Mantovani

This two-fer from Dutton Vocalion features a pair of out of print LPs by easy listening artist Mantovani: Mr. Music… Mantovani and More Mantovani Film Encores, originally issued in 1966 and 1959. These 24 tracks find the conductor/musician/arranger interpreting such traditional material as "Spanish Flea," "Strangers in the Night," and "When You Wish Upon a Star." This is an enjoyable reissue chosen from Mantovani's numerous London albums.

Conductor, composer, violinist, and pianist Mantovani was one of the most popular and prolific easy listening artists of all time. His trademark "cascading strings" (or "tumbling strings") effect gave him an instantly recognizable sound, and his heavy reliance on the string section in general helped map out the blueprint for much of the light orchestral music that followed in his wake. His repertoire did feature original compositions, but was built chiefly on lush adaptations of familiar melodies: TV and movie themes, show tunes, pop hits (chiefly of the MOR variety), classical material, and the like. Starting his career in the '20s, Mantovani was very much a product of the recording age: he focused almost entirely on recording, instead of live performance…