Buy it... if you consider yourself an enthusiast of Lalo Schifrin's unorthodox styles of the 1960's and 70's, because this album is a fantastic tribute to one of his most notable triumphs.

Avoid it... if you either demand the original recordings or have no tolerance whatsoever for the (arguably) badly aged crossover jazz of the period.

Schifrin

Mannix: (Lalo Schifrin) All subgenres, whether on film or television, get their start somewhere, and the days of the tough cop/investigator who bends the rules with iron fists are owed largely to Bruce Geller's "Mannix." The CBS show ran for eight seasons, starting in 1967, and spent many of those years in the top twenty most popular television shows in terms of ratings. It was nominated for 15 Emmy awards and only saw its demise due to studio infighting. The character of Joe Mannix was a romantic with a hard edge, typical of the many similar characters to follow in the 1970's. One of the show's lasting, successful elements was the music of composer Lalo Schifrin, who was naturally called upon by his friend Geller. The two had collaborated on "Mission: Impossible" two years earlier, a stunning musical success all around that endured for decades. It was Geller who had the idea of creating a sound for the show that didn't fit any of the normal boundaries that audiences had been accustomed to. After hearing the style he wanted for "Mannix" on a radio jazz station, he conveyed that desire to Schifrin, who in turn translated the idea into a distinctive combination of waltz rhythms and jazz instrumentation. The unique sound not only prevails in the catchy title theme for the show, but also in the rambling underscore cues that were general enough in their pacing and structure to apply to several scenes of similar emotional response. The attractive jazz, swinging in a fashion more appropriate for a lounge than a traditional big band, was often incongruent for the on screen imagery, especially when the downright elegant music accompanied scenes of the title character shown engaging in everyday or mundane situations. There are some aspects of big band performances in the music for "Mannix," but it is, for the most part, an intimate character portrait even in its more frenetic sequences. The instrumentation is very diverse for a project on the small screen, allowing for the Hammond organ and saxophone to be accompanied by guitar, harpsichord, and many solo elements pulled from a standard orchestral ensemble.

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Many of the sounds that Schifrin created for "Mannix" have understandably aged and are inextricably tied to their era (especially the song "Beyond the Shadow of Today"). Schifrin continues to command an audience that only overlaps at the periphery for many film score collectors. That never stopped the original LP release of music assembled from the show from becoming a collector's item, and demand from fans for a comprehensive CD release long existed. In 1999, those fans got what they desired (in a fashion) when Aleph Records, a label created by Schifrin's wife for the purpose of releasing his music, offered 45 minutes of material inspired by that original LP. This time, though, all of the music was faithfully re-recorded, taking away the problems inherent with archival sound and breathing new life into Schifrin's ideas for the show. Also included for the first time are several adaptations of material that didn't exist on the LP release, including a strong mix of both the hyperactive jazz and swaying romantic tones on strings (the "Warning: Live Blueberries" track in particular has been widely praised). The four additional arrangements aren't barn-burners, but they do help round out the listening experience. The same can't be said about the final track on the new compilation; the "Bonus Track: Mannix Mixdown" is an absolute disgrace to the style of Schifrin's music and, as a member of the rap genre, has absolutely nothing in common with the classy jazz that inspired it. Aside from that blemish, the album offers a nice, lengthier version of the title theme and strong performances. The absolutely crisp sound quality is truly the attraction here; some fans had lamented the fact that the label did not release the original recordings, but they will be converts after hearing the competent job of re-recording this music under the guidance of Schifrin himself. For those listeners who were never a fan of the show, there might not be enough merit to the new presentation to justify the album, but at the very least it serves as a listenable tribute (far more than many others) to the style that inspired so many knock-offs in the 1970's. For Schifrin enthusiasts, this album is an absolute must for your collections. ****   Amazon.com Price Hunt: CD or Download