The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway
Encyclopedia
The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway is the twelfth album released by singer Johnny Mathis
. It is the tenth original studio album recorded by the singer (two hit singles compilations "Johnny's Greatest Hits
" and "More Johnny's Greatest Hits
" were among his album releases to this point.) Originally released in 1960 as a two lp set, it was also released as two single lp's as "The Rhythms of Broadway" and "The Ballads of Broadway" respectively.
, for this album that function was handled by Glenn Osser for the ballads record and by Ralph Burns
for the uptempo record. While the ballads follow the pattern of his previous performances being touched with typical Mathis elegance and restraint, the uptempo numbers find Mathis in a very loose and uninhibited state which may surprise those only familiar with his later work. Indeed, on the upbeat songs he at times seems to channeling one of his musical heroes, Lena Horne
, emulating her exaggerated enunication and throwing in a number of Horne's guttural growls for effect. While exciting in their way, these performances owe more to Horne than Mathis and he is more effective on uptempo material on other albums such as 1958's "Swing Softly
" and 1962's "Live It Up!
."
. For this collection he included four songs by this great composer, all on the uptempo record: "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)" from 1928's "Paris
", "You Do Something To Me
" from 1929's "Fifty Million Frenchmen
", "Let's Misbehave
" from 1937's "You Never Know
", and "I Am in Love
" from 1953's "Can-Can
."
To this point, Mathis had less frequently dipped into the catalogue of Rodgers and Hart
. However, their work is heavily featured throughout this collection with five of their collaborations recorded: "Dancing On The Ceiling
" from 1930's "Ever Green
", "My Romance
" from 1935's "Jumbo
", "I Wish I Were in Love Again
" from 1937's "Babes In Arms
" and "I Married an Angel
" and "Spring Is Here
" from the 1938's "I Married an Angel."
Other notable songs on the album include the Gershwin's "Isn't It a Pity?
" from 1933's "Pardon My English
", Lerner and Loewe
's "I Could Have Danced All Night
" from 1956's "My Fair Lady
", "The Party's Over
" from 1956's "Bells Are Ringing
" with music by Jule Styne
and lyrics by Comden and Green, Rodgers and Hammerstein
's "A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from 1949's "South Pacific
" and "I Have Dreamed
" from 1951's "The King And I
", Frank Loesser
's "Guys and Dolls
" from the 1950 musical of the same name, and "Everything's Coming Up Roses
" from 1959's "Gypsy: A Musical Fable
" which featured the words of Stephen Sondheim
set to the music of Jule Styne
.
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. It is the tenth original studio album recorded by the singer (two hit singles compilations "Johnny's Greatest Hits
Johnny's Greatest Hits
Johnny's Greatest Hits is the fifth album release by vocalist Johnny Mathis and the first compilation of his hit singles released by Columbia Records in 1958...
" and "More Johnny's Greatest Hits
More Johnny's Greatest Hits
More Johnny's Greatest Hits is the ninth album released by vocalist Johnny Mathis. It the second compilation of hit singles released by the singer.-Track listing:#"Small World" - 3:21#"Someone" - 2:58#"Very Much In Love" - 2:48...
" were among his album releases to this point.) Originally released in 1960 as a two lp set, it was also released as two single lp's as "The Rhythms of Broadway" and "The Ballads of Broadway" respectively.
Overview
While the earlier Mathis albums had mostly been recorded under the musical direction of Percy FaithPercy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
, for this album that function was handled by Glenn Osser for the ballads record and by Ralph Burns
Ralph Burns
Ralph Burns was an American songwriter, bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and bebop pianist.-Early life:...
for the uptempo record. While the ballads follow the pattern of his previous performances being touched with typical Mathis elegance and restraint, the uptempo numbers find Mathis in a very loose and uninhibited state which may surprise those only familiar with his later work. Indeed, on the upbeat songs he at times seems to channeling one of his musical heroes, Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
, emulating her exaggerated enunication and throwing in a number of Horne's guttural growls for effect. While exciting in their way, these performances owe more to Horne than Mathis and he is more effective on uptempo material on other albums such as 1958's "Swing Softly
Swing Softly
Swing Softly is the sixth album released by Johnny Mathis. It was his fifth original studio album .-Overview:...
" and 1962's "Live It Up!
Live It Up! (Johnny Mathis album)
Live It Up! is the sixteenth album released by singer Johnny Mathis. It was his thirteenth original studio album with three compilations of hit singles having been released by the singer at this point.-Overview:...
."
Track listing
- "Moanin' Low"
- "Fun to Be Fooled"
- "I Have DreamedI Have Dreamed (song)"I Have Dreamed" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. In the original Broadway production it was sung by Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas. It has since become a standard, with many artists recording the song...
