The Pink Panther Theme States) in 1964; the single reached the Top 10 on the U.S. "Billboard" adult contemporary chart and won three Grammy Awards. Various recordings of the composition appeared in the opening credits of all "The Pink Panther" films except "A Shot in the Dark" and "Inspector Clouseau". It has also been used in countless works in which the animated Pink Panther appears. "The Pink Panther Theme", composed in the key of E minor, is unusual for Mancini's extensive use of chromaticism. In his autobiography "Did They Mention the Music?" Mancini talked about how he composed the theme music: From 1976 to
Henry Mancini from the Motion Picture ..." He routinely retained the rights to his music. Mancini's contracts allowed him to release his own albums for which he rearranged the score music into arrangements more appropriate for listening outside of the context of the film/theater. Actual film scores using players from Hollywood unions recording under major motion picture studio contracts were expensive to release on LP (ex: the soundtrack for 'Our Man Flint' (not a Mancini score) cost $1 more than other LP albums of the day). Many soundtrack albums used to claim "Original Soundtrack" or words to that effect, but were not