Heavenly (Johnny Mathis album)
Encyclopedia
Heavenly is the tenth album released by vocalist Johnny Mathis
. It is the eighth original studio album recorded by the singer (two hit singles compilations Johnny's Greatest Hits
and More Johnny's Greatest Hits
were among his album releases to this point.)
, which remained on the Billboard album chart for 490 weeks.
", originally recorded and released on this album. The song began its life as an instrumental by pianist Errol Garner. With lyrics added by Johnny Burke
, it was recorded by Sarah Vaughan
for her album Vaughan And Violins
under the direction of Quincy Jones
. But it was Mathis' version that helped to make the song a standard. Subsequent versions by Frank Sinatra
and Ella Fitzgerald
helped to solidify its status. The song was also a hit single for Mathis, earning him a Gold record and peaking at #12 on the Billboard Singles Chart.
The album's title song is the work of Burt Bacharach
prior to his success with Hal David
in the 1960s. The balance of the songs on the album derive from the Broadway
stage and Tin Pan Alley
. "Hello, Young Lovers
" is from The King and I
by Rodgers and Hammerstein
, a songwriting team whose work Mathis has often recorded and performed. "Strangers In Paradise
" is from Kismet
, a 1953 musical
. It had been a hit for Tony Bennett
and is the first of several songs Mathis would record from the show. From the 1946 show Annie Get Your Gun
with a score by Irving Berlin
comes the ballad "They Say It's Wonderful
."
Of the song standards included on the album, the best known include "More Than You Know
", "That's All
" and "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
".
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. It is the eighth original studio album recorded by the singer (two hit singles compilations Johnny's Greatest Hits
Johnny's Greatest Hits
Johnny's Greatest Hits is the fifth album release by vocalist Johnny Mathis and the first compilation of his hit singles released by Columbia Records in 1958...
and More Johnny's Greatest Hits
More Johnny's Greatest Hits
More Johnny's Greatest Hits is the ninth album released by vocalist Johnny Mathis. It the second compilation of hit singles released by the singer.-Track listing:#"Small World" - 3:21#"Someone" - 2:58#"Very Much In Love" - 2:48...
were among his album releases to this point.)
Overview
This album, arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser, is the epitome of the successful album formula that had characterised most of the previous Mathis albums: lush orchestrations, lavish production and a collection of ultra romantic songs given the sensitive, vocal treatment of a young singer in the first flush of his success.Track listing
- "HeavenlyHeavenlyHeavenly may refer to:In music:* Heavenly , a twee pop band from Oxford, England* Heavenly , a power metal band from Paris, France* Heavenly , released in 1959....
" - 3:23 - "Hello, Young LoversHello, Young Lovers (song)"Hello, Young Lovers" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. It is sung by Anna, played by Gertrude Lawrence in the original Broadway production, by Valerie Hobson in the original London West End production, and by Deborah Kerr in the film version...
" - 4:18 - "A Lovely Way To Spend An EveningA Lovely Way to Spend an Evening"A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" is a popular song with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Harold Adamson, published in 1943.The song is considered a pop standard, recorded by many artists.-Recorded versions:*The Angels*Shirley Bassey*Shocky...
" - 4:04 - "Ride On A Rainbow" - 4:11
- "More Than You KnowMore Than You Know (1929 song)"More Than You Know" is a popular song, with music written by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. The song was published in 1929....
" - 4:18 - "Something I Dreamed Last Night" - 4:32
- "MistyMisty (song)"Misty" is a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner.Originally composed as an instrumental following the traditional 32-bar format, the tune later had lyrics by Johnny Burke and became the signature song of Johnny Mathis, reaching #12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in 1959...
" - 3:38 - "Stranger In ParadiseStranger in ParadiseStranger in Paradise may refer to:* "Stranger in Paradise" , a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet based on "Polovetsian Dances" from Borodin's Prince Igor* "Stranger in Paradise" , by Isaac Asimov...
" - 4:06 - "Moonlight Becomes YouMoonlight Becomes You (song)Moonlight Becomes You is a popular song, composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was written for the Paramount Pictures release Road to Morocco and published in 1942 in connection with the film...