" - "On the Sunny Side of the StreetOn the Sunny Side of the Street"On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a song with music composed by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, which was introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie's International Revue, starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence....
" - "My RomanceMy Romance (song)"My Romance" is a popular song, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, written for Billy Rose's musical, Jumbo . In the 1962 movie version of Jumbo, Doris Day performed the song....
" - "Dancing on the CeilingDancing on the CeilingDancing on the Ceiling is Lionel Richie's third album, which was released on July 15, 1986. The title cut was the second biggest single from the album, reaching #1 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK...
" - "I Married an AngelI Married an AngelI Married An Angel is a musical comedy by Rodgers and Hart. It was adapted from a play by Hungarian playwright János Vaszary, entitled Angyalt Vettem Felesegul. The book was by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, with music by Rodgers and lyrics by Hart. The story concerns a wealthy banker who,...
" - "Isn't It a Pity?Isn't It a Pity?"Isn't It a Pity?" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the 1933 musical Pardon My English. It was introduced by George Givot and Josephine Huston.-Notable recordings:...
" - "Spring Is HereSpring Is Here"Spring is Here" is a 1938 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical I Married an Angel , where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal.-Notable recordings:...
" - "Don't Blame MeDon't Blame Me (song)"Don't Blame Me" is a popular song with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The song was published in 1933.The song received two significant "rock era" remakes: a mellow ballad version by the Everly Brothers, released by Warner Bros...
" - "Taking a Chance on LoveTaking a Chance on Love"Taking a Chance on Love" is a popular song by Vernon Duke with lyrics by John Latouche and Ted Fetter, published in 1940 , which has become a standard recorded by many artists. It was introduced in the 1940 show Cabin in the Sky, a ground-breaking Broadway musical with an all black cast, where it...
" - "The Party's OverThe Party's Over (1956 song)"The Party's Over" is a popular song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It was introduced in the 1956 musical comedy Bells Are Ringing by Judy Holliday. Nat King Cole, Smoking Popes and Lonnie Donegan recorded popular versions. Shirley Bassey recorded the song for...
" - "Everything's Coming Up RosesEverything's Coming up Roses"Everything's Coming Up Roses" is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman....
" - "Guys and DollsGuys and DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
" - "I Wish I Were in Love AgainI Wish I Were in Love Again"I Wish I Were in Love Again" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney performed it in the 1948 film Words and Music...
" - "You Do Something to MeYou Do Something to Me"You Do Something to Me" is a song written by Cole Porter. It is notable in that it was the first number in Porter's first fully integrated-book musical Fifty Million Frenchmen...
" - "Let's MisbehaveLet's Misbehave"Let's Misbehave" is a famous song written by Cole Porter in 1927, originally intended for the female lead of his first major production, Paris...
" - "I Could Have Danced All NightI Could Have Danced All Night"I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical My Fair Lady, with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, published in 1956...
" - "A Cock-Eyed Optimist"
- "I Just Found Out About LoveI Just Found Out About Love"I Just Found Out About Love" is a popular song composed by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Harold Adamson....
" - "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)"
- "I Am in LoveI Am in Love"I Am in Love" is a 1953 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical Can-Can, where it was introduced by Peter Cookson.-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook...
" - "Love Eyes"
- "Love Is a Gamble"
Billboard Album Chart
This lavish 2 record set was the eleventh consecutive Johnny Mathis album to chart, peaking at #6 on the Billboard album chart in its original release. This proved conclusively at the time that no matter what style of music Mathis chose to record and release on album it would be successful.Highlights
On a number of his earlier albums, Mathis had recorded songs by Cole PorterCole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
. For this collection he included four songs by this great composer, all on the uptempo record: "Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)" from 1928's "Paris
Paris (1928 musical)
Paris is a musical with the book by Martin Brown, and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, as well as Walter Kollo and Louis Alter and E. Ray Goetz and Roy Turk . The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1928, was Porter's first Broadway hit. The musical introduced the song "Let's Do It, Let's Fall...
", "You Do Something To Me
You Do Something to Me
"You Do Something to Me" is a song written by Cole Porter. It is notable in that it was the first number in Porter's first fully integrated-book musical Fifty Million Frenchmen...
" from 1929's "Fifty Million Frenchmen
Fifty Million Frenchmen
Fifty Million Frenchmen is a musical comedy with a book by Herbert Fields and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It opened on Broadway in 1929 and was adapted for a film two years later...
