Filmtracks Traffic Rank: #1,407
Written 12/21/99, Revised 9/8/08
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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.
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| 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.
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: CD or
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