned that he has corrected the fault on Vocalion CDLK 4315 - Mantovani Today/Musical Moments With Mantovani. You'll recall it lay in tracks 1 and 2 Midnight Cowboy and

Up, Up And Away being combined into one track of over 5 minutes. The subsequent tracks were all out of order in respect of the numbering. The fault has been rectified now.

Just in time for Christmas

A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS

VOCALION CDLF 8122

ORIGINAL : DECCA LP SKL 4557 (1964) STEREO

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly (Trad arr Milner) SCS
Once In Royal David’s City (Gauntlett; Alexander arr Milner)SCS
Jingle Bells (Pierpoint arr Shaw)
Toy Waltz (Chaplin arr Shaw)
The Holly and the Ivy (Trad arr Milner) SCS
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings from Handel’s “Messiah” (Handel arr Milner)

Order through Dutton Vocalion

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Willis; Sears arr Milner) SCS
The Twelve Days Of Christmas (Trad arr Shaw)SCS
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Trad arr Milner)
Christmas Bells (Mantovani)
Mary’s Boy Child (Hairston) SCS
I Saw Three Ships (Trad arr Milner) SCS Accompaniment
SCS The Sammes Chorus & Singers

Review: (from the webmaster): I consider the Christmas music from Mantovani as close to what one would describe as "heavenly" as any may be. They are absolutely haunting, mesmerizing, and joyful. You will not hear the equal in any church, concert hall, or from any artist anywhere.
From Scott Raeburn:

A Song For Christmas (Vocalion CDLF 8122) makes its first CD appearance in its entirety, and about time, too. It's a key album from 1963, recorded at London's Kingsway Hall, a venue used by Decca not only for its "grander" productions but on account of its splendid organ which could be utilised for Christmas productions such as this. Although not credited, Harold Smart is the accomplished organist who "weaves in and out of Handel's melody, supported by those wonderful strings", according to Colin

MacKenzie's inlay notes. He's referring, of course, to a superb rendition of Handel's "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings" from the oratorio "Messiah". As you might expect, all the Mantovani mint-marks are here: sumptuous arrangements, a well thought out programme of selections and the listening satisfaction of a job well done. An added advantage is the presence of the Mike Sammes Singers & Chorus in some tracks, adding to the Yuletide ambience without detracting from the orchestra's importance.

There is also a briefly heard accordion on Mantovani's own lovely composition "Christmas Bells", the only tune to be recorded at the West Hampstead studios. A wonderful album issue retailed at a bargain price, it's essential listening for the festive season.

Universal Music (Owns Decca and London labels) feature Mantovani in their "20th Century Masters" collection.

Mantovani fan Ron Bell reported to us that Universal Music/Polydor have included Mantovani in their "20th Century Masters collection.

     The description here is a correction of a previous announcement.

The CD contains some favorite tracks (listed to the right), There is only one error between the listing and the actual tracks, (Who knows this could make the CD a valuable collector's item). Listing number 7 is claimed to be the Mantovani composition, "Our Last Affair" when it actually is one of Ronnie Binge's masterpiece, Elizabethan Serenade.
     Even with my amateur ability to listen for technical quality, I found the quality of the sound on this CD to equals or exceeds the quality of the re-mastered offerings currently available,
     I would love to see a review of the CD from any of our fans. Email them to the webmaster.
     The highlighted selections are linked to MP3 segments.

The printed CD covers include photos of Mantovani that I have not seen before. Nice touch, Universal. The producer credits the Discography pages of the Mantovani Fan Website as the Research Resource.
See the other CD offerings of genuine Mantovani and His Orchestra in our Catalog (and support the site operation).

1. Charmaine (Arrangement Ronnie Binge)

2. Moon River

3. Cara Mia (penned by Mantovani) (Piano - Mantovani)

4. Almost There

5. The Way You Look Tonight

6. September Song

7. Listing: Our Last Affair; actual track: Elizabethan Serenade

8. Swedish Rhapsody

9. Some Enchanted Evening

10. A Walk In The Black Forest

11. Theme From Moulin Rouge

12. Main Theme from Exodus

13. Theme from The Big Country (heard on home page opening)

14. Around the World (Trumpet solo: Stan Newsome)

15. The Londonderry Air

16. Warsaw Concerto*
      *Featuring Maryan Rawicz and Walther Landau, Pianists.

Release Announcement: Good friend and ardent Mantovani fan Theo Gelderblom from the Netherlands sends news on two other CD releases from Vocalion. They both look like winners from that fine organization: The first is Vocalion CDLK 4317 : Mantovani - All American Showcase (1959 PS165/PS166) that contains tracks that are particular favorites of mine. I have always been a fan of Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg, Rudolf Friml, and Irving Berlin. In fact Irving Berlin is my favorite composer of all time. In my opinion no composer touches the heart musically in an American style better than Irving Berlin. In Colin MacKenzie's Mantovani Biography, he quotes Irving Berlin as saying (and I paraphrase) that at last with Mantovani's arrangement and presentation, he hears his music as he intended. I don't believe there is much greater praise for the masterful work of Mantovani.

