Just found the link to this song as sung by Reba on Yoiutube--she is a great singer, and I love this song--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USyRBASTaTY
JOHNNY MATHIS
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Mariana
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Marian
I agree about "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" - I really like JM's version of it. However, I'm generally not a fan of country music and I particularly dislike "Little Green Apples", which has to be one of the worst songs ever written. Don't like "Help Me Make It Through The Night" much either, but "For The Good Times" is OK - well, at least JM's version, anyway. Have never heard "The Greatest Man I Ever Knew", but there are a lot of good songs which JM didn't record and should have. Am I right in thinking he didn't record "Days of Wine and Roses", even though he often performs it on stage as part of his Henry Mancini medleys?
I agree about "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" - I really like JM's version of it. However, I'm generally not a fan of country music and I particularly dislike "Little Green Apples", which has to be one of the worst songs ever written. Don't like "Help Me Make It Through The Night" much either, but "For The Good Times" is OK - well, at least JM's version, anyway. Have never heard "The Greatest Man I Ever Knew", but there are a lot of good songs which JM didn't record and should have. Am I right in thinking he didn't record "Days of Wine and Roses", even though he often performs it on stage as part of his Henry Mancini medleys?
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
After my last mistake, I am not going to say 100% that Jm did not record "Days of Wine and Roses"--but I will say 99% sure that he didn't. True, he nearky always included it in the Henry Mancini medleys, along with either Charade, Two for the road, The Sweetheart tree, Moon River , of course--and a less well known song called "The Greatest Gift", which is one of my favouite Mancini tunes.
Mariana
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Marian
Like yourself, I'm pretty sure JM hasn't ever recorded "Days of Wine and Roses", which is a shame. "Charade" is another one I don't think he did in the studio but it is one of my favourite Matt Monro recordings, so there's some consolation there.
Like yourself, I'm pretty sure JM hasn't ever recorded "Days of Wine and Roses", which is a shame. "Charade" is another one I don't think he did in the studio but it is one of my favourite Matt Monro recordings, so there's some consolation there.
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
I have just had some info about a new cd -called "Johnny sings Country" to be released early next year.
These are some of the tracks--
"You don't know me"
"Let it be me" [Would this be the Everly Brothers song, I wonder--really hope so, as I love it]
"Crazy"
"Loving Arms"
"Dream Baby"
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
I think on the whole I prefer JM singing ballads.
By the way--does anyone know that there is a singer in US--been around a long time--called "Country Johnny Mathis".
No idea what he sounds like--although I did order one of his cds by mistake in HMV !! But I returned it.
These are some of the tracks--
"You don't know me"
"Let it be me" [Would this be the Everly Brothers song, I wonder--really hope so, as I love it]
"Crazy"
"Loving Arms"
"Dream Baby"
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds"
I think on the whole I prefer JM singing ballads.
By the way--does anyone know that there is a singer in US--been around a long time--called "Country Johnny Mathis".
No idea what he sounds like--although I did order one of his cds by mistake in HMV !! But I returned it.
Last edited by mariana44 on Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mariana
-
Terence Lee
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Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
I love You Don't Know Me & Loving Arms. Can't wait to hear Johnny sing these 2 country classics.
-
Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
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Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Marian
I pre-ordered a Johnny Mathis CD titled Heroes at Amazon.com.
Do you by any chance know what are the songs in it?
IMO Al Jarreau sounds a bit like Johnny, don't you think so?
I pre-ordered a Johnny Mathis CD titled Heroes at Amazon.com.
Do you by any chance know what are the songs in it?
IMO Al Jarreau sounds a bit like Johnny, don't you think so?
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Terence-I have never heard of that cd--is it just a compliation with Jm singing the odd track ??
Mariana
-
Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
- Location: Penang Island, Malaysia
- Contact:
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Marian
I ordered it for a fan here. The label is Pegasus.
It is a double CD set.
Here it is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heroes-Johnny-M ... 21&sr=1-12
I ordered it for a fan here. The label is Pegasus.
It is a double CD set.
Here it is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heroes-Johnny-M ... 21&sr=1-12
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Terence-I have checked it out-I know nothing about it-I would say it is some sort of compilation-I have asked round a few of my friends to see if they know anything.
Mariana
-
Terence Lee
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:29 pm
- Location: Penang Island, Malaysia
- Contact:
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Johnny Mathis, Former Sprinter and Current Crooner, Talks of His Voice and Vegas Memories
by John Katsilometes
Las Vegas Sun blog, January 13, 2010
Remember when everyone did a Johnny Mathis impression? Perhaps not. But there was a time when even those who had no interest in, or acumen for, impersonating celebrities could perform a passable Johnny Mathis. It was sort of like doing Howard Cosell. It seemed anyone could sing a line from Mathis', "Chances aaaaaare, 'cause-I-wear- a-silly griiiiiinn.. ." as readily as they could shout Cosell's "Welcome! To Monday! Night! Football!"
