Customer Reviews

Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While no one--including Johnny Mathis--would ever mistake the balladeer for a Jazz singer, he has always had a musical and social pedigree steeped in the genre. He doesn't specifically sing Jazz, but a close listen reveals that he phrases like the best of Jazz singers.

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC places Mathis precisely where he has always done his best work: singing Jazz-influenced Traditional Pop. The title cut, along with LOVE IS HERE TO STAY, and THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH keep Mathis in his trademark lush romantic territory. He included the often excluded prelude to COTTAGE FOR SALE and delivers Jobim's DINDI in a soft samba tempo.

DAY BY DAY, THIS CAN'T BE LOVE, and ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE are performed in mid-tempo to a decidedly upbeat swing. Even Mathis' duet with Ray Charles (OVER THE RAINBOW) works well in this package, in spite of the fact that it's release on Charles' last output (GENIUS LOVES COMPANY) is barely a year old.

Backed by a solid quintet led by the understated piano of Mike Lang, along with a full orchestra arranged by Jorge Calandrelli, ISN'T IT ROMANTIC is one of Mathis' most seamless and thematically cohesive efforts in years--And one that resonates with the Jazz and Standards roots that have served him and his audiences so well for nearly fifty years.

Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album features Johnny Mathis front and center--the way he certainly deserves to be! This fine CD is one of my favorites to enjoy over and over again. Johnny really spreads his wings and flies on this album; and that's quite all right by me!

"Isn't It Romantic" starts the CD set with Johnny singing so beautifully; he never misses a note and the musical accompaniment works wonders for this ballad. Johnny's voice is in excellent form; it's truly just like a finely tuned instrument that conveys every subtle nuance of the lyrics to his audience. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" has a very slow tempo that will make you want to jump up and slow dance with your sweetheart wherever you are--this is wonderful music for lovers! "Day By Day" shines so brilliantly when Johnny delivers this like the pro he was and still remains! The musical interlude is very elegant and pretty, too.

"Dindi" allows Johnny to really sing a song with exceptional grace, heart and soul. "Dindi" has a fine musical arrangement to complement Johnny's vocals. "There's A Kind Of Hush" allows Johnny to cover this tune by Herman's Hermits; and they sure would be proud to hear this rendition! I sincerely believe that Johnny's rendition of this ballad is THE definitive rendition of "There's A Kind Of Hush."

"This Can't Be Love" is a distinctly upbeat number with a jazzy arrangement to make it sparkle; and "Almost Like Being In Love" features Johnny's ability to sing a romantic number practically better than any other crooner ever could.

The album ends with a moving rendition of "Over The Rainbow" by Johnny Mathis and the immortal Ray Charles. These two men sing passionately and "Over The Rainbow" makes a strong ending for this album.

My only disappointment that is the album doesn't have a couple more songs on it. Ten tracks is a bit skimpy and I wish there were another song or two. Disappointment!

Nevertheless, Johnny Mathis fans will want this album in their collections. Johnny sings effortlessly because he remains a masterful crooner with exceptional talent. Fans of classic pop vocals will also be charmed by this CD.

MATHIS ALBUM BEST SINCE 1960s---
Johnny Mathis has done the best recordings since 1960 on this album "Isnt It Romantic" its gone straight in to my top 10 favourite Mathis albums.(I have 100 plus)
The mans voice is astounding, so rich smooth and as usual effortles. The orchestra is just out of this world and the pace of each recording brings a new quality to the lyrics of the Great writers of these classic songs.
I love the song "Dindi" my favourite here, I wish Mathis would record a full album of latin songs like this one, this recording just blows me away. "The Rainbow Connection" is a heart-melter from The Muppets. "A Kind of Hush" tenderly sung and then swings to the orchestrations. Mathis and Ray Charles duet " Over the Rainbow is included here what can be said that already hasnt,a deserved Grammy Winner for being original and so unique.
This album shows that Johnny Mathis is the best singer in the business and I would say Tony Bennett is a close 2nd.
I cant fault this album in any way. The younger stars of today like Bubble and Feinstein 2 other great artists,would struggle to match the quality of this singer. You can hear the difference in Johnny Mathis from yesteryear, naturally, he is nearly 70 but he just doesnt sound it at all.
The voice is not worn or tired in any way. Its richer,deeper, softer,less highly pitched, more baritone- just beautiful.
The Producer and arranger here has to be mentioned "Jorge Calandrelli" whom Ive never heard of before now ,"where have you been all the years Johnny Mathis has been recording?" Please do another album with him soon you have the ultimate compliment together.
To any real collector or appreciation of a Great Voice for jazz or easy listening then this is an absolutley MUST HAVE cd. (Iam going to buy another just for back up) hehe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do................... AAAAA+++++ 5-STARS

