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.
Heartbreaker
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You made me think that I could need you
You weaved your magic spell and I believed you
Lookin back on you and me, promises that will never be
I truly thought we were lovers
But now I find that I'm just like all the others
Heartbreaker, wish that I had seen that love was blind
Sweet little love maker, takin my heart and leave me behind
Just a little more kind to me
Played with fire, felt its burn
I would have thought that I would have learned
I melted every time you kissed me
Every time you'd leave I thought that you would miss me
Heartbreaker, wish that I had seen that love was blind
Sweet little love maker, takin' my heart and leave me behind
Heartbreaker couldn't you be
Just a little more kind to me
The lyrics to Mantovani's song Heartbreaker are about the pain and regret that comes with falling for someone who ultimately breaks your heart. The singer is sitting alone, thinking about all the things they should have known before falling for the person in question. The other person was able to weave a spell around the singer, making them believe that they needed them. As a result, the singer thought that they were in love and that they were special. However, when the relationship ended, the singer realized that they were just like everyone else who had fallen for the same trap.
The lyrics go on to describe how the singer felt every time they were with their love interest. They melted every time they were kissed and believed that the other person felt the same way whenever they were apart. However, the reality was that the other person was just toying with the singer's emotions, never intending to stay and always leaving the singer behind.
The chorus laments the fact that the singer fell for someone who was always going to hurt them. They wish they had seen that love was blind and that the other person was never really interested in a serious relationship. Despite the hurt, the singer still wishes the other person could have been a little kinder to them. Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the cruel nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I sit all alone, thinkin' 'bout what I should have known
Sitting all by myself, reflecting on the things I should have seen coming
You made me think that I could need you
You convinced me that I couldn't live without you
You weaved your magic spell and I believed you
Your charm worked on me, and I fell for it
Lookin' back on you and me, promises that will never be
Looking back on our relationship, realizing that your promises were empty
I truly thought we were lovers
I believed that we were in love
But now I find that I'm just like all the others
But now I see that I'm just another person you've hurt with your heartlessness
Heartbreaker, wish that I had seen that love was blind
You broke my heart, and I wish I had realized that love was deceiving me
Sweet little love maker, takin' my heart and leave me behind
You, the one who made me fall in love, took my heart and left me alone
Heartbreaker couldn't you be, just a little more kind to me
You, the one who caused me so much pain, could you have been a bit gentler?
Played with fire, felt its burn
I knew it was a dangerous game, and I felt the consequences
I would have thought that I would have learned
I should have learned my lesson at this point
I melted every time you kissed me
I couldn't resist your kisses, they made me weak
Every time you'd leave I thought that you would miss me
Every time you walked away, I hoped that you would feel the same pain I did
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole Bayer Sager, David Wolfert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind