Henry Mancini
The Academy Award Songs
-
AMG Review of The Academy Award Songs
Greg Adams
All Music GuideThe title of Henry Mancini's 1966 double album Academy Award Songs is self-explanatory. The 31 tunes represent every Academy Award-winning song from 1934-1964, encompassing diverse material such as "High Noon," "Chim Chim Cher-ee," and "Lullaby of Broadway." Enthusiasts of film music will appreciate the reference value of Mancini's collection, and his arrangements -- which combine lush orchestral backing with a Ray Conniff-style vocal chorus -- are easy on the ears. Whether the choral sound of '60s-era adult contemporary music is palatable to the prospective listener is a matter of individual preference, but Mancini's enduring popularity as an arranger, composer, and film scorer attests to the legitimacy of his talent.
 "The Academy Award Songs")
