Original released on LP RCA Victor LSP 2795
(US, March 1964)
"The Pink Panther" is another fine, early-'60s soundtrack from Henry Mancini. The title track
became one of his most recognizable themes and kicks off a pleasant program of
dreamy lounge cuts and Latin-tinged numbers. As he did on many other movie / TV
albums (Touch of Evil, Peter Gunn, etc.), Mancini also includes some noirish,
big band numbers, like "The Tiber Twist" and the main title. Along
with these up-tempo songs, he balances out the mostly light material with the
solidly swinging mambos "The Village Inn," "Something for
Sellers" (as in Peter Sellers, the movies' star), and "It Had Better
Be Tonight" (co-written by frequent partner Johnny Mercer and something of
a minor vocal hit upon its release). The program's highlights, though, come
from the kind of sublime (some might say cheesy) ballads he usually included on
his soundtracks; the after-hours jazz tune "Royal Blue" stands out in
particular, with its tasteful string arrangement and glowing trumpet solo. This
is a great title for fans of Mancini's lounge/soundtrack material, but those
more into his jazz material should consider either his Peter Gunn or Combo
soundtracks. (Stephen Cook in AllMusic)
Album gravado entre 16 e 18 de Setembro de 1963, no RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California e remasterizado em Janeiro de 1969, nos RCA Recording Studios, em New York
