VA - Shots In The Dark (A Tribute To Henry Mancini) 1996 @ 320

Shots In The Dark  (A Tribute To Henry Mancini) 1996

Donna Records/Del-Fi

1996 release (featuring the lovely Rose McGowan on front & back covers). On CD featuring '90s surf & instrumental acts covering 20 of Mancini's finest and best known. Includes Poison Ivy (of The Cramps 'Peter Gunn Theme', The Blue Hawaiians 'Charade', Wonderful World Of Joey 'Days Of Wine And Roses', Wiskey Biscuit 'A Shot In The Dark', Nan Vernon 'Moon River', Man Or Astroman? 'Touch Of Evil' & more.

Review by Richie Unterberger

The mid-'90s lounge revival has also spawned corresponding contemporary space age pop revivalists, meaning that this Henry Mancini tribute album -- a project which would have had few takers just a few years previously -- probably had no problem assembling its 20 participants. These are mostly acts who come from the rock world to the lounge, not vice versa. Friends of Dean Martinez, Poison Ivy (from the Cramps), and Man or Astroman? (whose fuzzy blast through "Touch of Evil" is one of the collection's highlights) are the only artists that are even moderately well known, unless you want to count a newly waxed effort by '60s surf-psychedelic guitarist Davie Allan. Like almost all tribute albums, it's an uneven affair, usually presenting a rock-oriented take on Mancini classics like "Baby Elephant Walk," "Peter Gunn Theme," "The Pink Panther Theme," "Days of Wine and Roses," and "Moon River." Most try to strike a balance between reverence and original interpretation, with varying degrees of sucess; the more daring ones, like Br. Cleve's sci-fi take on "Push the Button, Max!" and Nan Vernon's vinyl-scratched, cheap organ rendition of "Moon River," are the best.

"Del-Fi mashes a fine 70's genre tribute to Henry Mancini's popular songs with the exception of Poison Ivy's incredible cover of the Peter Gunn theme song. Her distinctively raw rock-a-billy guitar work is the perfect accent for this compilation of assorted artists. A clear lounge vibe was employed to many of the songs which would serve as good party music..." ~ Marlowe

 01. The Boardwalkers - Banzai Pipeline 

 02. The Jigsaw Seen - Baby Elephant Walk 

 03. Poison Ivy - Peter Gunn Theme 

 04. The Blue Hawaiians - Charade (Instrumental) 

 05. Four Piece Suit - Something For Cat 

 06. Elliot Easton's Tiki Gods - Mr. Lucky 

 07. Oranj Symphonette - The Pink Panther Theme 

 08. Friends Of Dean Martinez - Lonesome 

 09. Wondermints - The Party 

 10. The Tiki Tones - Monkey Farm 

 11. Wiskey Biscuit - A Shot In The Dark 

 12. Man Or Astro-Man? - Touch Of Evil 

 13. Wonderful World Of Joey - Days Of Wine And Roses 

 14. Brother Cleve And His Lush Orchestra - Dreamsville 

 15. Del Noah & The Mt. Ararat Finks - Push The Button, Max! 

 16. Farina - Charade 

 17. Insect Surfers - Mr. Yunioshi 

 18. The Huntington Cads - Arabesque 

 19. Davie Allan & The Arrows - Experiment In Terror 

 20. Nan Vernon - Moon River 

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