I have not listened to the CD but since I am very familiar with the original recordings, I can assure you that no other contains a set of titles better suited to settling back with a nice glass of wine and your significant other. If a fireplace is available, all the better.

Tracks:

1) Lover Come Back To Me; 2) When I Grow Too Old To Dream;

3) Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 4) The Desert Song; 5) Will You Remember (Sweetheart); 6) Serenade From "The Student Prince"; 6) Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life; 7) A Kiss in The Dark; 8) Sweethearts; 9) I'm Falling In Love With Someone; 10) Indian Summer; 11) Kiss Me Again; 12) The Girl That I Marry;13) Marie; 14) (You Forgot To) Remember; 15) Always 16) For The Very First Time; 17) What'll I Do; 18) Love Everlasting; 19) Rose Marie; 20) Only A Rose; 21) The Donkey Serenade; 22) Sympathy; 23) Indian Love Call

ALL-AMERICAN SHOWCASE (1959) Vocalion CDLK 4317. 76:28.

To order this CD simply click on the cover graphic.

From Colin MacKenzie:

In the early 1950s Mantovani made four successful mono LPs of melodies by those timeless exponents of the American popular song, Irving Berlin, Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg and Rudolf Friml, immigrants all to the land of opportunity. He returned to many of these themes in 1958 and 1959 for a stereo double album which was marketed only in America. British listeners were never given the opportunity to hear these recordings in album format.

It's certainly time to make up for this lapse, thanks to Vocalion, and what an opportunity it is to recall those marvelous Mantovani arrangements which fully reflect the sound that made him famous in America in the 1950s. And the music is equally captivating: "Lover Come Back To Me", "Will You Remember", "Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life", "Indian Summer", "Always", "What'll I Do", "Rose Marie" and "Indian Love Call", to name but a few. All the Mantovani mint marks are here, the delayed strings, the muted trumpets, the glorious lushness of the greatest light orchestra ever. The album notes briefly tell the stories of these four song-writing giants whose music, so carefully captured here by Mantovani, will last long beyond the cacophony which passes for popular music today.

AN EVENING WITH MANTOVANI (1973) / MORE MANTOVANI MAGIC (1972) Vocalion CDLK

4320. 71:02.

Both albums, recorded in Paris, using French musicians, emerged in the early 1970s and are sometimes underrated by fans, who prefer the recordings made with the English musicians in London. Hopefully, Vocalion's new pressings will restore these selections to their proper status in the Mantovani discography, as excellent examples of the maestro's later recordings. If you missed these the first time around, don't make the same mistake again! There is much to savour: from the easy flowing "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" which cleverly draws us into Mantovani's world of melody to a rousing final track, the wonderful pot-pourri of Scottish themes by Ronnie Binge, Mantovani's chief arranger between 1935 and 1952. In between, enjoy arrangements of the themes from "The Godfather" and "The Summer Knows", a subtle scoring of the Tony Bennett hit "The Good Life", Roland Shaw's careful arrangement of "With You Gone" and the lovely poignant John Barry themes "The Me I Never Knew" and "This Way Mary". Or perhaps turn to the "Fiddler On The Roof" medley, Bert Kaempfert's "Spanish Eyes" or "The Onedin Line Theme", all great favourites in their time. New and detailed inlay notes from film buff Nicholas Briggs and Mantovani biographer Colin MacKenzie complement a fine issue.

Colin MacKenzie

To order the double album, simply click on the cover graphic above .

This album contains some of my favorite later releases from Mantovani. Without a doubt my favorite tone poem is Ronnie Binge's composition A Scottish Rhapsody that is featured on this website. In my opinion there is no finer musical combination than Mantovani doing a Binge composition. Simply click on the covers to order from Amazon.uk.

