How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (Johnny Mathis album) explained

How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
Type:album
Artist:Johnny Mathis
Cover:Mathis-How.jpg
Released:May 4, 1993[1]
Recorded:October 1992–February 1993
Genre:Vocal[2]
Length:46:56
Label:Columbia
Producer:Alan and Marilyn Bergman
Jay Landers
Michel Legrand
Prev Year:1991
Next Year:1993

How Do You Keep the Music Playing? is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on May 4, 1993,[1] by Columbia Records and included the subtitle The Songs of Michel Legrand and Alan & Marilyn Bergman on its cover. The album featured new, individual recordings of two songs that Mathis covered as a medley for his 1973 album Me and Mrs. Jones -- "I Was Born in Love with You" and "Summer Me, Winter Me".[3] He also performed new arrangements of "The Windmills of Your Mind",[4] "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?",[5] and "The Summer Knows",[6] which he had recorded for other albums many years earlier.

Liner notes

Mathis conveyed his appreciation of Legrand's music in the liner notes for the album, describing him as "the consummate composer. His arrangements are endlessly inventive and deeply passionate." His appreciation was equally enthusiastic for the Bergman's lyrics: "They express the desires of romance with a rare sophistication. It's been a delight to sing these beautiful creations."

The Bergmans also expressed their love of Legrand: "We always feel as if there are words on the lips of his notes just waiting to be written." And they were especially exuberant in their praise of Mathis: "His voice dims the lights and makes all within the sound of it feel as though he's singing just to them. The mood he creates is one of intimacy, warmth and sensitivity. And it's a voice that keeps getting better—wiser, more knowing, more moving."

Reception

Nick Catalano mentioned the album in his review of a Mathis concert in New York City. "The present album and Carnegie concerts celebrate the music of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with arrangements by Michel Legrand. On the album, the attempt to balance the elements succeeds mightily."[7]

Track listing

All of the songs on the album feature music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

  1. "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from Best Friends (Introduction) – 1:26
  2. "The Summer Knows" from Summer of '42 – 4:19
  3. "Something New in My Life" from Micki & Maude – 4:10
  4. "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending – 5:58
  5. "The Way She Makes Me Feel" from Yentl – 4:01
  6. "I Was Born in Love with You" from Wuthering Heights (1970) – 4:45
  7. "On My Way to You" – 5:01
  8. "After the Rain" – 4:08
  9. "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair – 4:30
  10. "Summer Me, Winter Me" – 3:38
  11. "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from Best Friends – 4:42

Personnel

From the liner notes for the original album:

Performers

Production

Notes and References

  1. (2017) The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music Entertainment 88985 36892 2.
  2. Web site: How Do You Keep the Music Playing? - Johnny Mathis. allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. 30 January 2015.
  3. (1973) Me and Mrs. Jones by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records KC 32114.
  4. (1969) Love Theme from "Romeo and Juliet" (A Time for Us) by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records CS 9909.
  5. (1971) Love Story by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records C 30499.
  6. (1972) The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records PC 31342.
  7. .

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