I'll Buy You A Star
Encyclopedia
I'll Buy You A Star is the fourteenth album released by traditional pop vocalist Johnny Mathis
. It is the twelfth 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.)
. The involvement of Riddle, who had previously worked with such musical heavyweights as Frank Sinatra
, Nat King Cole
, Ella Fitzgerald
, Judy Garland
and Peggy Lee
shows the stature of Mathis in the music world in 1961. As with his previous album, "Johnny's Mood
", Mathis chose to record a collection of songs ranging from standards and film songs through to less well known material. In a departure from the winning Mathis ballad album formula, this album includes both ballads and swinging uptempo material.
", gets the album off to a solid swinging start. This is followed by a lush, romantic treatment of the standard "Stairway to the Stars
" which finds Mathis recreating the high note re-entry following the orchestral bridge that had been such a feature of his classic version of "Misty
." The song "Smile" has a melody by film great Charlie Chaplin
while the rare verse is included on "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street." The less well known "Magic Garden" has lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
the lyric writing husband and wife team whose work has often been recorded by Mathis while "Love Look Away" from Rodgers and Hammerstein
's musical "Flower Drum Song
" was a particular favourite with Mathis' British fans and is the second song from that show recorded by the singer. Finally, "The Best is Yet to Come
" was one of the newer songs included on the album and was made popular by both Tony Bennett
and Frank Sinatra
.
Polly Bergen
and her father, Bill Bergen, performed a duet of "I'll Buy You A Star" on her 1957-1958 variety show
, The Polly Bergen Show
, which aired on NBC
.
When the album first appeared on CD in 1996. it included four bonus tracks by Mathis and Riddle recorded during the album sessions but originally released as singles. Those four tracks would appear on later compilations of Mathis work. Both "Jenny" and "Should I Wait (Or Should I Run To Her)" appeared on Mathis' very next album "Portrait Of Johnny
" in 1961 while "Wasn't The Summer Short" was included on 1963's "Johnny's Newest Hits
" and "Wherever You Are It's Spring" was part of the 1964 set "I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
."
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 twelfth 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 is the first of two album collaborations with legendary arranger and conductor Nelson RiddleNelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
. The involvement of Riddle, who had previously worked with such musical heavyweights as 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...
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, 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...
, Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
and Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
shows the stature of Mathis in the music world in 1961. As with his previous album, "Johnny's Mood
Johnny's Mood
Johnny's Mood is the thirteenth album released by traditional pop vocalist Johnny Mathis. It is the eleventh original studio album recorded by the singer -Overview:Continuing with the winning formula of recording lush, romantic ballads, the album was...
", Mathis chose to record a collection of songs ranging from standards and film songs through to less well known material. In a departure from the winning Mathis ballad album formula, this album includes both ballads and swinging uptempo material.
Track listing
- "I'll Buy You a Star" - 3:20
- "Stairway To The StarsStairway to the Stars"Stairway to the Stars" is a popular song composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.-Notable recordings:* Glen Miller and His Orchestra, vocals by Ray Eberle...
" - 4:51 - "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" - 3:30
- "Magic Garden" - 3:58
- "Smile" - 3:15
- "Oh, How I Try" - 3:40
- "Ring the Bell" - 1:57
- "Love Look Away" - 3:28
- "Sudden Love" - 3:28
- "The Best Is Yet to ComeThe Best Is Yet to Come (song)"The Best is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing, accompanied by Count Basie, under the direction of Quincy Jones...
" - 3:42 - "Warm and Willing" - 3:13
- "My Heart and I" - 3:29
Billboard Album Chart
This album was the thirteenth consecutive Johnny Mathis album to chart. Unlike his previous albums that had all peaked in the top 10, this set peaked at a respectable #38 on the Billboard album chart in its original release.Highlights
The title song, from the 1951 Broadway musical "A Tree Grows in BrooklynA Tree Grows in Brooklyn (musical)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a musical with a book by George Abbott and Betty Smith, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Arthur Schwartz....
", gets the album off to a solid swinging start. This is followed by a lush, romantic treatment of the standard "Stairway to the Stars
Stairway to the Stars
"Stairway to the Stars" is a popular song composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.-Notable recordings:* Glen Miller and His Orchestra, vocals by Ray Eberle...
" which finds Mathis recreating the high note re-entry following the orchestral bridge that had been such a feature of his classic version of "Misty
Misty
Misty may refer to:* Misty , a United States satellite program* Misty , a British comic published from 1978 to 1984* Misty , a 1961 adaptation of the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry...
." The song "Smile" has a melody by film great Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
while the rare verse is included on "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street." The less well known "Magic Garden" has lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
Alan Bergman
Alan Bergman is an American lyricist and songwriter.-Life & career:Born in Brooklyn, New York, he studied at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UCLA. His involvement in the entertainment industry began in the early 1950s as a director of children's television shows...
the lyric writing husband and wife team whose work has often been recorded by Mathis while "Love Look Away" from 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...
's musical "Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song was the eighth stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was based on the 1957 novel, The Flower Drum Song, by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee. The piece opened in 1958 on Broadway and was afterwards presented in the West End and on tour...
" was a particular favourite with Mathis' British fans and is the second song from that show recorded by the singer. Finally, "The Best is Yet to Come
The Best Is Yet to Come (song)
"The Best is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing, accompanied by Count Basie, under the direction of Quincy Jones...
" was one of the newer songs included on the album and was made popular by both Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and 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...
.
Polly Bergen
Polly Bergen
Polly Bergen is an American actress, singer, and entrepreneur.-Career:Bergen appeared in many film roles, most notably in the original Cape Fear opposite Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum...
and her father, Bill Bergen, performed a duet of "I'll Buy You A Star" on her 1957-1958 variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, The Polly Bergen Show
The Polly Bergen Show
The Polly Bergen Show is a half-hour 18-episode comedy/variety show, starring then 27-year-old Polly Bergen, which aired on NBC in the 1957-1958 television season. The program is remembered for its impressive guest-star lineup as well as its closing theme song, "The Party's Over" .The Polly Bergen...
, which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
When the album first appeared on CD in 1996. it included four bonus tracks by Mathis and Riddle recorded during the album sessions but originally released as singles. Those four tracks would appear on later compilations of Mathis work. Both "Jenny" and "Should I Wait (Or Should I Run To Her)" appeared on Mathis' very next album "Portrait Of Johnny
Portrait Of Johnny
Portrait Of Johnny is the fifteenth album released by singer Johnny Mathis. It the third compilation of hit singles released by the singer.-Track listing:#"Starbright"#"While You're Young"#"Should I Wait "#"All Is Well"...
" in 1961 while "Wasn't The Summer Short" was included on 1963's "Johnny's Newest Hits
Johnny's Newest Hits
Johnny's Newest Hits is the eighteenth album released by Johnny Mathis. It was the fourth compilation of hit singles released by the singer.-Track listing:#"What Will My Mary Say"#"Gina"#"Unaccustomed as I Am"#"Sweet Thursday"#"There You Are"...
" and "Wherever You Are It's Spring" was part of the 1964 set "I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits is the twenty second album released by legendary singer Johnny Mathis. It was the fifth compilation of hit singles released by the singer from his first Columbia Records period, 1956-1963.-Track listing:...
."
External links
- [ All Music Review]