The Love Story album from Johnny Mathis is one of his most realized, produced during a decade when he worked with producers ranging from Richard Perry and Jerry Fuller to one of the proponents of the Philly sound, Thom Bell. Here the singer is in a comfortable setting with producer Jack Gold, ably assisted by arranger and conductor Perry Botkin, Jr. a couple of years before Botkin hit with "Nadia's Theme (The Young & the Restless)." Even the front and back cover photos have a different aura, with Mathis dressed in black with a white collar, peering out of an all-black cover and looking deep in thought. His rendition of "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story" is riveting, a sweeping and majestic piece to lead off the record, and not the usual Jack Gold musical movement, but more pronounced and determined. The Top Ten hit, of course, went to Andy Williams in 1971, with Henry Mancini going Top 15 and Francis Lai taking the same title Top 35, all in the same year.

The competition was intense, and maybe that's why the team pulled out all the stops here. They then take Lynn Anderson's 1970 Top Three hit "Rose Garden" and fuse the pop with big band, eliminating whatever elements sent it to number one on the country charts for Anderson. As a pure pop tune, it works very well, a standout performance chock-full of backing vocalists and unique instrumentation. This could have been a hit for Mathis, as it goes beyond the usual formula of "let's put some sweet accompaniment behind the voice and let Johnny do his thing."

"Ten Times Forever More" sweeps in with backing vocalists as if the Ray Conniff Singers suddenly showed up to duet with Johnny. No doubt Perry Botkin Jr. greatly influenced this project. Perry Como's Top Ten nugget "It's Impossible" gets equal time, with the arrangement, production, and backing vocals all stunning. This was a big year for the crooners, and Mathis reinterpreting these new classics was essential. No mere run-throughs, the recording and performances are on par with the hit versions. Robert Mersey steps in to arrange and produce one track, "I Was There," and it does have a different feel to the rest of the album, sounding vocally like Mathis' 1964 Top Ten hit "What Will Mary Say." "What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life" closes out a powerful and exhausting side one. The second side goes back to what producer Mitch Miller prescribed for this artist: careful and pleasant versions of "We've Only Just Begun," the Classics IV's "Traces," "For the Good Times," and "My Sweet Lord." George Harrison's number seems like an outtake when compared to the tour de force of side one or even the awe-inspiring Phil Spector/George Harrison production of the original hit. Taking Dennis Yost to task on "Traces" is easy for Mathis, but not bringing in the bells and whistles for "My Sweet Lord" was a mistake given all the attention focused on "Rose Garden" and the tunes at the beginning of the LP.


Where do I begin
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start

With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There'd never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart

She fills my heart with very special things
With angels' songs , with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go I'm never lonely
With her around, who could be lonely
I reach for her hand-it's always there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she?ll be there

How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she'll be there

"Various Artists-(Where Do I Begin) Love Story", sound recording administered by The Orchard Music, SME
(thanks for allowing this to remain)
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Copyright Disclaimer--"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

This is a Classic A & P Christmas Record LP named "Christmas Greetings" Distributed by A&P Supermarkets in the late 60's or early 70's.. I have had this album since then and cherish the memories it brings.

Christmas Greetings - Volume 1
Columbia Special Products
Distributed by A&P Supermarkets
Stereo CSS-1499
RCA Victor Stereo RVS81
Date: Unknown

"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956.

"Maria" is sung by the male lead Tony when he learns the name of the girl he's fallen in love with is "Maria". The name "Maria" is spoken or sung in the song 27 times. It begins in B major and then modulates to E-flat major.

Johnny Mathis' version reached #78 on the US Billboard Top 100 in 1961.

Maria
The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria.
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria.

Maria, I've just met a girl named Maria,
and suddenly the name will never be the same to me.
Maria! I've just kissed a girl named Maria.
And suddenly I've found how wonderful a sound can be.
Maria, say it loud and there's music playing.
Say it soft and it's almost like praying,
Maria, I'll never stop saying: "Maria!"

Maria, Maria,
Say it soft and it's almost like praying,
Maria, I'll never stop saying: "Maria!"

The most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
Mari.......a.


Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
© 1956, 1957 Amberson Holdings LLC and Stephen Sondheim. Copyright renewed.
Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, Publisher.

From the CD Album "Johnny Mathis - The Ultimate Hits Collection", Music & Lyrics By Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington

Johnny and Henry Mancini. What a great combination. I have to say that I have this one a very long time. I didn't remember what CD or LP it was from, so I went hunting online and found that it's from, "The Hits of Johnny Mathis," and that album cover in the video didn't even ring a bell but it's out there and you can buy it. It's just beautiful. He sang it in concert this year and it was even more beautiful. If he's in your area, go see him and enjoy.

