W.O.C.K on Vinyl: James Galway & Henry Mancini - In The Pink (1984)

 
Before things get too serious here at Rock On Vinyl, I thought it might be fun to post a song / album at the end of each month, that could be categorized as being either Wacky, Obscure, Crazy or just plain Korny.
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The Pink Panther is a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The series began with the release of The Pink Panther (1963). The role of Clouseau was originated by, and is most closely associated with, Peter Sellers. Most of the films were directed and co-written by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. 

"The Pink Panther Theme" is an instrumental composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Score. The eponymous cartoon character created for the film's opening credits by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Plas Johnson.

"The Pink Panther Theme", composed in the key of E minor, is unusual for Mancini's extensive use of chromaticism.

In his autobiography Did They Mention the Music? Mancini recalled that he told the animators that he would give them a tempo they could animate to, so that any time there were striking motions or someone was getting hit, he could score to it.

In the films, the Pink Panther is a large and valuable pink diamond which is first shown in the opening film in the series. The diamond is called the "Pink Panther" because the flaw at its centre, when viewed closely, is said to resemble a leaping pink panther. 

This month's WOCK on vinyl post is a wonderful candidate for all of those Wonderful and Wacky antics that Inspector Jacques Clouseau provided us in the Pink Panther series of movies. This collection of tracks by Galway & Mancini are popular favourites but are far removed from my usual play lists. Having said this, how can one resist tracks like "Baby Elephant Walk" and "Pie In The Face Polka" (from the movie The Great Race), and of course the catchy classic "Pink Panther" Theme.
So, while you are listening to the opening track, I would like you to practice the following phrase in readiness for your next visit to MacDonalds:
  "I would like to buy a harm-bur-ger"   LOL

Track Listing

01 - The Pink Panther
02 - Meggie's Theme
03 - Breakfast At Tiffany's
04 - Pennywhistle Jig
05 - Crazy World
06 - The Thorn Birds Theme
07 - Pie In The Face Polka
08 - Baby Elephant Walk
09 - Two For The Road
10 - Speedy Gonzales
11 - Theme From The Molly Maguires
12 - Medley-Days Of Wine And Roses_Charade_Moon River
13 - Cameo For Flute
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In The Pink Link (96Mb)  New Link 23/12/2023
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