Product DescriptionJohnny Mathis's mid-'60s sides for the Mercury label have long been overlooked, even though they rank among the most commercially and artistically successful recordings of his career. Why? Well, for one thing, Johnny has been a flagship artist for Columbia Records for so long that folks have just plain forgotten that he spent three years apart from the label. But more importantly, those recordings, most notably the ten LPs he cut for Mercury, have been out of print during the entire compact disc era, as only Johnny's Christmas album has ever come out on CD and a few assorted songs on a now-deleted double-CD package issued by Columbia 15 years ago.
Now, by special arrangement with Sony Music, the artist and his management, Real Gone Music is proudly issuing these essential albums (everything but the Christmas album, which remains in print) on compact disc for the first time, nearly 50 years after Johnny's first release on Mercury. Each release consists of two albums, each newly remastered at Battery Studios in New York, complete with original art and comprehensive liner notes featuring an exclusive interview of Johnny by pop vocal expert James Ritz (who counts these Mercury albums as his favorite Mathis recordings, by the way). And our first wave of releases includes an unreleased album of Broadway-themed songs recorded by Johnny in 1964-1965!
JOHNNY MATHIS: Tender Is the Night/Wonderful World of Make-Believe (2-CD Set):
Johnny's first two "secular" albums for Mercury (his first release for the label was Sounds of Christmas) both hit the charts in 1964, with Tender Is the Night going all the way up to #12. Both albums feature Johnny's dreamy takes on stage and film songs, and Tender boasts arrangements by the great Don Costa.