Customer Reviews

Those Were The Days/Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet

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Finally, this great album is available on CD. I remember Mary Hopkin's big hit, "Those were the Days" and I remember not really caring for this song at that time. An English dance hall hit? The 60's really did accomodate just about any style of music, but what Mr. Mathis did with this song is just amazing, he made it his own. Enough cannot be said about what sounds like a typo, "Light My Fire", though Jose Feliciano did it in his own style and had a huge hit, too. Johnny Mathis sings it with much strength and Robert Mersey's incredible arrangement surrounds his voice with a majestic Latin/Jazz version that is as strong a song as the original version. "Little Green Apples" is another standout version of a great Bobby Russell compostition, originally done by the wonderful OC Smith, but again, in a soulful arrangement that brings out the best in what makes Johnny Mathis, Johnny Mathis. "This Guy's In Love With You", a #1 hit for Herb Alpert, is slowed down and sung ever so romantically in an arrangement by D'Arneill Pershing (one of two of his arrangements).

Much credit must go to the very underrated, Robert Mersey, who produced the entire album, and who arranged & conducted all but two songs. He really understood the many strengths of the most wondrous voice that is Johnny Mathis and surrounds it with arrangements that complement and highlight it so that I can say that this album is one of the best in a long line of albums dating back to the 50's. Super romantic songs like, "Every Time I Think of You" and "You Make Me Think About You" round out an album that can be played today, and it still sounds so good! It was very fortunate to have Johnny Mathis return to Columbia in the mid 60's after a short time at Mercury because Columbia seems like home for him.

"Love Theme From "Romeo & Juliet"" was released in 1969 and included many of the hits of the time. "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" was notable because Ernie Freeman's arrangement switched the two songs from "Hair" around, and it still worked. "The Windmills of Your Mind" is very much a counterpart to Dusty Springfield's version. Songs like "Without Her" by Harry Nilsson and Bacharach/David's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" again help to emphasize what Mr. Mathis could do to make contemporary hits of the time his own.

Many, many thanks to Collector's Choice for finally releasing what many fans have been waiting for, for over 40 years!

Unlike his contemporaries such as Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, Jerry Vale, etc, who released cover albums of hits of the day in an almost cookie cutter fashion, Johnny Mathis re-interpreted many of the songs in a way that made them his own. In the "Those Were the Days" album he gives a surprisingly soulful, jazzy treatment of "Little Green Apples" and almost exceeds Feliciano's heartfelt rendition of "Light My Fire." The Robert Mersey arrangements are just extraordinary and lead Mathis in vocal territory far beyond his early hits such as "Chances Are." For those who only know Johnny by those Glenn Osser, Percy Faith "sweet" records this new compilation is bound to be a delightful and startling surprise. I once heard a Chicago DJ say, "Johnny Mathis doesn't write songs .... until he sings them." The re-issue of these classic albums is great news for Mathis fans new and old.

I love to hear Johnny Mathis sing; he could sing out the telephone book and I would be standing there, applauding and wanting so much more! His incredible sense of timing, his diction and an abundance of pure, innate talent to interpret a tune are very evident on these CDs with all the tracks from two of Johnny's record albums on the Columbia label, "Those Were the Days" and "Love Theme from `Romeo and Juliet.'" Robert Mersey wrote stunning arrangements for most of the first album; and Ernie Freeman deserves mention for his arrangements on the other album, "Love Theme from `Romeo and Juliet'." The quality of the sound is excellent all the way through; and I like that Collector's Choice put each of the two albums on its own CD.

"Those Were the Days" gets the royal treatment from Johnny; his version ranks superior to the one by Mary Hopkins! Johnny sings this with all his heart and soul and he never lets go of a single superfluous note. Johnny does "Little Green Apples" Johnny with panache, too. "The End of the World" is a true gem when Johnny gives it his touch; this rendition has Johnny squarely in the spotlight and that lush musical arrangement perfectly complements his singing every step of the way. "This Guy's in Love with You" shines bright in Johnny's most capable hands; he sings it a bit more slowly than I've heard others do it but Johnny's version is so great that this is truly a stand-out number. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" features Johnny doing yet another magnificent cover; and I really like Johnny's sublime treatment of "Light My Fire." "Every Time I Dream of You" is just wonderful; and listen for Johnny to perform the poignant "The World I Used to Know." "You Make Me Think about You" is very easy on the ear; and Johnny's "Turn Around Look at Me" moves me greatly every time I hear it! Terrific!

On the second disc we get the tracks from "Love Theme from 'Romeo and Juliet'." I never heard this ballad sound any better than when Johnny Mathis performed it; his performance is flawless and memorable to say the least. His covers of "Aquarius" and "Let the Sunshine In" from the musical "Hair" boast fine interpretations that yet again more than prove Johnny's superlative talent; and there's another winning track in "Without Her" as Johnny handles subtle changes in tempo and keys like the master he is and always will be! "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is magnificent; and I really like "Live for Life" and "We" that have Johnny doing them with style and sensitivity. Other lovely numbers include the poignant, decidedly melancholy "Didn't We;" "Love Me Tonight" with that very good arrangement; "The Windmills of Your Mind" that Johnny aces as if it were mere breathing--although, of course, we know it really wasn't all that easy. Johnny's talent always carries him through! "The World I Threw Away" has Johnny putting so much special meaning into it; and the album ends with Johnny Mathis performing "Yesterday When I Was Young" beautifully.

