Johnny is an
album by American pop singer
Johnny Mathis that was released on July 15, 1963,[1] by
Columbia Records and later described on
Allmusic as "a nice blend of standards, show tunes and then-new compositions."[3]
The
LP debuted on Billboard magazine's
album chart in the issue dated August 24, 1963, and remained there for 27 weeks, during which time it got as high as number 20.[6] One song from the album, "No Man Can Stand Alone", had been released on May 7 of that year as the
B-side of "Every Step of the Way".[2]
This album was "remixed and mastered from the original session tapes in 20-bit
Super Bit Mapping"[1] for its first release on compact disc on May 7, 1996.[7]
Reception
Cub Koda of
Allmusic described this Mathis outing as "one of his best… with Costa's arrangements fitting like a glove around Mathis's pipes."[3] He also mentions some standout performances. "Everything on here works just fine, but pay special attention to '
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World', 'I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me',
Cole Porter's '
I Love You', and
Duke Ellington's 'Jump for Joy'."[3] The reviewer concludes, "No big hits on here, maybe, but a more solid track-by-track Johnny Mathis album you'd be hard pressed to find."[3]
Upon its release, the review in Billboard was more focused upon his switch from Columbia to
Mercury Records. "Mathis has departed the label, but his memory (in terms of sales and dollars and cents) is likely to linger on with this latest grouping, done up to
Don Costa's slick arrangements."[5]
Track listing
Side one
"Easy Does It" (Kenny Jacobson, Rhoda Roberts) – 2:08
January 3, 1963 – "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me", "I Love You", "Miracles", "Poor Butterfly"
January 7, 1963 – "(Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young", "Joey, Joey, Joey", "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", "No Man Can Stand Alone", "Weaver of Dreams"
January 8, 1963 – "Easy Does It", "Jump for Joy", "Never Never Land"
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abcdefgh(1996) Johnny by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records CK 64893.
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abc(2017) The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music Entertainment 88985 36892 2.