Henry Mancini: "The Music From Peter Gunn"

Released in 1959,

the theme for the television show "Peter Gunn"

was one of Henry Mancini's most popular tunes.

This version of the album art apparently is not the most widely distributed

version of this LP.  I have not been able to find any explanation for the two very different

versions of the cover art, but it seems likely that one is a re-issue of the album.

I'd put my money on this one being the original and the other one being the re-issue,

which would have come after the show and the theme song became

extremely popular.

HERE is a look at both covers.

Artwork by Jason Kirby

Read more about Henry Mancini's life and times HERE.

I find the graphic design of the inner sleeves

to be interesting, too!

Some more than others, of course.

And actually, since this inner sleeve advertises

"Carlton Records"

it is clearly not the original inner sleeve

for this RCA Victor LP.

Henry Mancini: "Mancini Concert"

Released in 1971,

this Mancini LP

reveals how much Mancini often tried

to stay in tune with popular musical expressions.

Here, besides a medley tribute to Simon & Garfunkel,

he also includes the overture from The Who's rock opera "Tommy"

and a medley of tunes from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's

"Jesus Christ Superstar."

Simon & Garfunkel had just broken up in 1970

after the release of their last album together:

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"

"Tommy"

was released less than two years previously

and had not yet made its way

to stage or film.

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

had been released

as a concept album

less than a year previously

and was months

away from its opening

on Broadway.

Henry Mancini: "Our Man in Hollywood"

Released in 1963,

this is one of many, many recordings

from a well-loved composer-arranger-conductor.

Read more about Henry Mancini HERE.

Henry Mancini: "Film Music"

Released in 1973.

I have waxed plenty eloquent

expressing my opinion

about Henry Mancini

and his music

in previous posts.

This LP underscores my point

(pun intended)

that Henry Mancini

is deservedly renowned

as a composer,

a pianist,

and an orchestra leader.

Henry Mancini: "The Latin Sound of..."

Released in 1965.

Henry Mancini persistently is relegated to "Easy Listening"

"Mood Music" and other brands of "Elevator Music."

And I admit that

compared to ROCK music

and all of its legitimate descendants

Mr. Mancini is much more closely related to those softer genre.

But I believe there should be at least ONE solid, accepted category

somewhere between "easy listening" and "jazz"

that could describe Henry Mancini 

and a few others

so they wouldn't be so blithely

lumped in with the Muzak crowd.

Know what I mean? 

I mean

these days

Rock, Pop, and Soul

have so many subgenre

it is durn near totally

confounderatin'

to keep up with 'em all.

Even Jazz

has multiple subgenre.

I'll have to give this some serious thought.

No, really.

I will.

Please stand by.

Epiphany to follow.

Henry Mancini: "The Great Academy Award Songs"

Like George Shearing,

I place Henry Mancini outside the realm of schmaltzmeistering.

Here is a great collection of some of the best songs of the day.

Released in 1964 as a promo for B.F.Goodrich by RCA.

Read more about Henry Mancini HERE.