", "Let's Misbehave
Let's Misbehave
"Let's Misbehave" is a famous song written by Cole Porter in 1927, originally intended for the female lead of his first major production, Paris...
" from 1937's "You Never Know
You Never Know (musical)
You Never Know is a musical with a book by Rowland Leigh, adapted from the original European play By Candlelight, by Siegfried Geyer and Karl Farkas, with music by Cole Porter and Robert Katscher, lyrics by Cole Porter, additional lyrics by Leigh and Edwin Gilbert, directed by Leigh, and songs by...
", and "I Am in Love
I Am in Love
"I Am in Love" is a 1953 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical Can-Can, where it was introduced by Peter Cookson.-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook...
" from 1953's "Can-Can
Can-Can (musical)
Can-Can is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and a book by Abe Burrows. The story concerns the showgirls of the Montmartre dance halls during the 1890s....
."
To this point, Mathis had less frequently dipped into the catalogue of Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist Lorenz Hart...
. However, their work is heavily featured throughout this collection with five of their collaborations recorded: "Dancing On The Ceiling
Dancing on the Ceiling (song)
"Dancing on the Ceiling" is a 1930 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the 1930 musical Ever Green.-Notable recordings:*June Christy - A Friendly Session, Vol...
" from 1930's "Ever Green
Ever Green
Ever Green is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and a book by Benn Levy, based on an idea by Rodgers and Hart. This was the last of three musicals written by Rodgers and Hart in London....
", "My Romance
My Romance (song)
"My Romance" is a popular song, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, written for Billy Rose's musical, Jumbo . In the 1962 movie version of Jumbo, Doris Day performed the song....
" from 1935's "Jumbo
Jumbo (musical)
Jumbo is a musical produced by Billy Rose, with music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and book by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.-Production:...
", "I Wish I Were in Love Again
I Wish I Were in Love Again
"I Wish I Were in Love Again" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney performed it in the 1948 film Words and Music...
" from 1937's "Babes In Arms
Babes in Arms
Babes in Arms is a 1937 musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Rodgers and Hart. It concerns a teen-age boy who puts on a show with his friends to avoid being sent to a work farm.- Production history:...
" and "I Married an Angel
I Married an Angel
I Married An Angel is a musical comedy by Rodgers and Hart. It was adapted from a play by Hungarian playwright János Vaszary, entitled Angyalt Vettem Felesegul. The book was by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, with music by Rodgers and lyrics by Hart. The story concerns a wealthy banker who,...
" and "Spring Is Here
Spring Is Here
"Spring is Here" is a 1938 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical I Married an Angel , where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal.-Notable recordings:...
" from the 1938's "I Married an Angel."
Other notable songs on the album include the Gershwin's "Isn't It a Pity?
Isn't It a Pity?
"Isn't It a Pity?" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the 1933 musical Pardon My English. It was introduced by George Givot and Josephine Huston.-Notable recordings:...
" from 1933's "Pardon My English
Pardon My English
Pardon My English is a musical with a book by Herbert Fields and Morrie Ryskind, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Set in 1933 Dresden, the farcical plot satirizes the Prohibition era.-Production history:Producers Alex A...
", Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe
Lerner and Loewe are the duo of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe, known primarily for the music and lyrics of some of Broadway's most successful musical shows, including My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon....
's "I Could Have Danced All Night
I Could Have Danced All Night
"I Could Have Danced All Night" is a song from the musical My Fair Lady, with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, published in 1956...
" from 1956's "My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
", "The Party's Over
The Party's Over (1956 song)
"The Party's Over" is a popular song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It was introduced in the 1956 musical comedy Bells Are Ringing by Judy Holliday. Nat King Cole, Smoking Popes and Lonnie Donegan recorded popular versions. Shirley Bassey recorded the song for...
" from 1956's "Bells Are Ringing
Bells Are Ringing (musical)
Bells Are Ringing is a musical with a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Jule Styne. The story revolves around Ella, who works at an answering service and the characters that she meets there. The main character was based on Mary Printz, who worked for Green's answering...
" with music by Jule Styne
Jule Styne
Jule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
and lyrics by Comden and Green, Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's "A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from 1949's "South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
" and "I Have Dreamed
I Have Dreamed (song)
"I Have Dreamed" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. In the original Broadway production it was sung by Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas. It has since become a standard, with many artists recording the song...
" from 1951's "The King And I
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
", Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
's "Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
" from the 1950 musical of the same name, and "Everything's Coming Up Roses
Everything's Coming up Roses
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman....
" from 1959's "Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business...
" which featured the words of Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
set to the music of Jule Styne
Jule Styne
Jule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
.
External links
- [ All Music Review]