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The Incomparable Flights of Melodies by Mantovani

Thomas E. DeJulio | Bronxville, NY USA | 02/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recent Vocalion release revives two of Maestro Mantovani's LPs from 1959 and 1964. The first is Songs to Remember, a fine collection of "fifties hits" that have stood the test the time and remain popular standards today. The Mantovani treatment of "cathedral sound" is applied to "Tenderly", "Tonight", "Vaya Con Dios," and "Far Away Places." Mantovani himself plays the piano with a heartwarming rendition of the ever popular standard "When I Fall in Love." In 1964, another mellow album entitled "Incomparable" was released and became one of Mantovani's most popular, riding high on the album charts for over a year. His version of "Fly Me to the Moon" featured on this CD was played for the astronauts in 1969 and indeed, the entire collection is "out of this world". The signature sound of Mantovani with the newly introduced use of electric guitars and the tumbling strings at their highest register to their warmly rich lows provide musical drama for Monty's brilliant arrangements of the Perry Como hit, "Catch a Falling Star", Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays" and "Long Ago and Far Away". The Incomparable CD is one of Mantovani's great masterpieces in sound of the sixties. The color and warmth of the strings on both of these CDs affirms the incomparability of the music and its creator that lifted listeners to the heavens for more than a half century, and still does. Purchase this collection and take flight on a unique musical journey as only the Incomparable Mantovani can lead."