Johnny Mathis fans who have worn out the grooves in their vinyl record albums (like me) can rejoice that CD sets like this one have been released. This is a must-have for Johnny Mathis fans and newcomers to Johnny's brilliance alike. In addition, people who enjoy easy listening music and lighter pop vocals from the sixties would do well to get this two CD set.

It's hard to believe the longevity of the Johnny Mathis recording career which has now spanned fifty-three years with every hope of a new album being released to excite his vast fan-base. However, backtracking to his earlier albums, those with worn out vinyl will welcome the fact Collector's Choice Music has invaded the vaults and selected ten of the best Mathis albums for release on five CD sets with each separate album given its separate disc - a move which will no doubt suit those who prefer their albums reissued this way.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS was released in 1968 and heralded a welcome return to Columbia after Johnny's three-year tenure with Mercury Records where he recorded a number of critically acclaimed but commercially less successful albums. Concentrating on "covers" of then popular contemporary material, there's fortunately little compromise in the Mathis vocal magic even though Paul Simon's 59th STREET BRIDGE SONG and LIGHT MY FIRE (originally a hit for Jose Feliciano) can be viewed as less than suitable material. However, LITTLE GREEN APPLES, THE END OF THE WORLD and the Glen Campbell hit TURN AROUND LOOK AT ME better serve the Mathis vocal style as country favourites, with the album's title song - originally a success for Mary Hopkins - hitting the button of nostalgia. The Bacharach/David hit THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU is romantically appropriate with the lesser-known EVERY TIME I DREAM OF YOU and YOU MAKE ME THINK ABOUT YOU providing winning performances to equal anything Johnny had ever previously recorded.

The second album LOVE THEME FROM "ROMEO AND JULIET" released the same year, returned to Johnny's familiar song territory with a collection mainly dedicated to stage and screen material headed by Nino Rota's A TIME FOR US - the haunting theme of Franco Zeffirelli's masterful cinematic Shakespeare adaptation. Adding Francis Lai's LIVE FOR LIFE; the Oscar-winning song THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND (Michel Legrand/Alan & Marilyn Bergman)from THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR and the lesser-known Henry Mancini/Rod McKuen co-written number WE (ME NATALIE) ensured strong contenders to represent the silver screen. Broadway supplied HAIR'S intertwined AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE and I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN from the Bacharach/David smash PROMISES, PROMISES. The remainder of the album showcases Johnny's covers of then current pop-songs - WITHOUT HER, LOVE ME TONIGHT (a Tom Jones hit) and THE WORLD I THREW AWAY. Jim Webb's DIDN'T WE has since become a contemporary standard as has the strongly nostalgic Charles Aznavour/Herbert Kretzmer song YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

Collectors' Choice Music always ensure high standards are reached and the presentation of these albums is matched by excellent liner notes for each album and reproduction of original covers, release dates, catalogue numbers and chart positions. Therefore, the complete series of five CD sets is highly recommended.

Excellent album with classic songs performed by a great voice. Don't miss it if you really loves soft listening.

Collector's Choice has made a good job with Sony Music. At last Sony allowed reissue a series of Johnny Mathis' rare albums, some very good, some neglectable.

Albums were issued in twofers containing separate CDs for each album which impacts on very good sound quality.

Program consists of 4 albums from the first Mathis era on Columbia Records, the best part of the story. Great idea to count on twofers which joins 2 collaborations each, one two collaborations with Don Costa and another with two collaborations with Nelson Riddle.

Another twofer includes two unnecessary compilation albums on Columbia with material originated in the Global Records masters. Better have issued the original Global albums, mainly the first ones with Don Costa, Allyn Ferguson, Glenn Osser and Lincoln Mayorca. Albums like `Tender is The Night' and `The Sounds of Christmas' with Don Costa, or `The Wonderful World of Make-Believe', The Sweetheart Tree', and `This Is Love' or `Love is Everything' with Glenn Osser are greatly beyond a mere fanatic fan interest, simply top quality top Mathis.

There is a gap in Mathis career when he returned to Columbia after his Global Records times. More worried about getting easy success with commercial hits, he's recorded many cover albums with only a few good material here and there.

Unfortunately, Collector's Choice picked up a good set of CDs from this second Mathis era on Columbia or maybe these albums were the only ones that Sony would have allowed to reissue. These neglectable albums and twofers include `Love is Blue', `Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet', and `Those Were The Days' where you'll find professional Mathis but quite no inspired Mathis.

One exception is certainly the title `Up Up and Away', a great and inspired set with arrangements by the great Glenn Osser, the staff arranger at Columbia Records who made his way working for Mathis and for Tony Bennett. This album is offered in the twofer with the neglectable album `Love Is Blue'.album

Hope that Collector's Choice does not stop trying.