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This is not only a great LP but a key piece of jazz and pop music history. Back in 1958,Peter Gunnwas one of the unexpected hits of the new television season, capturing the imagination of millions of viewers by mixing private eye action with a jazz setting. Composer Henry Mancini was more than fluent in jazz, and his music nailed down the popularity of the series. With the main title theme, a driving, ominous, exciting piece of music to lead off the album,The Music From Peter Gunnbecame a huge hit, charting extraordinarily high for a television soundtrack and doing so well that RCA Victor came back the next year asking for a second helping (More Music From Peter Gunn) from Mancini.

The music holds up: Session At Petes Pad is a superb workout for trumpets of Pete Candoli, Uan Rasey, Conrad Gozzo and Frank Beach, while Barney Kessels electric guitar gets the spotlight during Dreamsville. Sorta Blue and Fallout are full-ensemble pieces that constitute quintessential cool West Coast jazz of the period.