Love Story is the thirty fifth original studio album released by singer Johnny Mathis

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...

.

Overview

This is an adult contemporary/pop album that features Mathis performing cover versions of recent hit songs and film theme songs. Musical direction is provided by Perry Botkin, Jr.

Perry Botkin, Jr.

Perry Botkin, Jr. is an American composer, producer, arranger, and musician. He had a successful career in music for over forty years. As an arranger, he worked with Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, The Lettermen, Ed Ames, and Harpers Bizarre, among others...

 and Robert Mersey.

Track listing

1. "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story" - 2:45
2. "Rose Garden" - 2:51
3. "Ten Times Forever" - 2:36
4. "It's Impossible
   It's Impossible (song)
   "Somos Novios " is a song written by the premier Mexican bolero composer Armando Manzanero in 1970. The song was translated into English immediately by Sid Wayne and first recorded by Perry Como the same year under the title It's Impossible. It is one of the most popular boleros of all time...
   
   " - 3:00
5. "I Was There" - 2:26
6. "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
   What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
   "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" is a song with lyrics written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman and original music written by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending in which Bill Eaton sings it under the opening credits...
   
   " - 3:00
7. "We've Only Just Begun
   We've Only Just Begun
   "We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...
   
   " - 3:05
8. "Traces" - 2:45
9. "For the Good Times
   For the Good Times (song)
   "For the Good Times" is a 1970 song penned by Kris Kristofferson that appeared on his debut album Kristofferson.Later that year, Ray Price recorded a version of the song which topped the U.S. country music charts and was awarded "Song of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music...
   
   " - 3:42
10. "My Sweet Lord
    My Sweet Lord
    "My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...
    
    " - 3:16
11. "Loss of Love" - 2:51

Billboard Charts

This album peaked at #47 on the Billboard album chart, Mathis' forty first album to place on the chart. Mathis also scored a hit single from this album with "Ten Times Forever More" reaching #30 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Highlights

Over the years, Mathis has frequently recorded the music of Henry Mancini

Henry Mancini

Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...

 and 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...

 and the lyrics of 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 work of these music greats is heard on this album. Bacharach's "Ten Times Forever More" features the lyrics of frequent collaborator 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:...

 while the Bergmans lyrics are set to Michel LeGrand

Michel Legrand

Michel Jean Legrand is a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist...

's haunting music on "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" is a song with lyrics written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman and original music written by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending in which Bill Eaton sings it under the opening credits...

" the theme to the 1969 film "The Happy Ending

The Happy Ending

The Happy Ending is a 1969 film written and directed by Richard Brooks, which tells the story of a repressed housewife who longs for liberation from her marriage...

." The 1970 film "Sunflower" featured the song "Loss of Love" while the title cut is also from a film, 1970's "Love Story

Love Story (1970 film)

Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal and based on his novel Love Story. It was directed by Arthur Hiller. The film, well known as a tragedy, is considered one of the most romantic of all time by the American Film Institute , and was followed by a sequel, Oliver's Story...

" and was a hit for Andy Williams

Andy Williams

Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...

.

Among the contemporary hits covered here are "We've Only Just Begun

We've Only Just Begun

"We've Only Just Begun" is the signature song of The Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams , and is often used as a wedding song. The song was ranked at #405 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".The song was recorded by Smokey Roberds, a friend...

" a #2 hit in 1970 for The Carpenters

The Carpenters

Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...

 while "My Sweet Lord

My Sweet Lord

"My Sweet Lord" is a song by former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison from his UK number one hit triple album All Things Must Pass. The song was written in praise of the Hindu god Krishna...

" was a #1 in 1971 for George Harrison

George Harrison

George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...

. "Rose Garden" was a #3 hit for Lynne Anderson while "For The Good Times

For the Good Times (song)

"For the Good Times" is a 1970 song penned by Kris Kristofferson that appeared on his debut album Kristofferson.Later that year, Ray Price recorded a version of the song which topped the U.S. country music charts and was awarded "Song of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music...

" topped the country charts for its composer Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson

Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...

. And, "It's Impossible

It's Impossible (song)

"Somos Novios " is a song written by the premier Mexican bolero composer Armando Manzanero in 1970. The song was translated into English immediately by Sid Wayne and first recorded by Perry Como the same year under the title It's Impossible. It is one of the most popular boleros of all time...

" was a surprise top ten hit in 1970 for Perry Como

Perry Como

Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...

.