VICTOR/VICTORIA op.298 (February 1981)

Commissioned by: Henry Mancini/Blake Edwards/MGM
Instrumentation: orchestra
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Blake Edwards' Victor Victoria CD Polygram

Notes

Howard Blake's note: Henry Mancini rang me from Hollywood one day and asked 'if I could help him out with a couple of numbers on a film'.
I went down to Pinewood and met Julie Andrews for the first song and dance rehearsal. She was already perfect! I listened and watched the musical numbers routined by Mike Reed who was playing the piano and Paddy Stone who was choreographing. I was given an office with piano and started work. I felt that 'Le Jazz Hot' would work much better in a sort of Paul Whiteman-style thirties arrangement and stopped Blake Edwards in the corridor one day explained it. He loved the idea and I went ahead, although Paddy was less than pleased since he had already worked on the choreography.  I orchestrated 'Le Jazz Hot', 'Shady Lady from Seville', 'Drag Blues' and other sections, Hank coming over to England for the recordings at CTS Wembley in February.