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Title: Riddle in a Mellow Mood
Review: This double album finds Nelson Riddle in a mellow mood, aided by one of the lushest string sections he ever used on record. "Sea of Dreams" is a tranquil ballad album that actually jettisons the winds completely and simply lets those lush strings have their say (with only the occasional celesta obbligato to aid the arrangements along). As a result, songs like even the normally bouncy "Let's Fall in Love" slow down to a state of quiet reverie. "Love Tide" has a slightly jazzier feel to it, with more of Riddle's trademark gentle swing infusing the music. (The use of a small rhythem section behind the strings helps here.) Riddle dabbles around in instrumental exotica ("Bali Ha'i" and "Santana," among others) as well as jazz staples like "Caravan" and "Solitude." Both albums are among the most sheerly gorgeous of all Riddle's orchestral arrangements, and deserve to be played over and over again
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