Uploaded January 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE CHARTS - 1969
Song that entered the charts : "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet"
Performed by : Henry Mancini and His Orchestra
HCP = 1
The song (soundtrack) was composed by the legendary Italian filmcomposer, Nino Rota.
WERNER MULLER
European light music fans came to know Müller from his many years as director of two of the leading popular radio orchestras in Germany. From 1948 to 1967, he led the Tanzorchester for the powerful station RIAS in Berlin. Bear Family collected a number of RIAS Tanzorchester recordings from the 1950s on Blende Auf. While with RIAS, he became associated with the singer Caterina Valente, whose cover of "Malaguena" was an international success. In an odd flip-flop, several collections of French, Italian, and other national tunes Müller recorded for Decca were released in Europe under the name of "Ricardo Santos," but in the U.S. under Müller's own name, as part of a series of "Musical Holiday" albums tied-in with the travel magazine, Holiday.
In 1967, Müller moved to Cologne to take over the Tanzorchester of radio station WDR, which had an even larger audience. Müller ensured his tenure with a versatile and perfectionist approach to his material.
Well known by his fans are albums such as "Latin Splendor", "Around the world" and "Plays The Moody Blues".
From Elvis to Russian folk : Muller and his musicians covered it all so the " music library" of Werner Muller is extensive, containing filmmusic, ballroom dance, classics, pop hits and easy listening standards and evergreens.
Many critics consider Werner Muller to be one of the most versatile musicians of the European big band scene of the 20th century.
DOWNTOWN
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark in 1964, became an international hit, reaching No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in UK Singles Chart. Hatch received the 1981 Ivor Novello award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically"
MHO
A wonderful orchestral arrangement of the Hatch "classic" - made into a worldwide hit in the 1960s by Petula Clark.
Muller stays close to the original arrangement but his large orchestra - and a chorus of mixed male and female voices - ensure a great listening experience nonetheless.
Having the title actually sung as well, looks to have been the right choice, because if it would have been played by an instrument, the emotional impact most probably would have been less.
A melody that sticks to the ear played by Germany's most reknowned orchestra : what else could we ask for eh ;-) .....
Enjoy !
ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE CHARTS - 1969
Song that entered the charts : "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet"
Performed by : Henry Mancini and His Orchestra
HCP = 1
The song (soundtrack) was composed by the legendary Italian filmcomposer, Nino Rota.
WERNER MULLER
European light music fans came to know Müller from his many years as director of two of the leading popular radio orchestras in Germany. From 1948 to 1967, he led the Tanzorchester for the powerful station RIAS in Berlin. Bear Family collected a number of RIAS Tanzorchester recordings from the 1950s on Blende Auf. While with RIAS, he became associated with the singer Caterina Valente, whose cover of "Malaguena" was an international success. In an odd flip-flop, several collections of French, Italian, and other national tunes Müller recorded for Decca were released in Europe under the name of "Ricardo Santos," but in the U.S. under Müller's own name, as part of a series of "Musical Holiday" albums tied-in with the travel magazine, Holiday.
In 1967, Müller moved to Cologne to take over the Tanzorchester of radio station WDR, which had an even larger audience. Müller ensured his tenure with a versatile and perfectionist approach to his material.
Well known by his fans are albums such as "Latin Splendor", "Around the world" and "Plays The Moody Blues".
From Elvis to Russian folk : Muller and his musicians covered it all so the " music library" of Werner Muller is extensive, containing filmmusic, ballroom dance, classics, pop hits and easy listening standards and evergreens.
Many critics consider Werner Muller to be one of the most versatile musicians of the European big band scene of the 20th century.
DOWNTOWN
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark in 1964, became an international hit, reaching No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in UK Singles Chart. Hatch received the 1981 Ivor Novello award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically"
MHO
A wonderful orchestral arrangement of the Hatch "classic" - made into a worldwide hit in the 1960s by Petula Clark.
Muller stays close to the original arrangement but his large orchestra - and a chorus of mixed male and female voices - ensure a great listening experience nonetheless.
Having the title actually sung as well, looks to have been the right choice, because if it would have been played by an instrument, the emotional impact most probably would have been less.
A melody that sticks to the ear played by Germany's most reknowned orchestra : what else could we ask for eh ;-) .....
Enjoy !
