Analogue Productions - AAPC 2795-45 - 180 gram Virgin Vinyl -    

AAA 100% Analogue - Mastered By Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound 

Limited Edition - Pressed at QRP - RCA LSP-2795 

The Absolute Sound Super Disc List     TAS Harry Pearson Super LP List

Outstanding recording of an absolute classic. Terrific sound.

 

"Henry Mancini is one of the most talented fellows one could wish to meet. He has made quite a name for himself. That of Mancini, to be exact, and very famous in the bargain. But lest I be thought guilty of gross flattery, I feel I should point out that in private life he can be rather difficult. I once pointed this out to him and he kicked my shin. A lot of his music has been issued in the form of long-playing records. The great advantage of this is that you can sit and listen to Hank’s score without having to sit through the film. As yet, you cannot see the film without having to sit through the music. However, I understand that scientists are perfecting a device that may make this possible."  Peter Sellers, from the original album notes

 

The film director Blake Edwards brought into existence what is probably the best opening sequence to his comic crime film when he commissioned a young enterprising company to produce an animated Pink Panther cartoon film. The creative team came up with the idea of giving the cold, glittering diamond the guise of a cool, pink panther, which leads a bungling detective on a merry dance to the slinky sound of the Panther theme.

 

Mancini would not be Mancini if he did not bathe the film location – the skiing resort Cortina d’Ampezzo –in highly varied musical colours and genres. His well-known love for dance music finds itself in the samba ("It Had Better Be Tonight"), the shuffle ("Champagne And Quail"), and the cha-cha ("Something For Sellers"). But also the ballad, sung by a muted trumpet and saxophone ("Royal Blue"), or the simple combination of keyboard and strings ("Piano And Strings") are all woven into the story.

 

One of the most memorable and delightful sounds is that of the accordion, whose melodies evoke an atmosphere that is filled with the Bohème, Paris and the sound of the musette. This music is never gaudy, but subtle, just like a panther padding quietly along.

 

Musicians:

 

Henry Mancini and His Orchestra Johnny Mercer, vocals

 

Selections:

 

Side 1:

 

1. The Pink Panther Theme

 

2. It Had Better Be Tonight (instrumental)

 

3. Royal Blue

 

4. Champagne and Quail

 

5. The Village Inn

 

6. The Tiber Twist

 

Side 2:

 

1. It Had Better Be Tonight

 

2. Cortina

 

3. The Lonely Princess

 

4. Something For Sellers

 

5. Piano and Strings

 

6. Shades of Sennett

 

Recorded September 1963 at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, by Jim Malloy