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.
Mahogany Theme
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to, do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door.
What are you hoping for, do you know?
Once we were standing still in time,
And you knew how I loved you but my spirit was free,
Laughing at the questions that you once asked of me.
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to, do you know?
Now looking back at all we planned,
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands.
Why must we wait so long before we see
How sad the answers to those questions can be?
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to, do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door.
The above lyrics are from the song "Theme From Jaws" by Mantovani, but they are not actually part of the instrumental piece. The lyrics explore the idea of self-reflection and questioning one's own path in life. The repetition of the chorus, "Do you know where you're going to?" emphasizes the uncertainty and confusion that many people feel when faced with important decisions and the unknown future.
The verses describe a past relationship where the singer and their partner were once caught up in their dreams and fantasies, but as time passes, they realize that they have let many opportunities slip away. The line "And you knew how I loved you but my spirit was free," suggests that the singer may have felt constrained in the relationship and needed to explore their own path.
The final verse reinforces the idea that time passes quickly and that it's easy to lose sight of what's truly important. The line "How sad the answers to those questions can be?" offers a melancholic tone to the song, as the singer implies that trying to answer life's questions and contemplating the future can lead to a sense of sadness or regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you have a clear direction in life and know what your future holds?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Are you satisfied with the way your life is going and the experiences it is providing you?
Where are you going to, do you know?
Do you have specific goals and plans for your future, or are you unsure of where your life is headed?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
Are you achieving the things that you set out to accomplish and getting what you desire in life?
When you look behind you there's no open door.
Looking back on your life, do you feel like there are missed opportunities or regrets that you cannot change?
Once we were standing still in time,
There was a time in the past where we were not focused on the future and were content with the present moment.
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds.
We were pursuing dreams and goals that were not necessarily grounded in reality, but were instead based on our own perceptions and aspirations.
And you knew how I loved you but my spirit was free,
You were aware of my feelings for you, but at the same time, I wanted to maintain my independence and sense of self.
Laughing at the questions that you once asked of me.
I found humor in the questions that you posed to me, as they revealed your own doubts and uncertainties about the future.
Now looking back at all we planned,
Reflecting on the past, we recall the goals and aspirations we once held.
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands.
Despite having goals and dreams, we failed to take the necessary steps to achieve them and allowed them to remain unfulfilled.
Why must we wait so long before we see
We often do not realize the importance of certain things until much later in life, and this realization can be painful.
How sad the answers to those questions can be?
The truth can be difficult to confront, and looking back on our lives, we may be saddened by the missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams that we let slip away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ole Skool
Michael masser done an awesome job on producing the song. Movie was excellent. Timeless classic!
Mistero Manno
I believe this is One of the most Beautiful Songs of ALL TIME in all it's forms [from my childhood] - movie not so much as good, saw it only as an adult