Ennio, EL Maestro

2008 fifteen CD set, the most complete anthology ever from the Italian master composer, released to coincide with the maestro's 80th birthday. This 15 disc set includes only original versions of his best works grouped into seven different categories, all selected by Morricone himself. The discs include: Music For Cinema (nine CDs containing 168 of his best themes in chronological order), Music For Television (two CDs containing 38 themes), Contemporary Classical Music (one CD containing 18 tracks), Original Songs (one CD containing 18 songs he composed for well-known Pop artists), Orchestral Arrangements (one CD containing 16 of his best arrangements) and Hit Song Arrangements (one CD containing 16 Pop hits he arranged in the '60s for Italian artists including rarities, remixes and more).

UK split release from two Brazilian music legends. Dance Moderno by Sergio Mendes, is the acclaimed debut from a musician who would form the bridge between Bossa Nova and '60s Pop. Pianist and master stylist of the Hammond B3 organ, Ed Lincoln served a singular musical apprenticeship in the 1950s, working with Luiz Bonfa, Baden Powell, Claudette Soares, Luís Eça, Maestro Radames Gnattali, Nara Leao, Carlos Lyra and Roberto Menescal. Fate led him to concentrate on the organ and what followed was a sequence of LPs that would showcase his irresistible style. His second album, Orgao Espectacular, is one of the best; full of the urbane, quirky, party style music often deployed by Ennio Morricone in his '60s scores.