= HIGH TIME =

Because of his fabulous success as composer-conductor for such TV shows as "Peter Gunn" and "Mr. Lucky," the television industry has come to regard Henry Mancini as one of it's own. This album serves as a reminder that the talented young musician had already made quite a name for himself in motion pictures before he turned his imaginative attention toward video.

Mancini's score for the 20th Century-Fox production "High Time" marks his triumphant return to the domain of the silver screen. It will be noted, however, that his sojourn into television has left a decided mark on the Mancini approach to background music, a mark which is clearly evident in this fine motion picture score. That same quality of close integration between the music and the action, the trademark of his work in the "Gunn" and "Lucky" series, has obviously carried over into his approach to the "High Time" score. Heard with the picture, each theme highlights, dramatises and accentuates the action. Heard by themselves, the melodies and their imaginative presentations are catchy, listenable and musically excellent. 

It is significant that Blake Edwards, producer-director of the "Gunn" and "Lucky" TV shows, is also a director of "High Time". The joint efforts of Edwards and Mancini have already virtually revolutionised the background music concept for TV so it is appropriate that they should now team up to carry that approach into motion pictures.

As usual, Mancini's score provides an abundance of attractive melodies and themes.
 
His choice of instruments and the imaginative way in which he uses them are further examples of his musical taste and ability. The whole concept is fresh, modern and distinctive. But then, one would hardly expect less from Henry Mancini!