" - 4:06 - "They Say It's WonderfulThey Say It's Wonderful"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun , where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.It was sung by Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man 3 .-Notable recordings:...
" - 3:33 - "I'll Be Easy To Find" - 4:04
- "That's AllThat's All"That's All" is a 1952 song written by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes. It has been covered by many jazz and blues artists. The song is part of the Great American Songbook...
" - 3:50
Billboard album chart
This album is considered Mathis' most successful original album, peaking at #1 on the Billboard album chart in its original release, his ninth consecutive album to chart. Its success is only surpassed by his 1958 release Johnny's Greatest HitsJohnny's Greatest Hits
Johnny's Greatest Hits is the fifth album release by vocalist Johnny Mathis and the first compilation of his hit singles released by Columbia Records in 1958...
, which remained on the Billboard album chart for 490 weeks.
Highlights
The ultimate in romance is Mathis' version of "MistyMisty (song)
"Misty" is a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner.Originally composed as an instrumental following the traditional 32-bar format, the tune later had lyrics by Johnny Burke and became the signature song of Johnny Mathis, reaching #12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in 1959...
", originally recorded and released on this album. The song began its life as an instrumental by pianist Errol Garner. With lyrics added by Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke was a Newfoundland songwriter and musician. He was nicknamed the 'Bard of Prescott Street'. He wrote many popular songs that artists in the 1930s and 1940s released.Popular songs by Burke include:* The Night Paddy Murphy Died...
, it was recorded by Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
for her album Vaughan And Violins
Vaughan and Violins
Vaughan and Violins is a 1959 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, orchestrated and conducted by Quincy Jones. -Reception:The Allmusic review by Dave Nathan awarded the album four and a half stars and said that "these sessions catch Sarah Vaughan at her magnificent best. There may be claims of overdoing...
under the direction of Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
. But it was Mathis' version that helped to make the song a standard. Subsequent versions by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
helped to solidify its status. The song was also a hit single for Mathis, earning him a Gold record and peaking at #12 on the Billboard Singles Chart.
The album's title song is the work of Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
prior to his success with Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
in the 1960s. The balance of the songs on the album derive from the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
stage and Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
. "Hello, Young Lovers
Hello, Young Lovers (song)
"Hello, Young Lovers" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. It is sung by Anna, played by Gertrude Lawrence in the original Broadway production, by Valerie Hobson in the original London West End production, and by Deborah Kerr in the film version...
" is from The King and I
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
, a songwriting team whose work Mathis has often recorded and performed. "Strangers In Paradise
Strangers in Paradise
Strangers in Paradise is a long-running, mostly self-published black-and-white comic book, written and drawn by Terry Moore. The series has reached its planned conclusion, finishing off in 2007 with issue #90 of volume 3....
" is from Kismet
Kismet (musical)
Kismet is a musical with lyrics and musical adaptation by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Alexander Borodin, and a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, based on Kismet, the 1911 play by Edward Knoblock...
, a 1953 musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
. It had been a hit for Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and is the first of several songs Mathis would record from the show. From the 1946 show Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
with a score by Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
comes the ballad "They Say It's Wonderful
They Say It's Wonderful
"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun , where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.It was sung by Kirsten Dunst in Spider-Man 3 .-Notable recordings:...
."
Of the song standards included on the album, the best known include "More Than You Know
More Than You Know (1929 song)
"More Than You Know" is a popular song, with music written by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. The song was published in 1929....
", "That's All
That's All
"That's All" is a 1952 song written by Alan Brandt and Bob Haymes. It has been covered by many jazz and blues artists. The song is part of the Great American Songbook...
" and "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
"A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" is a popular song with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Harold Adamson, published in 1943.The song is considered a pop standard, recorded by many artists.-Recorded versions:*The Angels*Shirley Bassey*Shocky...
".
Grammy Hall of Fame
Further establishing the enduring quality of Mathis' early work is the fact that "Misty" from this album was included in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. This special Grammy award category was established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old at the time of being honoured and that have "qualitative or historical significance."External links
- [ All Music Review]
- Johnny Mathis singing "Misty"