Romantically

Romantically
Studio album by Johnny Mathis
Released 1963
Genre Pop
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Johnny Mathis chronology

Johnny
(1963)
Romantically
(1963)
Sounds of Christmas
(1963)

Romantically (1963) is the 20th album released by Johnny Mathis. It is his 16th original studio album, with four compilations of hit singles having been released by him at this point. It is also the final original studio album recorded by Mathis for Columbia Records prior to his moving to Mercury Records. Mathis had recorded exclusively for Columbia from 1956 to 1963. After a brief stint with Mercury, he returned to Columbia in 1967.

Overview

Collaborating for a third time on an album with arranger/conductor Don Costa, Mathis is heard on a program of songs reminiscent of any number of his preceding albums. The songs range from standards, Broadway and movie songs through to a number of rare items resulting in a fine representation of the singer at this point in his career.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link

Track listing

  1. "Getting to Know You" – 3:11
  2. "Moonlight in Vermont" – 3:40
  3. "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" – 3:30
  4. "Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)" – 3:51
  5. "Autumn in New York" – 4:50
  6. "In Wisconsin" – 3:15
  7. "All That Is Missing" – 2:58
  8. "The Sound of Music" – 3:22
  9. "Theme from "Carnival!"" – 2:33
  10. "Too Young to Go Steady" – 3:42
  11. "It's Only a Paper Moon" – 3:53
  12. "September Song" – 4:07

Billboard Album Chart

This is Mathis' 19th consecutive charting album peaking at #23 on the Billboard album chart in its original release.[1]

Highlights

From the Broadway stage come two songs penned by Rodgers and Hammerstein, "Getting To Know You" from 1951's The King and I and "The Sound of Music" from the 1959 show of the same name. Also from Broadway comes "September Song" from 1938's Knickerbocker Holiday. Interestingly, the 1953 film Lili featured the song "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo". When the story of that film was used for the 1961 show Carnival!, "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" was replaced in the score with "Theme from 'Carnival!'". Mathis sings both these songs on this album. Standards included on this set include Harold Arlen's "It's Only a Paper Moon", another nod to two of his musical heroes, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald also recorded "Moonlight in Vermont" and "Autumn in New York", as did Frank Sinatra. Mathis sings both here in beautifully realised performances.

References

  1. All Music, Billboard Album Chart Position

External links