Whoa! Thank you to my friends at Quartet Records for a quartet (natch) of surprise Henry Mancini releases: the first-ever original soundtrack CD of the classic 1963 The Pink Panther, an expanded Molly Maguires, Darling Lili, and a vinyl release of the original tracks of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
I have been listening to more and more Mancini lately—thanks in part to Quartet and their releases—and loving not only his brilliant themes, but moody dramatic underscores.
The Molly Maguires is a particular favorite of mine. Very early in the creation of Film Score Monthly (1991–92) I got a care package from Bay Cities Records that included their Jerry Fielding releases and the first CD of The Molly Maguires. I remember sitting in what was then the dining area of our house with the CD player behind me, using our ancient Mac and putting together the first FSM newsletters. I think it was springtime and it feels like spring in many ways when I hear the Molly Maguire theme, and the sense of discovery and exploration I had at that time.
Thank you Quartet!
I love the Molly Maguires. I remember seeing the movie when it was first released and being really impressed by the music. Then being thrilled when I found the LP had been released. I think Mancini is underrated by film music fans mostly because of his re-recorded albums. But when you listen to things like the original Charde, the releases you worked on like Hatari! And Breakfast at Tiffanys and a personal favorite of mine, Arabesque, you realize what an amazing composer he was!
Getting a couple of these come the New Year.