Product Review

Repressing. 2008 digitally re-mastered and expanded edition of Henry Mancini's first album, a languid and vastly superior piece of exotica initially released in 1957 as Driftwood and Dreams re-issued here for the first time on compact disc in both stereo and the original beautiful mono version. Mancini recruited the renowned Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, to bring a distinctly tropical feel that would have been beyond the reach of even the most seasoned American player. To add a crucial touch of the other-worldly, he enlisted the soprano Loulie "Lulu" Jean Norman, whose wordless vocals would later achieve global recognition on the theme from Star Trek. El Records.