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.
Embraceable You
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me,
You and you alone
Bring out the gypsy in me!
Above all, I want my arms about you!
Don't be a naughty baby,
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
My sweet embraceable you!
The lyrics to Mantovani's "Embraceable You" speak to the power of love and the irresistible nature of attraction. The singer implores their lover to embrace them, using endearing terms like "sweet" and "irreplaceable" to emphasize the depth of their feelings. The very sight of their lover makes their heart race and ignites a wild, free-spirited energy within them - something they compare to the passionate nature of a gypsy.
The singer goes on to express their affection for every aspect of their lover, but most importantly they crave physical closeness in the form of an embrace. The closing line of the song - "Don't be a naughty baby, come to papa, come to papa, do!" - underscores the playful, flirtatious tone of the song and the sense of longing that pervades it. Overall, "Embraceable You" is a classic love song that captures the intoxicating emotions that come with falling head over heels for someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you!
Hold me close, my beloved one who can be embraced - a one-of-a-kind person who cannot be replaced!
Just one look at you
A mere gaze of you is enough
My heart grew tipsy in me,
My heart beat so fast that I felt drunk
You and you alone
Only you, and no one else
Bring out the gypsy in me!
You awaken the wanderer in me!
I love all, the many charms about you!
I adore everything that makes you who you are
Above all, I want my arms about you!
Most importantly, I wish to hold you close to me
Don't be a naughty baby,
Don't act mischievously, darling
Come to papa, come to papa, do!
Run into my arms, my child!
My sweet embraceable you!
You, my honey, are so lovely to hold tight!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L., Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@madeira63Edgar
Bella melodia,musica per sognare,bravo!!! Edgar
@jeffreymarc8735
The most beautiful music God gave us
@sinamor1000
Muy hermoso tu video y mil gracias por compartirlo!!.romantico potosino.
@helmutemargherita
Grazie Luiz, è una melodia dolcissima....viene voglia di stringersi e ballare
@perla51
Stupenda melodia !!Grazie Luiz ,Baci Perla.
@madalena746
Lindo demais, aprecio muito essa musica em particular,... muito grata.
@shadownsand
Gershwin...this orchestra...beautiful images ! It's a dream !!! thanks for sharing with us ! LoVe from Italy ! ♥
@doloresmytube
BELLISSIMA GRAZIE LUIZ
@nestordamado528
Esta é uma das minhas favoritas.
@KMNKeyboardVault
Wow made me cry