Jump to content

Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini (New Intrada CD April 29 2013)


Jay

Recommended Posts

INTRADA Announces:

942123_10151408620997169_1889636988_n.jp

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES

Composed and Conducted by HENRY MANCINI

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 242

Days of Wine and Roses opens with Henry Mancini's famous Academy Award-winning song melody playing on solo French horn, and from there Mancini creates a moving, emotionally rich orchestral score to accompany the descent of two alcoholics tragically intertwined in a downward spiral of despair and heartbreak. Mancini’s subtle, understated score is a model of musical economy, with the song melody anchoring the score, whether in simple arrangements like guitar solo, a string elegy, or dissected and distorted, punctuated by Mancini’s signature stinger chords when alcoholism nearly drowns its victims. Dark low strings and harmonic clusters never shy away from depicting the emptiness at the bottom of a bottle, but Mancini wisely steers clear of scoring the horrifying detox scenes, instead concentrating on the poignant dissolution of the relationship.

The trademark “easy listening” Mancini sound can be found in the film’s many jazz source cues. From tinkling piano riffs and gentle brush strokes playing on Kirsten’s “hi-fi” and the lounge piano of “Cocktail Hour” to the elongated stride piano figures in “No Guts” and his signature use of vibraphone, Mancini’s refined orchestrations never overwhelm the drama, yet lend the film a contemporary period feel.

While Mancini made a common practice of re-recording albums of his film scores, he prepared no such album for Days of Wine and Roses. “A problem arose from the rerecording of those scores,” he wrote in his autobiography. “The albums were made up of the most melodic material from the films. A lot of the dramatic music—which is what I really loved to do and really thought I had a feeling for—was left out." Given the dominance of dramatic music in this film, the record label was not interested in releasing this particular Mancini soundtrack. Decades later, Intrada finally presents the premiere release of the soundtrack. Warner Bros. provided access to the complete mono session elements, vaulted in excellent condition on 1/4″ full-track tape.

Days of Wine and Roses stars Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick as a young couple drowning in the liquored depths of alcoholism.

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 242

Retail Price: $19.99

Available Now

For track listing and sound samples, please visit

http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.8080/.f

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
Label: Intrada Special Collection Volume 242
Date: 1962
Tracks: 27
Time = 65:12
In 1962, filmgoers heard one of cinema's most striking musical openers of all time: solo French horn, without introduction, intoning opening notes of what becomes Academy Award-winning title song to legendary Blake Edwards look at unrelentingly grim descent of young couple into alcoholism. With Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick in Oscar-nominated portrayals, film allows despair, tragedy to imbue uncompromising movie right up to unforgettable conclusion. And - like opener - audiences here were privileged to hear one of cinema's equally outstanding film score finales, amongst the most sublime in history: solo French horn returns, unaccompanied, intoning same opening phrase of haunting theme melody, but ending without resolve! Powerful coda to a powerful score. But interior of score offers so much more! Beautiful variants on main theme are balanced with intense, dramatic low string-dominated cues for grim portions of tale. Elsewhere, signature Mancini tunes in upbeat style add further layers to classic score. Though Mancini enjoyed wildly popular re-arranged and re-recorded albums of all of his early film score successes (BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, CHARADE, PINK PANTHER, HATARI, many others), Intrada release of DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES is, incredibly, the first ever release in any form for this brilliant score. CD presented from complete mono tapes (as mixed for picture) in crisp, clean audio, all courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures & Henry Mancini Estate. Famous Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini title song appears as well! Flipper cover allows two different dramatic approaches to film artwork! Henry Mancini conducts. Intrada Special Collection release available while quantities and interest remains!
The Album
01. Days of Wine and Roses (Main Title) 2:12
02. Days of Wine and Roses (guitar source, take 2) 1:49
03. Man Meets Girl 4:30
04. Hi-Fi II 2:24
05. Hi-Fi I 3:27
06. Gorgeous and Guilty 1:24
07. Kissed in the Greenhouse 1:07
08. Silly 2:18
09. Some Laughs 2:46
10. Off Scene Hi-Fi 1:40
11. They Fired Me 1:12
12. Vanilla, Part 1 2:13
13. Vanilla, Part 2 1:41
14. Crazy Smell 2:11
15. Get in the Tub, Part 1 1:04
16. Get in the Tub, Part 2 1:04
17. A Gone Mommy 0:47
18. No Guts 7:37
19. A Sad Pop 2:49
20. I Want to Come Home 6:58
The Album Total Time: 50:07
The Extras
21. Cocktail Hour 2:22
22. Navel Engagement (Turkish Combo) 2:55
23. Days of Wine and Roses (guitar source, take 1) 3:03
24. What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter) 2:46
25. I Only Have Eyes for You (Harry Warren/Al Dubin) 2:27
26. September in the Rain (Harry Warren/Al Dubin) 1:10
27. Play Off for Trailer 0:18
The Extras Total Time: 14:58
Henry Mancini
Price: $19.99
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 2
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.