Customer Reviews

I'm Coming Home

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In the 1970s Johnny Mathis proved beyond a shadow-of-a-doubt that he was more than just a "Romantic Singer." Blessed with the Pop-Soul-cum-Classical compositions and arrangements of Thom Bell, along with the tender lyrics of Linda Creed, Mathis placed his mellifluous vocals on the "original" recordings of "Life Is a Song Worth Singing", "A Baby's Born", "Sweet Child", and others.

Many of the tracks featured here became, and continue to be, Mathis concert favorites (e.g. "I'm Coming Home", the title track). A rather overlooked gem is "Foolish", a song in perfect mid-tempo that utilizes Mathis' exquisite lower register singing lryics that remind us of the risks and virtues of performing acts of human kindness.

A crystal clear remastering is rendered here. This CD should be a welcome addition to anyone who wishes to upgrade from their original vinyl LP. Additionally, this CD is the perfect purchase for younger fans who are just beginning to discover the diversity of Mathis' prodigious--and steadily growing--discography.

When I read about this album the two things that caught my eye were Thom Bell and Johnny Mathis. I'd never heard of this album or that Mathis and Bell collaborated. I bought the CD without hearing a single track. I must say that it's the best money I've spent. This is the best collaboration that Bell has done with any artist. This tops his collaborations with Ronnie Dyson & Elton John. Every single song on this album is fantastic, especially "Foolish". If "Foolish" would have been released and pushed the right way it would have been a hit. "Foolish" still has the potential to become a Quiet Storm classic. I highly recommend this album. Thanks to Columbia for unearthing such a great treasure!!!

Almost twenty years after his debut and establishing himself as the "king of romantic ballads", Johnny Mathis tried something different. Allying himself with lyricists/producers Thom Bell and Linda Creed, themselves having scored major hits with other artists, Mathis released "I'm Coming Home", a MOR collection that comes closest to being (as Mathis could) an R & B album.

As a previous reviewer has stated, Mathis does well in his interpretation of the title cut (a hit for The Spinners), "I'm Still in Love With You" and "Stop! Look! Listen" (both songs topping the charts for The Stylistics), and "Foolish," also recorded by Deniece Williams.

However, it's on the non-covers where the singer has his greatest successes. "A Baby's Born" is sheer heaven while "And I Think That's What I'll Do" and "I Just Wanted to Be Me" reveal a side of Mathis that had been previously untapped.

Had his company pushed the album a little harder, this might have been one of the bestsellers of 1973.

Maybe, three decades later, some respect (and increased sales) may be attained.

I remember this album as a child, when my mom would play it every day. It was nice, calming, relaxing and I am so excited that I can get it for her to have again. I think its a beautiful album that any lover of Johnny Mathis or music in general should want to have in their collection.

I discovered this album in the mid 70's and made a copy on cassette that I kept for years (the album wasn't easy to find even then). When I made the switch to CD's years later the album had simply disappeared and no one knew anything about it. I can't belive someone finally recognized what an incredible treasure this album is and released it on CD. I don't particularly like most of Johnny Mathis' music, but this is a departure that produced fantastic results. Unfortunately, Johnny didn't make any more similar to it.

In the early 70's my dad discovered this record and due to much play by all family members, it became a part of our nostalgia and musical history. To this day I love it! I have to agree with an earlier comment that I've never been a huge Mathis fan, mainly due to his choices of music and singles etc. But he set a high watermark with this record. If you love truly great R&B songwriting, performance and production this album stands the test of time and is really a beautiful piece of work. It's very AC/MOR but having said that I loved it as a 14 year old and I love it today. Check it out!

From the title song, I'm Coming Home, to the very last track on the album, this is a collection of songs by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that is sung beautifully (as usual) by Johnny Mathis. I'd Rather Be Here With You is the prettiest song on the album to me. Mr. Mathis sings each song with passion as he does with everything he sings. Although the Stylistics had a "hit" with I'm Stone In Love With You, Johnny sings it his way and puts his own stamp on it. I'm Coming Home is melancholy, beautiful, with a fresh sound to the Mathis legacy. This album is worth coming home to hear over and over again.

In the 70's when this album came out, the first time I heard "I'm Coming Home" I ran out and bought the album. To this day it is my favorite of his. It was such a diversion from his normal releases. They were all good, but this was over the top for Johnny, and still is. All of the song's in this album were a perfect combination, and every one was terrific, a rare find! I still have my first copy packed away somewhere, but now it's time for a CD. Even if you're not a Mathis fan, you will love this one. I had to talk a friend into listening to it when I first got it. Her husband was a musician and neither were fans. But once they heard it, they loved it and bought a copy. I too am surprised it didn't get more attention then it did in the 70's. Let's re release it Johnny or do another like it. Way over due!

It's a dog gone shame and a crime that this album did not get the credit and the sells it deserved when it was initially released. There is not one mediocre song on it. There is nothing even close to being called "filler," material. I remember hearing "Life Is A Song Worth Singing," on the radio back then and just assumed that the whole album did well but it didn't do anything near what of what it should have.

How things like that happen has been and will always be a mystery in the music business. Independent producer, and arranger, Thom Bell pulled out all the stops for this album and it shows. What a beautiful guitar opening and ending he crafted for, "Stop Look Listen." For me, this album fits the mood of the winter months and that's when I like to play it most. If you like the type of music that JM is known for and and have never heard this album, I can't imagine you being dissapointed with it. Bell had previous sucesses with the Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners and others. But even that is not the whole story on Thom. He was a childhood friend of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and all three of these men were responsible for what would become "The Philly Sound," or "The Sound of Philadelphia." Don't be alarmed, the beautiful, sweet, classy arrangements that characterized his work with the Delfonics and Stylistics continue here.

Thom and Bobby Martin arranged some of the biggest songs that came out on Philadelphia International Records during the 70's. Even before that decade, the Philly sound had become so popular, that record companies would send their artist (Jerry Butler, Laura Nyro, Wilson Pickett, Joe Simon, Dusty Springfield, The Soul Survivors, etc.), there to get that "Philly Sound, get a hit record or get their carrers back on track. I say all that to say that Mathis was in good hands with Thom, lyricist Linda Creed and the talented musicians that were used on the album. A very solid, piece of work.

I can't believe what this is going for on Amazon. Is it all of a sudden out of print again (this time on cd)? I'd better lock my copy away.

When Johnny Mathis began working with Thom bell his career had hit a temporary slump. While not a huge commercial success this album did a great deal to revive Johnny's then-flagging career--so much so, in fact, that many of its tracks have become standards throughout the years. A classic in every way.