Shangri-La (1946 song) Shangri-La (1946 song) "Shangri-La" is a popular song written by bandleader Matty Malneck and Robert Maxwell in 1946 with lyrics by Carl Sigman. The term comes from "Shangri-La" as the hidden valley of delight in James Hilton's 1933 novel "Lost Horizon". The term "Shangri-La," especially in the 1930s and 1940s, was slang for heaven or paradise, and the song is about the joy of being in love. Composer Maxwell's instrumental version (saxophone/organ lead with brass and rhythm), which featured his harp solo, which is heard in the introduction as well as in the coda section of the song, charted in
Lost Horizon (1973 film) and successful partnership was effectively terminated by their experiences working on the score. Bacharach felt that the producers were sanctioning weakened versions of his music, and he attempted to exert greater influence over what was being developed. However this led to him being banned from the editing suite. His animosity towards David, who he felt was inadequately supportive, destroyed their professional relationship. Bacharach's own vision of the music was later realised in his album "Living Together" (1974). "Lost Horizon" was such a poor performer at the box office that the film subsequently gained the nickname "Lost Investment". Bette Midler alluded