Johnny (Johnny Mathis album)
Encyclopedia
Johnny is the nineteenth album released by singer Johnny Mathis
. It was his fifteenth original studio album with four compilations of hit singles having been released by the singer at this point.
who had scored "Rapture
" the previous year, Mathis is heard in a program of ballads and swingers. As with most of Mathis' albums around this time, the program is made up of well known standards through to rarer material making for a interesting listening experience.
including the composer's work on a number of his previous albums. On this album he sings Porter's "I Love You
" in a powerful performance. From Rodgers and Hart
's 1935 show "Jumbo
" comes "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
" in a spirited, uptempo performance that includes the rarely heard verse. Also from Broadway
comes "Never Never Land" by Jule Styne
with lyrics by Comden and Green from their 1954 musical "Peter Pan
". The lyrics of Johnny Mercer
are given thoughtful performance on "(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young
" while Sarah Vaughan
's 1956 revival of "Poor Butterfly
" surely inspired Mathis to record this 1916 popular song based on the story of Puccini's opera "Madama Butterfly
". The album also includes a lovely version of the standard "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me".
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 was his fifteenth original studio album with four compilations of hit singles having been released by the singer at this point.
Overview
Collaborating once again with arranger/conductor Don CostaDon Costa
Don Costa was an American pop music arranger and record producer, best known for his work with Frank Sinatra.-Career:...
who had scored "Rapture
Rapture (Johnny Mathis album)
Rapture is the seventeenth album released by singer Johnny Mathis. It was his fourteenth original studio album with three compilations of hit singles having been released by the singer at this point.-Overview:...
" the previous year, Mathis is heard in a program of ballads and swingers. As with most of Mathis' albums around this time, the program is made up of well known standards through to rarer material making for a interesting listening experience.
Track listing
- "Easy Does It" - 2:08
- "The Most Beautiful Girl in the WorldThe Most Beautiful Girl in the WorldThe Most Beautiful Girl in the World may refer to:*"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" , a 1935 song by Rodgers and Hart*"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" , a 1994 song by Prince...
" - 3:45 - "Miracles" - 2:51
- "(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was YoungWhen the World Was Young is a popular song composed by M. Philippe-Gerard, with lyrics by Angele Vannier. The English lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer. The original French title was "Le Chevalier de Paris"....
" - 3:47 - "Never Never Land" - 4:01
- "Poor ButterflyPoor Butterfly"Poor Butterfly" is a popular song. It was inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly and contains a brief musical quote from the act 2 duet Tutti i fior in the verse....
" - 4:15 - "Jump For Joy" - 2:15
- "Joey, Joey, Joey" - 3:56
- "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me" - 3:00
- "I Love YouI Love You (Cole Porter song)"I Love You" is a song written by Cole Porter in 1944 for his stage musical Mexican Hayride. It was popularized by Bing Crosby in the same year...
" - 3:27 - "A Weaver of Dreams" - 3:13
- "No Man Stands Alone" - 2:35
Billboard Album Chart
This was Mathis' eighteenth consecutive charting album peaking at #20 on the Billboard album chart in its original release.Highlights
At this point, Mathis had recorded many songs by Cole PorterCole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
including the composer's work on a number of his previous albums. On this album he sings Porter's "I Love You
I Love You (Cole Porter song)
"I Love You" is a song written by Cole Porter in 1944 for his stage musical Mexican Hayride. It was popularized by Bing Crosby in the same year...
" in a powerful performance. From Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist Lorenz Hart...
's 1935 show "Jumbo
Jumbo (musical)
Jumbo is a musical produced by Billy Rose, with music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and book by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.-Production:...
" comes "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World may refer to:*"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" , a 1935 song by Rodgers and Hart*"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" , a 1994 song by Prince...
" in a spirited, uptempo performance that includes the rarely heard verse. Also from 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...
comes "Never Never Land" by Jule Styne
Jule Styne
Jule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
with lyrics by Comden and Green from their 1954 musical "Peter Pan
Peter Pan (1954 musical)
Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark "Moose" Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty...
". The lyrics of Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
are given thoughtful performance on "(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young
(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young
When the World Was Young is a popular song composed by M. Philippe-Gerard, with lyrics by Angele Vannier. The English lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer. The original French title was "Le Chevalier de Paris"....
" while 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."...
's 1956 revival of "Poor Butterfly
Poor Butterfly
"Poor Butterfly" is a popular song. It was inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly and contains a brief musical quote from the act 2 duet Tutti i fior in the verse....
" surely inspired Mathis to record this 1916 popular song based on the story of Puccini's opera "Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Puccini based his opera in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" by John Luther Long, which was dramatized by David Belasco...
". The album also includes a lovely version of the standard "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me".