Wes Stillwagon

Tracks:
1) A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening; 2) Speak Softly Love; 3)The Candy Man; 4)The Summer Knows; 5) The Good Life; 6) With You Gone; 7) Cabaret; 8) Love Theme From The Valachi Papers; 9) Upstairs, Downstairs; 10) The Me I Never Knew;

11) Amazing Grace; 12) Till; 13) Trees 14) Theme For A Western; 15) Fiddler On The Roof;16) Suite: Fiddler On The Roof - If I Were A Rich Man - Sunrise, Sunset; 17) The Onedin Line Theme; 19) Spanish Eyes; 20); Snow Frolic; 21) This Way Mary; 22) A Scottish Rhapsody.

MANTOVANI'S LAST ORIGINAL ALBUM NOW ON CD!

Vocalion Records of Watford, England, have introduced two sparkling gems in this the latest of their Mantovani two-in-one CD issues. Firstly, "The Greatest Gift Is Love", recorded in Paris in May and June 1975, appears on CD for the very first time and in its entirety (American fans received just 10 tracks on the original LP issue). Shortly afterwards, the maestro's health began to deteriorate and he retired after a lifetime in music. He began recording way back in 1925 so this album celebrates 50 years in the business.

How far he - and the recording industry - had come in those years is abundantly clear in this thoughtful collection drawn from popular tunes of the day and the occasional recall of times past, such as the sensitive rendition of "Solitude", written by the Duke Ellington team back in the early 30s, and Mantovani's own delightful "Cool Summer Evening," the last of over 100 compositions. For the record, the first was "Impromptu Serenade", back in 1928.

Even though for the most part the pieces chosen were contemporary, there is nevertheless a wistful feel to this album; it's almost as if Monty was saying goodbye to his legions of fans. I'm sure that wasn't really the intention but the likes of "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?", "Go Before You Break My Heart" and "Send In The Clowns" convey a delightfully bitter-sweet atmosphere. The album opens in the most gorgeous way with two stunning melodies, Henry Mancini's "The Greatest Gift" from the film "The Return Of The Pink Panther" and Charles Aznavour's "The Old Fashioned Way"; among other highlights Aznavour's hit "She" closes the album, and there are two lesser-known film themes from two of Mantovan's favourite composers in this genre, Charles Chaplin and John Barry.

This sumptuous collection - one of the longest ever recorded by Mantovani - is preceded by a special bonus album issued in 1962 to celebrate the arrival of two British musicals on Broadway, Lionel Bart's "Oliver!" and "Stop The World I Want To Get Off" by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. European fans were left out when the album was issued in America so its appearance now for the first time on CD should be warmly welcomed. There are many sparkling arrangements, too, most notably "Where Is Love?" and "As Long As He Needs Me" from "Oliver!", and "Someone Nice Like You" and "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" from "Stop The World".

Inlay notes, which clarify the origin of all the songs, are by Scott Raeburn with the kind assistance of film buff Nicholas Briggs. If you are a Mantovani fan, and hopefully you are, you just cannot afford to miss this great issue!

Colin MacKenzie

Major Release From The Guild

The producers of the fantastic CDs, "Mantovani - By Special Request" and "Mantovani - By Special Request, Volume 2" have announced the release of the CD "The Golden Age of Light music", two CDs. The tribute to American Composer, Richard Rodgers features selections from: PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA, MELACHRINO STRINGS Conducted by GEORGE MELACHRINO, DOLF VAN DER LINDEN AND HIS ORCHESTRA, MANTOVANI AND HIS ORCHESTRA, WALLY STOTT AND HIS ORCHESTRA, JACKIE GLEASON AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Trumpet solo: BOBBY HACKETT), KINGSWAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by STANLEY BLACK, DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA, ANDRE KOSTELANETZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA, MORTON GOULD AND HIS ORCHESTRA, Members of NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT, PHILHARMONIC-SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF NEW YORK Conducted by RICHARD RODGERS, ROBERT FARNON AND HIS ORCHESTRA, RICHARD HAYMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Harmonica solo: RICHARD HAYMAN), RON GOODWIN AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA, LOUIS LEVY AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA.

I believe that the offering may be of particular importance to Mantovani Fans since it includes selections from many wonderful Rodgers compositions from many of our favourite orchestras.

We have not located the offering on Amazon in the USA or UK but will keep checking so that you can order and support this website. Until then you can order via the Guild. It does seem amazing to me that the sample selections on their website does not include any by Mantovani and His Orchestra. We all know how much better the CD would sell if the Guild took advantage of Mantovani popularity which is much larger, as determined by continuing recording sales than any other featured orchestra, but we are Mantovani Fans here so we have a natural preference.

