He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including ones by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger and composer Ronnie Binge, who developed the "cascading strings" sound (also known as the "Mantovani sound").[citation needed] His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction. In 1952 Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani, but his distinctive sound remained.
He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then London Records. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits. These included Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954, respectively. The latter was also Mantovani's first U.S. Top Ten hit.
In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released over 40 albums with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums.
In 1959, Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, Mantovani, which was produced in England and which aired in the United States. 39 episodes were filmed.[1]
Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.[citation needed]
[edit] Music style and influences
The cascading strings technique developed by Binge became Mantovani's hallmark in such hits arranged by Binge as "Charmaine". Binge developed this technique to replicate the echo experienced in venues such as cathedrals by arrangement alone, in an echo-free surrounding.
Author Joseph Lanza describes Mantovani's string arrangements as the most "rich and mellifluous" of the emerging light music style during the early 1950s. He stated that Mantovani was a leader in the use of new studio technologies to "create sound tapestries with innumerable strings", and that "the sustained hum of Mantovani's reverberated violins produced a sonic vaporizer foreshadowing the synthesizer harmonics of space music."[2]
In 1958 Mantovani and his family bought a holiday home in Bournemouth in Durley Chine Road, then in 1961 acquired a new property in Burton Road (now part of Poole). He moved, finally, to a new home in Martello Road in Poole.
Since his death at a care home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1980, his music has enjoyed a minor revival,[citation needed] with much of his catalogue reappearing on CD and an orchestra bearing his name performing concert tours. The saleability of the Mantovani name is underscored by new recordings being made as the Mantovani Orchestra. Unfortunately[neutrality is disputed], a large number of CDs are also available of unauthorized recordings, billed as Mantovani or Mantovani Orchestra.[citation needed] There have also been CDs released under the Mantovani name of recordings made by others while Mantovani was still alive.[citation needed] Thus, consumers of this music are advised to familiarize themselves with the conductor's discography. Material with the London Records logo on it is apt to be genuine Mantovani, while other recordings are less likely to be actual Mantovani recordings.[citation needed]
The continued popularity of Mantovani's music is evident by the number of original albums which are being released, on labels such as Dutton-Vocalion, and by the many compilations available throughout the world. In 2008, as a result of successful, ongoing CD sales, amongst other contributing factors, the Mantovani Orchestra (performing from the original scores) was recreated for a tremendously successful historical tribute concert, sponsored by Bentley Motors, held at the Lighthouse, in Poole, England, on 27 January, conducted by Sam Newgarth, MBE. Much critical acclaim has led to the planning of a second concert, to take place in January 2009, at the same venue. There are four Mantovani websites in honour of the maestro, a written biography by Colin MacKenzie entitled Mantovani - A Lifetime In Music (ISBN 1-905226-19-5). For further information, please visit http://www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm; http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/torumonty; http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk (re. ticket sales for 31 January 2009). A ten CD set 'The Wonderful World of Mantovani' was released in November 2008 in Japan (a link to the website in Japan may be found by visiting www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm), featuring many rare tracks which have never been released on CD before, in a superbly remastered format, and, following the success of the Mantovani Orchestra's 2008 concert, 'More MANTOVANI Magic' took place at Lighthouse in Poole, England, on 31 January 2009, again conducted by maestro Sam Newgarth MBE. The concert was sponsored by Poole Audi, and also with the generous support of Richard Cox.
'Midnight Cowboy'
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the lonesome midnight cowboy)
Once his hopes were high as the sky
Once a dream was easy to buy
Too soon, his eager fingers were burned
Soon life's lonely lessons are learned
Hearts are made for caring
Life is made for sharing
(Midnight cowboy, midnight cowboy
See the lonesome midnight cowboy)
Once his hopes were high as the sky
Once a dream was easy to buy
Too soon, his eager fingers were burned
Soon life's lonely lessons are learned
Hearts are made for caring
Life is made for sharing
Love is all that's left in the end
Love can turn the tide for a friend
Love can hold a dream together
Love is all that lasts forever
Love is all that's left in the end
Love can turn the tide for a friend
Love can hold a dream together
Love is all that lasts forever
Love can hold a dream together
Love is all that lasts forever
The lyrics to Mantovani's song "Midnight Cowboy" are a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of dreams and the importance of love and connection in life. The song uses the image of a lonely cowboy wandering through the night as a metaphor for the human experience, emphasizing the universal nature of the themes it explores.
The opening lines of the song set the scene for the cowboy's melancholy journey, describing him as "lonesome" and hinting at a sense of disappointment or regret. The second stanza goes on to suggest that the cowboy once had high hopes and easy access to his dreams, but that he was ultimately let down by the harsh realities of life. This sentiment is echoed in the repetition of the line "Soon life's lonely lessons are learned", which drives home the idea that disappointment and heartache are unavoidable parts of the human experience.
Despite the sadness inherent in the song's message, there is also a note of hope that comes through in the repeated emphasis on the power of love. The lyrics suggest that while our aspirations and ambitions may be fleeting, the connections we make with others and the love we share are what endure. The lines "Love can turn the tide for a friend / Love can hold a dream together / Love is all that lasts forever" underscore the idea that even in the face of disappointment and loss, we can find solace and strength in love and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight cowboy, midnight cowboy
Addressing the subject of the song, a lonely midnight cowboy.
See the lonesome midnight cowboy
Highlighting the subject's loneliness in the vast expanse of the night.
Once his hopes were high as the sky
Narrating how the subject once had high aspirations that knew no bounds.
Once a dream was easy to buy
Describing how he was once hopeful and fearless of achieving his dreams.
Too soon, his eager fingers were burned
Conveying how he suffered bitter disappointments as his boldness betrayed him.
Soon life's lonely lessons are learned
Asserting how experience comes quickly and shapes us to be wiser individuals.
Hearts are made for caring
Emphasizing how our hearts are wired to love and show compassion towards others.
Life is made for sharing
Suggesting that the essence of life lies in the relationships we build and interactions we have with others.
Love is all that's left in the end
The ultimate conclusion that love is the enduring force that outlasts everything else.
Love can turn the tide for a friend
Highlighting the transformative effect of love, especially when shown to a dear friend.
Love can hold a dream together
Reiterating how love can bind people together and keep their dreams alive.
Love is all that lasts forever
Affirming that love is the one thing that transcends all limitations of time and space.
Love can hold a dream together
Repeating how love has the power to preserve one's dreams and aspirations.
Love is all that lasts forever
Reiterating the notion that love is the eternal, everlasting force that will always remain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JACK GOLD, JOHN BARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind