Henry Mancini’s “The Days of Wine and Roses,” RCA. ***

If the strength of the MGM set rests in its bringing together so many marvelous writing, arranging and vocal talents, this classy three-disc package is remarkable because it represents the vision of a single composer.

Mancini, who died in 1994 at age 71, is probably the most famous composer in film history, the recipient of four Oscars and 20 Grammys. His film credits range from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Days of Wine and Roses” to “Two for the Road” and “The Pink Panther.”

Not bad for someone who credited his success in movies to being in the right place at the right time--in this case, a barbershop on the Universal Studios lot where director Blake Edwards asked him if he had time to do the music for a TV show Edwards was doing.

Mancini, who had just lost his job as a staff composer at Universal, took the assignment, and his sharp, contemporary score for “Peter Gunn” not only became a winning element in the series, but also the heart of a No. 1 album.

One of Mancini’s strengths was spotting great talent. He called on masterful lyricist Johnny Mercer to come up with words for a song for Edwards’ film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and the result was “Moon River.” Mancini and Mercer again teamed on the melancholy “Days of Wine and Roses.”

Over the course of the three discs, Mancini’s music is sometimes too sweet, but the best of it sparkles with romanticism and wit.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).