The selections include:

Carousel Waltz (from “Carousel”) (Richard Rodgers, arr. Percy Faith) PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA

The Blue Room (from “The Girl Friend”) (Rodgers & Hart, arr. William Hill-Bowen) MELACHRINO STRINGS Conducted by GEORGE MELACHRINO

Lover (from “Love Me Tonight”) (Rodgers, Hart) DOLF VAN DER LINDEN AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Some Enchanted Evening (from “South Pacific”) (Rodgers & Hammerstein, arr. Ronald Binge) MANTOVANI AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Song Of The High Seas (from “Victory At Sea” television series) (Richard Rodgers) WALLY STOTT AND HIS ORCHESTRA

My Funny Valentine (from “Babes In Arms”) (Rodgers, Hart)

JACKIE GLEASON AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Trumpet solo: BOBBY HACKETT)

The Lady Is A Tramp (from “Babes In Arms”) (Rodgers, Hart)

KINGSWAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by STANLEY BLACK

Falling In Love With Love (from “The Boys From Syracuse”) (Rodgers, Hart) DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Little Girl Blue (from “Jumbo”) (Rodgers, Hart) ANDRE KOSTELANETZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Surrey With The Fringe On Top (from “Oklahoma!”) (Rodgers, Hammerstein) MORTON GOULD AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Beneath The Southern Cross (from “Victory At Sea”) (Richard Rodgers, arr. Robert Russell Bennett) Members of NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT

March Of The Siamese Children (from “The King And I”) (Richard Rodgers)

PHILHARMONIC-SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF NEW YORK Conducted by RICHARD RODGERS

It’s Easy To Remember (from “Mississippi”) (Rodgers & Hart, arr. Robert Farnon)

ROBERT FARNON AND HIS ORCHESTRA Wait Till You See Her (from “By Jupiter” – aka “All’s Fair”) (Rodgers, Hart) ANDRE KOSTELANETZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA

It Might As Well Be Spring (from “State Fair”) (Rodgers, Hammerstein)

KINGSWAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by STANLEY BLACK

Down By The River (from “Mississippi”) (Rodgers & Hart, arr. Robert Farnon)

ROBERT FARNON AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Bewitched (from “Pal Joey”) (Rodgers, Hart) DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA

“Spring Is Here” – title song (Rodgers, Hart) RICHARD HAYMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Harmonica solo: RICHARD HAYMAN)

Guadalcanal March (from “Victory at Sea”) (Richard Rodgers, arr. Robert Russell Bennett) RON GOODWIN AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA

“Richard Rodgers Suite”: Dancing On The Ceiling, Johnny One Note, With A Song In My Heart The Girl Friend, There’s A Small Hotel, Thou Swell, Little Girl Blue, Mountain Greenery, Where Or When, Here In My Arms, My Heart Stood Still, The Lady Is A Tramp (Richard Rodgers)

LOUIS LEVY AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA

Richard Rodgers is one of my favourite American composers and many of the selections are also among my favourites. Many of the orchestras are also among my winners including, PERCY FAITH; JACKIE GLEASON; ANDRE KOSTELANETZ; NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Conducted by ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT; and, RON GOODWIN AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA. Rodger's "Victory At Sea" (suite) ranks among my favourites and holds the Guiness Record for the longest symphony ever, thirteen hours. Beneath The Southern Cross (from “Victory At Sea”) (Richard Rodgers) may also be heard in a Mantovani arrangement titled, "No Other Love". If you listen closely enough to Monty's presentation, you will hear some tension with the beating of a kettle drum at the end that is not usual in a love song. I believe that Mantovani was playing a tribute to the original music from Victory At Sea. The concert hall should have very comfortable seating for such a performance. Bewitched (from “Pal Joey”) (Rodgers, Hart) DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA and “Spring Is Here” – title song (Rodgers, Hart) RICHARD HAYMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Harmonica solo: RICHARD HAYMAN) are particular favourites among the selections.

Let us all bring a little Light (orchestra music) into this dreary old world. Reviews from Mantovani Fan Website fans are welcome.

Wes Stillwagon, Webmaster

Mantovani Fan Website

CDs, books and videos featured in our Catalog:

Click on title to take you to the description/order page.