From the original album: "Love Is Blue" 1968

Photos: Special thank you to Deedee, and bigphotos and naturephotos.com

Orig. 12-inch DISCO-Version, 1979. BEST VERSION OF ALL TIME! .HERE COMES THE LYRICS:

When they begin the beguine
It brings back the sound of music so tender
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
It brings back a memory ever green

I'm with you once more under the stars
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
And even the palms seem to be swaying
When they begin the beguine

To live it again is past all endeavor
Except when that tune clutches my heart
And there we are, swearing to love forever
And promising never, never to part

What moments divine, what rapture serene
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
I know but too well what they mean

So don't let them begin the beguine
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the beguine

Let them begin the beguine, make them play
Till the stars that were there before return above you
Till you whisper to me once more, darling, I love you
And we suddenly know what heaven we're in when they begin

When they begin the beguine
When they begin the beguine
When they begin the beguine

A beautiful love song given the Mathis touch.

Johnny Mathis - And Her Mother Came Too. 1982 .

Extract VHS

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship,and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Johnny Mathis goes straight to my heart with the best rendition of this song that I've ever heard. You can purchase this beauty on his CD, "Warm."



Composers: Davis and Silver

I love the spiritual message of the song and Johnny Mathis just delivers the message with perfect "clarity " and beauty. A great way to start any day.

You can get this beautiful song on the CD, "The Essential Johnny Mathis." You can also get it from iTunes.

This beautiful song and movie have been a part of my life since I was a child. The original movie version was also beautifully sung by Vic Damone. I really wanted to put together my favorite movie of all time with my favorite singer of all time and so I did. I really can't say that I made this video. The photos "made" the video from the movie and all are from the original 1957 film. I added very little to them.

I own about four copies of this film. I must have seen it over two hundred times since it came out and I watch it at least once a year at Christmas time. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is one of the best films ever made. I highly recommend the movie which can be purchased/rented online and, of course, the song, as sung by Johnny Mathis here, from his original Mercury recordings, now re-mastered and on CD from the album, "Love Is Everything."

Photos: An Affair To Remember
Video: Creative Commons


When by granddaughter watched this movie, at age 16, she said at the end, tears streaming down her face, "This is such a beautiful love story and you never even saw them kiss." And, she was right.


"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment,
news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use
permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of
fair use."

Another song, done to perfection by Johnny Mathis that I really love. Makes me want to go to Paris, so I hope I take you there in this video too.

You can purchase this wonderful song in the boxed set, "The Music Of Johnny Mathis, a personal collection."

Original album: "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," 1970.

I feel that we could use a little Spring right now.

Johnny Mathis With Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass . September 11 .1965 . Hollywood Bowl . Audio Only . Johnny Mathis - 00.00 - 21.30 - Minutes - Johnny Mathis - 1hr 20 Minutes - 2hr 28 Minutes.
Johnny Mathis was one of those artists who transitioned over from Jazz/Pop to traditional Pop and ballads, including a lot of showtunes and standards, making a household name for himself and becoming an icon because of it.

Mathis had broad appeal and was featured prominently on Late Night TV (Johnny Carson), numerous variety programs of the time and would continue to ring up handsome figures in album sales well into the 80s and 90s.

So as much as you’d like to think the world abruptly changed in the direction of John, Paul, George and Ringo, there was still a substantial fan base for someone of Johnny Mathis’ appeal and unique talents.

This concert, which also features Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, was hosted by the Stereo Store in the San Fernando Valley, House Of Sight And Sound and was emceed by the KMPC disc jockeys.

Bear in mind, this concert is fifty-three years old and was presented at a time when Traditional Pop still had popularity with the Top-40 crowd as was evidenced by Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, which was enjoying top-10 status with most Rock Stations around the country in 1965.

The other thing – which is something you definitely would not find now is the humor of Bill Dana, who introduces The Tijuana Brass. Dana, who was a popular comedian as well as writer, established a career for himself in the character of José Jimenez, a somewhat stereotyped Bolivian who was very popular in the late 1950s/early 1960s, but who would be considered today as downright offensive. Times change – and so does music.

Here’s a reminder that The Hollywood Bowl was a showcase for a wide spectrum of Artists throughout the years – and this was what Pop Music was about in the early 1960s.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship,and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

"Mathis suffuses with a selflessness one imagines the composers had in mind when conceiving Jean Valjean's aching prayer" -- Liner notes from "Mathis on Broadway", 2000, Jay Landers and Richard Jay-Alexander, regarding the beautiful, soulful song, "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables (composers Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer). Somehow I missed including this earlier on as one of my many favorites from this incredible CD. Listening to this is (as written in the notes) like taking a front row seat as "the legendary Johnny Mathis takes center stage on Broadway." It's hard to improve on these wonderful notes- so I won't try... take a listen: "An artist whose voice is his own finely tuned instrument...a songwriter's dream singer...experience a great artist - who is also a genuine and caring individual.. give life to these marvelous creations. As expected, he's indelibly stamped them his own." .... "Curtain up!" Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.