Victor/Victoria (soundtrack)
| Victor/Victoria | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Henry Mancini, Julie Andrews, and various artists | ||||
| Released | 1982 | |||
| Genre | Jazz, Show tune | |||
| Label | MGM Records | |||
| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Victor/Victoria | ||||
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Victor/Victoria is the soundtrack album of the film of the same name released in 1982 by MGM Records. The score was composed by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and performed by Henry Mancini & His Orchestra, featuring vocals by Julie Andrews. The album accompanies the film directed by Blake Edwards, a musical comedy set in 1930s Paris.[1][2]
The original release was a deluxe gatefold album with 12 tracks. In 1994, a Compact disc (CD) edition was released, expanding the selection to 16 tracks by adding instrumental pieces and Robert Preston's performance of "Shady Dame from Seville" in drag. In 2002, the album was remastered and expanded edition with 31 tracks in total, featuring 13 previously unreleased tracks. The liner notes provided insights into the production process.[3]
Regarding the music critics, Richie Unterberger from AllMusic rated the album three and a half out of five stars and described Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse's compositions as a stylistic throwback to the stage and screen sound of the 1930s and 1940s, albeit with better fidelity than contemporary recordings from that era. He considered that the film's slightly more risqué plotline set it apart from traditional musicals of its kind. He also said that the extensive instrumental interludes in the 2002 edition might disrupt the flow of Preston and Andrews' performances.[3] The critic and author John Kenrick praised the 2002 remastered edition in his review for the expanded material and superior sound quality. He lauded Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, and Leslie Ann Warren's performances, considering the film Hollywood's last great live-action musical. According to the author the morable moments included the full "Cherry Ripe" aria and Preston's playful "Shady Dame" reprise.[4]
At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special[5] but lost to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by John Williams.[6]
Commercially, the album managed to rank among the 200 best-selling albums on Billboard 200 chart in 1982. It debuted on June 5, at No. 183[7] and peaked at No. 174 on June 12, the following week.[8] In total, it remained on the chart for four weeks.[9][10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Main Title "Crazy World"" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 2:07 |
| 2. | "You And Me" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Julie Andrews, Robert Preston | 2:52 |
| 3. | "The Shady Dame From Seville" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Julie Andrews | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Alone In Paris" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 2:52 |
| 5. | "King's Can-Can" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 1:57 |
| 6. | "Le Jazz Hot" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Julie Andrews | 4:22 |
| 7. | "Crazy World" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Julie Andrews | 2:30 |
| 8. | "Chicago, Illinois" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Lesley Ann Warren | 2:46 |
| 9. | "Cat And Mouse" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 3:13 |
| 10. | "You And Me" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 2:42 |
| 11. | "Gay Paree" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Robert Preston | |
| 12. | "Finale" | L. Bricusse, H. Mancini | Orchestra | 4:50 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Victor/Victoria record.[11]
- Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
- Music by Henry Mancini
- Produced by Joe Reisman
- Engineered by Dick Bogert, John Richards, Richard Simpson
- Recorded at The Music Centre, Wembley, England
- Remixed at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California.
- Mastered at the Reference Point, Burbank, California
- Pressed by PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape[12] | 174 |
References
- ^ "Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 8 May 1982. p. 65. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Arntz & Wilson 1995, p. 232
- ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Victor/Victoria [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Henry Mancini". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Kenrick, John. "CD Reviews 2002-2003". Musicals101.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
- ^ "Toto, McCartney Top 25th Grammy Awards Nominees" (PDF). Cashbox. 22 January 1983. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1983 – Grammy Award Winners 1983". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- ^ "Billboard 200™ (Week of June 5, 1982)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ "Billboard 200™ (Week of June 12, 1982)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ^ Whitburn 2001, p. 1005
- ^ "Soundtrack". Billboard. 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Henry Mancini & His Orchestra (1982). Victor/Victoria (liner notes). Julie Andrews. MGM Records. MG-1-5407.
- ^ "Top LPs & Tape". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 23. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 12 June 1982. p. 105. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
Bibliography
- Arntz, James; Wilson, Thomas S. (1995). Julie Andrews. Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago. Illinois: Contemporary Books, Inc. ISBN 0-8092-3267-7.
- Whitburn, Joel (2001). Joel's Whitburns's Top Pop Albums 1955-2001. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-147-0.