The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway explained
The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway is a double album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released in September 1960[1] by Columbia Records. Despite the order of the words in the title, the ballads actually make up sides one and two while the uptempo numbers fill sides three and four.
The album debuted on Billboard magazine's album chart in the issue dated October 3, 1960, and stayed on the list for 27 weeks, during which time it peaked at number six.[4]
Columbia also released the album as two separate LPs in 1960 titled Ballads of Broadway and Rhythms of Broadway.[5] The two-LP set was released for the first time on compact disc on June 7, 1999.[2]
Reception
Billboard described it as a "power-packed item, from the chanter's pretty vocalizing, and smart Ralph Burns-Glenn Osser backings, to the attractive, eye-catching cover."[1]
Track listing
The Ballads of Broadway
- Side one
- "Moanin' Low" from The Little Show (Howard Dietz, Ralph Rainger) – 3:56
- "Fun to Be Fooled" from (Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin, E. Y. Harburg) – 4:02
- "I Have Dreamed" from The King And I (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 4:04
- "On the Sunny Side of the Street" from Lew Leslie's International Revue (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh) – 3:57
- "My Romance" from Jumbo (Lorenz Hart, Rodgers) – 3:10
- "Dancing on the Ceiling" from Ever Green (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:54
- Side two
- "I Married an Angel" from I Married an Angel (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:48
- "Isn't It a Pity?" from Pardon My English (George Gershwin, I. Gershwin) – 3:55
- "Spring Is Here" from I Married an Angel (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:48
- "Don't Blame Me" from Clowns in Clover (Fields, McHugh) – 4:38
- "Taking a Chance on Love" from Cabin in the Sky (Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John La Touche) – 3:33
- "The Party's Over" from Bells Are Ringing (Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne) – 4:01
The Rhythms of Broadway
- Side three
- "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from (Stephen Sondheim, Styne) – 2:51
- "Guys and Dolls" from Guys and Dolls (Frank Loesser) – 3:00
- "I Wish I Were in Love Again" from Babes in Arms (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:36
- "You Do Something to Me" from Fifty Million Frenchmen (Cole Porter) – 3:05
- "Let's Misbehave" from You Never Know (Porter) – 2:46
- "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 3:01
- Side four
- "A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from South Pacific (Hammerstein, Rodgers) – 2:33
- "I Just Found Out About Love" from Strip for Action (Harold Adamson, McHugh) – 3:12
- "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)" from Paris (Porter) – 3:50
- "I Am in Love" from Can-Can (Porter) – 4:15
- "Love Eyes" from Whoop-Up (Moose Charlap, Norman Gimbel) – 2:32
- "Love Is a Gamble" from American Motors Industrial Show (Sydney Shaw, Jane Douglas White) – 2:35
Recording dates
From the liner notes for :[5]
- April 4, 1960 — "I Have Dreamed", "Isn't It a Pity?"
- April 7, 1960 — "Dancing on the Ceiling", "I Married an Angel", "Moanin' Low", "My Romance", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "The Party's Over", "Spring Is Here"
- April 8, 1960 — "Don't Blame Me", "Taking a Chance on Love"
- May 17, 1960 — "Guys and Dolls", "I Am in Love", "I Just Found Out About Love", "I Wish I Were in Love Again"
- May 19, 1960 — "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Fun to Be Fooled", "Love Is a Gamble"
- May 20, 1960 — "A Cock-Eyed Optimist", "I Could Have Danced All Night", "Let's Misbehave", "You Do Something to Me"
- May 23, 1960 — "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)", "Love Eyes"
Personnel
- Johnny Mathis – vocals
- Mitch Miller – producer[3]
- Glenn Osser – arranger and conductor (sides one and two, except as noted)[6]
- Ralph Burns – arranger and conductor (sides three and four);[6] conductor ("Fun to Be Fooled")[7]
- Richard Avedon – photography[6]
- Gilbert Millstein – liner notes[6]
Notes and References
- News: Spotlight Winners of the Week. 1960-09-05. Billboard. 23.
- Web site: Ballads of Broadway/Rhythms of Broadway - Johnny Mathis. allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. 4 November 2016.
- (1993) The Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records C4K-48932.
- .
- (2017) The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music Entertainment 88985 36892 2.
- (1960) The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records C2L 17.
- (1960) The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway by Johnny Mathis [side one label]. New York: Columbia Records C2L 17.