MANTOVANI TODAY & MUSICAL MOMENTS WITH MANTOVANI VOCALION CDLK 4315
MANTOVANI TODAY ORIGINAL : DECCA LP PS 572 (1970) STEREO Midnight Cowboy (Barry) Up, up, and away (Webb) I’ll never fall in love again (Bacharach; David) Blowin’ in the wind (Dylan) Deserted shore (Mantovani) Without love (There is nothing) (Small) Everybody’s talkin’ (Neil) Lemon tree (Holt) Good morning starshine (Rado; Ragni; MacDermot) Leaving on a jet plane (Denver) Wand’ring star (Lerner; Loewe) Love is all (Reed; Mason) Order through Dutton Vocalion	MUSICAL MOMENTS WITH MANTOVANI ORIGINAL : DECCA SKL 5817 (1974) STEREO And I love you so (McLean) Eye-level (Trombey) La Chanson de Maria (Datin) For all we know (Karlin; Wilson; James) Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree (Levine; Brown) It’s diff’rent now (Westlake) Say, has anybody seen my sweet Gypsy Rose? (Levine; Brown) Our last affair (Mantovani) Elizabethan Serenade (Binge) Fool (Last) Dear father (Diamond)
Review: With "Mantovani Today" and "Musical Moments" (CDLK 4315) we encounter two productions from 1970 and 1974 not previously heard on CD. On two copies I've encountered there is a "hiccup" where the digital information shows 22 tracks instead of 23. What has happened is that tracks 1 and 2 have become a 5-minutes-plus track 1, which only becomes obvious when you are seeking out a particular track to play. It's a little annoying, but doesn't really detract from the listening experience, which also benefits from some informative inlay notes, which the original LPs lacked. These two albums show how Mantovani's style kept abreast of developments in the pop field while still retaining some of its best known trademarks. Skilful adaptations of three numbers made famous by Peter, Paul & Mary, and lovely renditions of "Midnight Cowboy", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and others, join a surprisingly up-tempo version of "Up, Up And Away" from ace arranger Roland Shaw. "Musical Moments" fascinates in different ways in that Monty looks again at Ronnie Binge's delightful "Elizabethan Serenade", as well as tackling two somewhat less distinguished pieces originally sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn. In "La Chanson De Maria" and "Dear Father" we hear a return to those lush haunting film themes that he frequently paraded in the early 1960s, and there's also a chance, too, to hear sympathetic versions of "For All We Know" and Monty's own sombre "Our Last Affair". Scott Raeburn. Scott Raeburn update: In a conversation with Mike Dutton yesterday I learned that he has corrected the fault on Vocalion CDLK 4315 - Mantovani Today/Musical Moments With Mantovani. You'll recall it lay in tracks 1 and 2 Midnight Cowboy and Up, Up And Away being combined into one track of over 5 minutes. The subsequent tracks were all out of order in respect of the numbering. The fault has been rectified now.

Just in time for Christmas A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS VOCALION CDLF 8122
ORIGINAL : DECCA LP SKL 4557 (1964) STEREO Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly (Trad arr Milner) SCS Once In Royal David’s City (Gauntlett; Alexander arr Milner)SCS Jingle Bells (Pierpoint arr Shaw) Toy Waltz (Chaplin arr Shaw) The Holly and the Ivy (Trad arr Milner) SCS O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings from Handel’s “Messiah” (Handel arr Milner) Order through Dutton Vocalion	It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Willis; Sears arr Milner) SCS The Twelve Days Of Christmas (Trad arr Shaw)SCS While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Trad arr Milner) Christmas Bells (Mantovani) Mary’s Boy Child (Hairston) SCS I Saw Three Ships (Trad arr Milner) SCS Accompaniment SCS The Sammes Chorus & Singers
Review: (from the webmaster): I consider the Christmas music from Mantovani as close to what one would describe as "heavenly" as any may be. They are absolutely haunting, mesmerizing, and joyful. You will not hear the equal in any church, concert hall, or from any artist anywhere. From Scott Raeburn: A Song For Christmas (Vocalion CDLF 8122) makes its first CD appearance in its entirety, and about time, too. It's a key album from 1963, recorded at London's Kingsway Hall, a venue used by Decca not only for its "grander" productions but on account of its splendid organ which could be utilised for Christmas productions such as this. Although not credited, Harold Smart is the accomplished organist who "weaves in and out of Handel's melody, supported by those wonderful strings", according to Colin MacKenzie's inlay notes. He's referring, of course, to a superb rendition of Handel's "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings" from the oratorio "Messiah". As you might expect, all the Mantovani mint-marks are here: sumptuous arrangements, a well thought out programme of selections and the listening satisfaction of a job well done. An added advantage is the presence of the Mike Sammes Singers & Chorus in some tracks, adding to the Yuletide ambience without detracting from the orchestra's importance. There is also a briefly heard accordion on Mantovani's own lovely composition "Christmas Bells", the only tune to be recorded at the West Hampstead studios. A wonderful album issue retailed at a bargain price, it's essential listening for the festive season.