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.
The Long And Winding Road
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Anyway you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
And still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The Long and Winding Road by Mantovani is a poignant and sorrowful song about a never-ending journey towards someone's heart. The opening lines express the singer's desire to reach their loved one, despite the hardships and obstacles along the way. The reference to the "long and winding road" can be linked to the metaphor of life's journey, where the road represents the path we take to fulfill our desires and dreams. The singer insists that this road will never disappear, signifying the unfading love he holds for his beloved.
The lyrics then shift to the theme of sadness and despair, represented by the wild and windy night that washed away the tears. The rain symbolizes the troubles and trials faced by the lovers, and the tears represent their shared pain. The singer's plea to be led to the door of his beloved signifies his desperation and longing to be reunited with his loved one. He mentions being alone and crying many times, emphasizing the gravity of his emotions and the extent of his dedication to the relationship.
The repeated refrain of "don't leave me waiting here, lead me to your door" highlights the singer's vulnerability and the depths of his love. He acknowledges that he had been left standing there a long time ago, but still, he hopes to be reunited with his love. The song ends on a pleading note, with the singer begging not to be kept waiting and to be led to the door of his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
The long and winding road
Life is full of twists and turns and is never straightforward
That leads to your door
The path to reaching your goals is always full of challenges and obstacles
Will never disappear
These difficulties will always be present, no matter how much time has passed
I've seen that road before
I have encountered these difficulties on this path multiple times in the past
It always leads me here
Despite the difficulties, this path always leads me to where I need to go
Lead me to your door
I am still searching for the right path to reach my goals, and I am hoping that it will eventually lead me to you.
The wild and windy night
Life can be tumultuous and unpredictable, like a stormy night
That the rain washed away
The hardships I've faced in the past have been difficult to overcome
Has left a pool of tears
These difficulties have left me feeling emotional and vulnerable
Crying for the day
I am longing for a day when life will be more peaceful and less difficult
Why leave me standing here?
I am wondering why I am still struggling and feeling lost, despite my best efforts
Let me know the way
I need direction and guidance in order to find my path
Many times I've been alone
I have faced these challenges on my own, without any support
And many times I've cried
These difficulties have caused me great emotional pain and distress
Anyway you'll never know
You cannot fully understand or appreciate the extent of my struggles
The many ways I've tried
I have tried many different approaches and strategies to overcome my difficulties
And still they lead me back
Despite my best efforts, I keep coming back to these same struggles
To the long winding road
I am still searching for the right path to reach my goals, and it is not an easy journey
You left me standing here
I feel abandoned and lost, without any clear direction or guidance
A long long time ago
These feelings of abandonment and hopelessness have been with me for a very long time
Don't leave me waiting here
I am pleading with you to help me and guide me on my journey
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Despite my struggles, I am still hopeful that I will eventually find my way to you and to my goals.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind