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.
Nobody Does It Better
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, you're the best
I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me
I tried to hide from your love light
But like heaven above me the spy who loved me
Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Did you have to be so good?
The way that you hold me whenever you hold me
There's some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from runnin' but just keep it comin'
How'd you learn to do the things you do?
And nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
The lyrics of Mantovani's song "Nobody Does It Better" conveys a sense of appreciation and admiration for the power of love. The singer is overwhelmed by the amazing qualities of his lover and it makes him wonder whether anyone else can match up to her. He confesses that his lover is the best and that nobody else does it half as good as she does. The lyrics suggest that he didn't expect to find love but it found him anyway, and his lover has been keeping his secrets safe all the while.
In the second verse, the singer seems to be conflicted by his admiration for his lover's qualities. He wishes someone else could do it better, but at the same time, he doesn't want to let go of her because the way she holds him has some kind of magical effect on him. He wonders how his lover learned to be so good at what she does, and he concludes that nobody does it better than her.
The song is a beautiful expression of love and appreciation for the role of the lover in the life of the singer. It also explores the fear of losing someone who has become an integral part of the singer's life, as the lyrics suggest that the spy who loved him is keeping his secrets safe.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody does it better makes me feel sad for the rest
No one else can do what you do and it makes me realize how much I am missing out on without having you in my life
Nobody does it half as good as you
No one else can come close to your level of skill and expertise
Baby, you're the best
You are the absolute top, the cream of the crop, and there's no one else like you
I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me
I wasn't actively seeking a partner, but you came into my life and changed everything
I tried to hide from your love light
I was resisting falling in love with you, but your charm and allure made it impossible to resist
But like heaven above me the spy who loved me
Just like God who watches over us from above, you too are watching over me with love and care
Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight
You are someone I can trust with all my secrets and vulnerabilities, and I know you will keep them safe
Nobody does it better sometimes I wish someone could
While you are the best, there are times when I wish someone else could understand me just as well as you do
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Your way of doing things is unique and special, and cannot be replicated by anyone else
Did you have to be so good?
You are so good at everything you do that it almost seems unfair to others who can't measure up
The way that you hold me whenever you hold me
The way you embrace me and show affection is unforgettable and makes me feel loved and protected
There's some kind of magic inside you
You have an aura of enchantment around you that makes you irresistible and captivating
That keeps me from runnin' but just keep it comin'
Your allure and charm are so strong that it makes me want to stay close to you and never leave
How'd you learn to do the things you do?
I am curious about how you became so skilled and talented, and I want to know more about you
And nobody does it better
There is simply no one who can match your level of excellence and prowess in all that you do
Makes me feel sad for the rest
The fact that no one else can measure up to you is a reminder of how much I am missing out on without you
Nobody does it half as good as you
No one else can even come close to achieving the level of mastery and skill that you have
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE SAGER, MARVIN HAMLISCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind