HENRY MANCINI RELEASES: MANCINI'S ANGELS; THE THEME SCENE; SYMPHONIC SOUL; THE COP SHOW THEMES; THE LATIN SOUND OF HENRY MANCINI; THE BIG LATIN BAND OF HENRY MANCINI

HENRY MANCINI - MANCINI'S ANGELS / THE THEME SCENE 

Two groovy late 70s albums from Henry Mancini – back to back on a single CD! Mancini's Angels has happy Hank surrounded by plenty of cleavage – a cover that's perfect for the album's title play on the hit Charlie's Angels show! Mancini does a great job with the theme to that one, and also adds in some cool keyboards you wouldn't have heard on the original – and the rest of the album is a mix of other mid 70s TV themes, plus some cool originals penned by Mancini himself, but with a very similar flavor – often quite funky, in a soundtrack sort of way. Titles include "Charlie's Angels", "Car Wash", "Silver Streak", "Inspector Clouseau Theme", "Gonna Fly Now", "What's Happening", "The Moneychangers", and "Evergreen". The Theme Scene features plenty of cool 70s soundtrack themes – titles pulled from both film and TV use, some with a feel that's every bit as funky as Henry Mancini's great work on the Cop Show album! Titles include "The Cheap Detective", "Star Trek", "Heaven Can Wait", "Children Of Sanchez", "Battlestar Galactica", "Once Is Not Enough", "Three's Company", "NBC News Theme", and "Fantasy Island". ~ Dusty Groove 

HENRY MANCINI - SYMPHONIC SOUL / THE COP SHOW THEMES

Funky soundtrack-styled work by Henry Mancini – compiling the mid 70s Cop Show Themes and Symphonic Soul LPs – together in single set! Cop Show Themes is easily ne of the funkiest albums ever from Mancini – a brilliant reworking of hit 70s cop show themes, put together with a really jazzy groove! The group's a big one – filled with hip players who include Clare Fischer on organ, Artie Kane on electric piano and harpsichord, Don Menza on tenor, Lee Ritenour on guitar – all instruments that are used strongly to help kick things nicely on the set, with a vibe that's right up there with the best funky 70s soundtracks. Harvey Mason is on drums, bringing up the bottom a bit more than usual for Mancini – and the choice of material really makes the record cook – with tracks that include "Kojak", "SWAT", "Police Woman", "Rockford Files", "Hawaii Five O", "Streets Of San Francisco", "Bumper's Theme", and "Baretta's Theme". Symphonic Soul is just as great – a mixture of tight large arrangements with a smooth funky edge, similar to some of his best soundtrack work at the time! The rhythm section is great – again with Harvey Mason on drums, plus Joe Sample on keyboards, and guitar by David T Walker and Dennis Budimir – and the album also features some cool solos on instruments like African finger piano and piccolo trumpet. The whole thing bounces along with a majestic approach that's very full and complicated – yet also tight and funky! Lots of nice groovy tunes – and titles include "Sun Goddess", "Symphonic Soul", "Soul Saga", "African Symphony", "Slow Hot Wind", and "Satin Soul". ~ Dusty Groove

HENRY MANCINI - THE LATIN SOUND OF HENRY MANCINI / THE BIG LATIN BAND OF HENRY MANCINI

2 great albums of Latiny tunes from Henry Mancini! The Big Latin Band Of Henry Mancini features a very hip lineup of west coast jazzmen – including Bud Shank and Tom Scott on reeds, Buddy Childers and Pete Candoli on trumpets, Ray Brown on acoustic bass, Max Bennett on fender bass, Larry Bunker on percussion, and Shelly Manne on drums. The rhythms have a great mix of Latin influences and Mancini magic, the kind of grooves you'd hear on his 60s soundtracks at the time, and the vibe is nice and relaxed. It's a bit more upbeat than bossa, but not as all-out as other RCA Latin sessions – thanks to Mancini's nice sense of warmth and space in the arrangements. Titles include some pretty darn cool takes on "Mission Impossible", "Fistful Of Dollars", "Magnificent Seven", "Touch Of Evil", and "Springtime For Hitler", from the film The Producers. Other titles include "Patricia", "Zacatecas", and "Las Cruces". The Latin Sound record is a gem from a few years earlier – with some great arrangements by Mancini! The album's less a straight Latin date than it is a new approach to the grooves Henry was laying down on his 60s soundtracks – a mix of bossa and cha cha-inspired themes that sparkle wonderfully with warm jazzy touches from a host of LA players who include Dick Nash on trombone, Harry Klee on flute, Ted Nash on alto and tenor, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Laurindo Almeida on guitar, and Gene Garf on organ – all working beautifully under Mancini's direction, with a sound that's both tight and relaxed at the same time! Lots of tracks have some nice groovy organ, which gives the arrangements a cool lively sound – and titles include "Preciosa", "Baia", "Carnavalito", "Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars", "Tico Tico", and the nice "Senor Peter Gunn", a Latin remake of Mancini's big hit!  ~ Dusty Groove