Henry Mancini - "10" (Original Soundtrack) (1979) [2013 Warner Remaster]

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Henry Mancini - "10" (Original Soundtrack) (1979) [2013 Warner Remaster]

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Way back when, comedies were smartly written and had a purpose and very rarely nowadays there's very few that had the subject matter that "Blake Edwards' 10" featured. Written and directed by the late Oscar Winning Director Blake Edwards, the film was a smart, raunchy and sophisticated comedy that really struck a chord with audiences when it was released in 1979 grossing over 100 million dollars at the box office and was memorable because it was the debut of sexy bombshell Bo Derek and also brought composer Maurice Ravel's famous classical masterpiece "Bolero" back to being hip. The film revolves around a famous middle aged composer named George Weber (the late Dudley Moore) who's going through a bit of a mid-life crisis that involves heavy drinking, the occasional party next door with his swinger's pal, a happily gay best friend (Robert Webber) and of course, his sexually and excrucitating frustrated girlfriend Samantha (Julie Andrews). One day, George has a bit of an epiphany when he sees a beautiful blonde bombshell who happens to be getting married he becomes infatuated with her. After a fight with Samantha and everything else in his life going to hell, George heads to Mexico an impromptu vacation where he takes refuge in a bar run by a kindly bartender and fan (Brian Dennehy) and has the sympathetic ear of a lovely woman (Dee Wallace Stone). Ironically enough, George has an encounter with the bombshell who's name is Jenny (Bo Derek) who's having her honeymoon with her husband (Sam J. Jones) and soon finds out that despite the fact that she's still married, her views on life are much different than his. George soon leaves and goes back to California with a much better perspective on his life and what the future will hold for himself, his career and his relationship with Samantha.

Still a hit film on DVD and now Blu-Ray, "Blake Edwards' 10" is a wonderful film from start to finish and very engaging when it comes to the sexy woman fantasy which Edwards captured perfectly. Another important element to this film is simply the music itself since Moore's character was a composer and musician, it was fitting that he would have the best in the business to back him. That's were Oscar winner Henry Mancini came in and really supplied the musical elements that made the film hip and romantic as the leads themselves. It also helped that both Julie Andrews and Dudley Moore were exceptional singers with Andrews belting out the somewhat comical "He Pleases Me" and Moore even plays on screen in the film in a duet with Andrews ("It's Easy to Say (Duet)") which is a lovely gem of a piece. As well as the great solo piano piece during the film's memorable bar scene in "It's Easy to Say (Instrumental)", in which Moore gives a bravura performance.

Mancini's original contributions to the original score is somewhat minimal on this album as compared to the film with several pieces including one of my favorite pieces "Slow Hot Wind" sadly not included here. What is here is fun, engaging and in the style of his previous works with Edwards with the lovely "Don't Call It Love (Main Title)(Instrumental)" featuring Mancini himself performing the lovely piano solo, the romantic ballad "It's Easy to Say (with chorus)" and the highlight of the score, "Something For Jenny", which is an outstanding lush and romantic piece that has a breezy sound to it with a beautiful flute solo. Of course, there's the memorable "Bolero", which made the album a best seller and made many men drool when Bo Derek played it in the film for the seduction scene. Mancini took loving care with adapting Ravel's piece and the fact that it was hit, shows the immense talent that he had as an arranger as well.

This is the first time the original album has ever been released here in the U.S. as it was originally issued in Germany by Warner Bros. in the late 90's and disappeared soon after. This is a solid release that features the fun original LP artwork which is classic and excellent sound by Reel Gone Music. This is an outstanding release for fans of the film (with me being one of them) and they will definitely enjoy revisiting this classic soundtrack. Recommended with Thumbs Up!!! Reviewed by The Examiner

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Henry Mancini - "10" (Original Soundtrack) (1979) [2013 Warner Remaster]

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Henry Mancini - "10" (Original Soundtrack) (1979) [2013 Warner Remaster]

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Henry Mancini - "10" (Original Soundtrack) (1979) [2013 Warner Remaster]

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