Olé (Johnny Mathis album)
Encyclopedia
Olé is the twenty first original studio album released by singer Johnny Mathis
and his fifth album for Mercury Records
.
The album features arrangements by Allyn Ferguson
who served as Mathis' musical director at the time while the orchestra was conducted by Jack Feierman.
while "Babalu
" was a signature song for Desi Arnaz
who often performed it on the "I Love Lucy
" television series.
A notable film from 1959, "Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus
)", featured the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim
, Vinícius de Moraes
and Luiz Bonfá
. From its score come "Manhã de Carnaval (Morning of the Carnival)" and "Samba de Orfeu" both of which are given authentic interpretations in the original Portuguese language.
Moving to the light classical music on the album, "Granada
" has long been a favourite of operatic tenors with versions recorded by such luminaries as Franco Corelli
and Placido Domingo
. The work of Heitor Villa-Lobos
was often performed and recorded by Victoria de los Angeles
. For this album, Mathis performs the composer's Bachianas Brasileiras
.
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...
and his fifth album for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.
Overview
Of the many studio albums of Johnny Mathis, this is undoubtedly his most unusual, a collection of Latin American songs sung in the original languages. The album shows Mathis' gift for language as well as his courage as an artist to experiment with material outside his known style and repertoire. Also, the inclusion of classical music on this album is a testament to the talent and technique of the singer.The album features arrangements by Allyn Ferguson
Allyn Ferguson
Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. was an American composer, best known for the themes for 1970s television programs Barney Miller and Charlie's Angels, which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott...
who served as Mathis' musical director at the time while the orchestra was conducted by Jack Feierman.
Track listing
- "GranadaGranada (song)"Granada" is a Mexican song written in 1932 by Agustín Lara. The song is about the Spanish city of Granada and has become a "standard" in music repertoire....
" - 3:11 - "Without You (Tres Palabras)" - 2:45
- "Medley: Genrique/Felicidade" - 4:20
- "Manhã de Carnaval (Morning of the Carnival)" - 3:12
- "Samba de Orfeu" - 2:23
- "La Montana" - 3:35
- "BabaluBabalu (song)Babalu is the title of a Cuban song, written by Margarita Lecuona, the cousin of composers Ernestina and Ernesto Lecuona. The song title is either a reference to the Santería deity Babalu Aye or to Babalawo, the title of a Santería priest and diviner....
" - 2:45 - "Serenata" - 3:37
- "Bachianas Brasileiras, Pt. 1-3Bachianas BrasileirasThe Bachianas Brasileiras constitute a series of nine suites by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, written for various combinations of instruments and voices between 1930 and 1945...
" - 7:01
Billboard Album Chart
To this point, Mathis had enjoyed an incredibly successful run of hit albums with twenty five consecutive entries on the Billboard album chart. This album was his first since 1957 not to place on the chart.Highlights
For this album, Mathis chose a selection of Latin American music that ranges from popular songs, film music and light classical songs. "Serenata" with English lyrics had been a hit for Sarah VaughanSarah 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."...
while "Babalu
Babalu (song)
Babalu is the title of a Cuban song, written by Margarita Lecuona, the cousin of composers Ernestina and Ernesto Lecuona. The song title is either a reference to the Santería deity Babalu Aye or to Babalawo, the title of a Santería priest and diviner....
" was a signature song for Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer. While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is probably best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to...
who often performed it on the "I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
" television series.
A notable film from 1959, "Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus
Black Orpheus
Black Orpheus is a 1959 film made in Brazil by French director Marcel Camus. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which is an adaptation of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, setting it in the modern context of a favela in Rio de Janeiro during the Carnaval...
)", featured the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
, Vinícius de Moraes
Vinicius de Moraes
Marcus Vinicius de Moraes , known as Vinicius de Moraes and nicknamed O Poetinho , was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Son of Lydia Cruz de Moraes and Clodoaldo Pereira da Silva Moraes, he was a seminal figure in contemporary Brazilian music...
and Luiz Bonfá
Luiz Bonfá
Luiz Floriano Bonfá was a Brazilian guitarist and composer best known for the compositions he penned for the film Black Orpheus.-Biography:...
. From its score come "Manhã de Carnaval (Morning of the Carnival)" and "Samba de Orfeu" both of which are given authentic interpretations in the original Portuguese language.
Moving to the light classical music on the album, "Granada
Granada (song)
"Granada" is a Mexican song written in 1932 by Agustín Lara. The song is about the Spanish city of Granada and has become a "standard" in music repertoire....
" has long been a favourite of operatic tenors with versions recorded by such luminaries as Franco Corelli
Franco Corelli
Franco Corelli was a famous Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was celebrated universally for his powerhouse voice, electrifying top notes, clear timbre, a...
and Placido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
. The work of Heitor Villa-Lobos
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer, described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the best-known and most significant Latin American composer to date. He wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works...
was often performed and recorded by Victoria de los Angeles
Victoria de los Ángeles
Victoria de los Ángeles was a Spanish Catalan operatic soprano and recitalist whose career began in the early 1940s and reached its height in the years from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Her obituary in The Times noted that she must be counted “among the finest singers of the second half...
. For this album, Mathis performs the composer's Bachianas Brasileiras
Bachianas Brasileiras
The Bachianas Brasileiras constitute a series of nine suites by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, written for various combinations of instruments and voices between 1930 and 1945...
.
External links
- [ All Music Review]