They don't call Johnny Mathis the King of Romance for nothing, and with "Isn't it Romantic" he proves once again why he deserves that title. There are songs that seem to be made for Johnny Mathis, and this collection of songs include some of them. Johnny's rendition of "Day by Day" and "Dindi" are brillantly orchestrated and sung. Its a well known fact that Johhny Mathis loves to record with a live orchestra as he does here. His voice shines through on each and every song effortlessly. Even in a rare instance, when you catch a word in a lyric where he may not have caught it just right and it went just a tiny bit flat, as in "This Can't be Love", its ok, thats the best part of knowing your getting the true unretouched voice, and not the magic of technology. Which as you know if it wanted to, can make even Kermit the frog sound good, on every word and every syllable in that word, but you would miss the true essence of a master singer at work. None of that fix it up technological magic is needed here, give me the natural performance any day, it's the best, as is Johnny Mathis. Also included in this collection, is "There's a Kind of Hush" this rendition reminds me of Natalie Merchants version of "One Fine Day", maybe the slower pace is all these songs needed to make them go from good to great. With the Nat King Cole classic "This Can't Be Love" you will also find "Almost Like Being In Love" these are two examples of how Johnny Mathis can take well known songs and find a way to make them his own, by giving it that Mathis touch. The only negative, if any, is the inclusion of "Over The Rainbow", not that it is bad by any means, its great, but it is on the final Ray Charles CD, "Genius Loves Company". I would have liked it instead if Johnny could have included a song like "Pure Imagination" as one of the selections on this CD. I recently saw Johnny Mathis in concert, and he performed this song, and he performed it beautifully. All in all this is a must buy CD. For those Johnny Mathis fans it's another CD to add to your already large collection. For those few who are not yet Johnny Mathis fans, this and other Johhny Mathis CDs will make you ask yourself one question....Why am I not a Johnny Mathis fan? He is simply the best there is bar none.

Prime Cuts: There's A Kind of Hush, Cottage for Sale, The Rainbow Connection

As he has done all through his career, Mathis has once again grace us with a grand swath of standards from composers including Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Harold Arlen and Alan Jay Lerner. So, what makes this CD indispensable? What keeps this album from being tautological? Regardless of the innumerable permutations of these classics, this veteran of romantic musical excavates has a way of approaching each song with a stunning balance of emotional commitment and seasoned command. Though Mathis has had tackled most of the chestnuts from the American songbook, it's hard to imagine he's had not covered "Love Is Here to Stay" until now. Nevertheless, it's better late than never as Mathis shows us one again how he can take a classic love ballad and sing it as if he owned the song. "The Rainbow Connection," often associated with the Jim Hensons' the Muppet Show, is another highlight. Given a grandiose production backed by some lush sounding orchestra, this is track which will linger with affectionate aftertaste.

Of a more unlikely cover is the Brit Invasion hit (also associated with the Carpenters) "There's A Kind of Hush." Performed at a languid, but chimerical pace, Mathis' much toned down version of this understated love ballad is stellar. Even when romance has lost its luster, Frank Sinatra's more obscure "Cottage for Sale," has never sounded more lonesome as Mathis plaintively croons: "A little dream castle/With every dream gone/Is lonely and silent/The shades are all drawn/And my heart is heavy/As I gaze upon/A cottage for sale." Loneliness has never shutter with such starkness and embitterment. Picking up the tempo, though not the emotional disposition, "Almost like Being in Love" has a swinging feel with a waltzing tilt.

With no disrespect to the late Ray Charles, this jazz legend was not at his best when dueting with Mathis on "Over the Rainbow." In fact, not only does Charles sound a haggard, but a little off beat. Incidentally, "Over the Rainbow" is also found on Charles' final duets CD "Genius Loves Company." Technically, this means that there are only 9 newly recorded tracks here. In this day and age where most CDs contain an average of 10-12 songs, this is quite a fleece. Nevertheless, despite these minor quibbles, the meritorious quality of "Isn't It Romantic" once again acquits this 60-something crooner with honors.

He must be doing something right! It's amazing how well he has preserved the strength and quality of his voice throughout the years. Great album! Buy it! "The Rainbow Connection" and "Cottage For Sale" will bring you to tears.

By the way, Columbia must've changed the CD cover after the initial release of this album, because my copy's cover is different. Anyway, the new picture is better anyway.

Johnny Mathis is still One of those voices that hasn't been given His Due as one of the most known Voices in Music. this set shows His depth&Range. Johnny Mathis ain't lost a thing. still has One of the Smoothest Voices to Ever Hit the Airwaves.good arrangements,Musicianship&Smooth flow.

The only problem with this cd is that it just isn't long enough! Mathis fans will not feel let down. Others will hear what "standards" are supposed to sound like. Try some songs from the great American songbook sung by a real singer instead of a rock and roller who can't sing in the first place. Even "The Rainbow Connection" sounds new when it's given full orchestration. "Cottage for Sale" is perfect. Johnny Mathis still sounds like Johnny Mathis. Still great after all these years. This cd will leave you wanting more.
This CD has grammy written all over it. I buy just about all the cds that come out with songs from the Great American Songbook and am very familiar with the great vocalists. This cd is worth your spending your hard earned money on.
Again, I just wish it were longer.

Johnny Mathis performs 10 classic song standards, and I loved them all. His voice is so pleasant and smooth. This CD is definitely romantic. There are some great love songs on this CD like Isn't It Romantic and There's a Kind of Hush. The song Cottage For Sale is the kind of song that gives you a warm cozy feeling. Listening to these songs made me wish that I had someone to hold in my arms. Johnny picks up the pace a little bit on the track This Can't Be Love. Johnny gives a lively upbeat performance on this track. His duet Over The Rainbow with the late great Ray Charles is one of my favorites. These two legendary voices sound perfect together. I also enjoyed the song Almost Like Being In Love. The sax playing on this track sounds so good. Another highlight track on this CD for me is track the Rainbow Connection. I first heard this song performed in the Muppet movie when I was a kid, and I have loved it ever since. Johnny sings this song just delightfully. The entire CD is filled with beautiful music. I highly recommend it.

You really have to ask yourself when listening to this outstanding cd;has anyone ever sustained continual excellence in performace more than Johnny Mathis? Some facts, he has been recording since he was 21 and recorded this gem at 69. Simply incredible. What he has done as an recording artist is to progressively learn to interpret his songs. There have been some great reviews here on Amazon about the selections, and I cannot add much more as to the individual selections. I can hardly wait for his 50th anniversary original cd that I hope comes out next year. It will have been worth the wait.