Those days of rampant mimicry have passed, and Mathis -- who is 74 now, ladies and gentlemen -- seems not to mind. "I had my time," he says, laughing. The legendary vocalist, whose classic intonations and vocal stylings have triggered millions of conceptions, is back in Las Vegas on Friday night. Well, not quite Las Vegas, but 40 or so miles southward at Primm's Star of the Desert Arena.
Mathis, who most recently headlined at the Las Vegas Hilton when in VegasVille, has not played Primm before. We'll see after Friday's show if he'll play there again. It's sort of a test-drive, but we're expecting he'll find the underrated arena to his liking. Foreigner sure seemed to have a good time there.
During a phone conversation last week, Mathis talked of his former athletic career (he was about to try out for the U.S. Olympic track and field team in 1956 before being lured into a recording contract by Columbia Records), how he keeps in shape today, and some of his favorite Vegas venues. We started with a personal reference to his days growing up in San Francisco:
"I have to start by telling you that I happen to know some people who went to high school with you at Washington High in San Francisco. Many years ago, one of them told me that if I ever had a chance to interview Johnny Mathis to ask about his track career. She said you could have been the next Jesse Owens."
"I was really active athletically, definitely. I was a hurdler, a sprinter. I played basketball for years. I was a serious athlete (Mathis earned a track scholarship to San Francisco State University). I've paid the price over the years, though, a lot of injuries and surgeries related to my sports career, my hips and knees took a lot of wear and tear. I've had several unavoidable problems because of my athletic career."
"So what kind of shape are you in today?"
"I'm OK. I met a guy on the golf course, 20 years ago, who put me on an exercise routine and I'm regular with it. I get up at about 5 a.m., work out for 90 minutes, and I'm good for the rest of the day."
"You do this every day?"
"Yes."
"Oy."
"It is kinesiology, which works with movement of the body. It's wonderful. Before, I was limping around. But this has negated any physical problems I've had."
"You're a good golfer, then? Where do you play?"
"I'm a 12 handicap, still. I used to carry my clubs and play all day long. I play at the Riviera in Pacific Palisades, beautiful course."
"Musicians who have worked with you over the years in Las Vegas have marveled at your voice. How do you keep it in top condition?"
"Each person's voice is very different, so you need to find what works for you. Make sure you keep to your routine. My voice seems to respond when I limit excessive talking. I don't do any of the bad things anymore that can harm your voice, which people used to do in the old days."
"Like, smoke? Drink? Those kinds of bad things?"
"Smoke and drink, yes. But I've done nothing bad -- it's been at least 25 years that I quit smoking and drinking. For drinking, I got some professional help to quit (Mathis also went through rehab to kick an addiction to prescription medications) . Smoking, that was probably the worst thing you could ever do for a voice, and of course I smoked at the time, especially when I was anxious before a show."
"How hard was it for you to get clean?"
"Well, I didn't want to live the way I was living. I had to make a change, it was very important to me to change, but you don't really know what kind of effect it is having while you're doing it."
"Smoking is as hard to quit as anything."
"Yes, and it was very detrimental to me vocally, but fortunately I had a very good voice teacher (Connie Cox) -- she was around during most of the early part of my career when I was forming my vocal chords. She would listen to me, then listen to my recordings, and she could hear that my voice wasn't what it could be."
"There was a time when your voice was so universally recognizable that everyone could do a pretty good impression of you. What was that like?"
"It's so flattering to hear somebody imitate me, but I guess nowadays they're doing John Mayer (laughs). But it used to be -- even Sammy Davis did one. That was something, because he was such an incredible vocalist. But all of a sudden it went away and they stopped doing it."
"You happy with the move from the Hilton to the Star of the Desert?"
"It's a new venue for me, and to be honest I have no idea why we aren't at the Hilton, but things change. I don't know the venue, but if there are wonderful acoustics and a comfortable situation for the audience, it'll be a good show."
"You've played Las Vegas for decades. What have been your favorite places to perform here?"
"I started at the Sands, and of course during my tenure there the people who were working there were icons in music history, the Rat Pack, all of them. (The Copa Room) was a wonderful little venue. I worked Circus Maximus at Caesars Palace, which was great. I had a wonderful engagement at the Sahara, a nice little room with a balcony at the top."
"Any memories stand out?"
"Yes, it was odd, the kind of people who I was performing with, all comics. I kind of got tired of the comic/singer, comic/singer lineup, so one night I finally said, 'Can't we get someone else? What about... (famed jazz pianist) Erroll Garner?' I just blurted it out -- 'Erroll Garner!' I wanted someone who wasn't a comic, and Erroll Garner just came to mind. But then, Erroll Garner did perform as the opening act -- they actually went out and got Erroll Garner."
"That's influence, right?"
"I guess so, yes (laughs)."
by John Katsilometes
Las Vegas Sun blog, January 13, 2010
Remember when everyone did a Johnny Mathis impression? Perhaps not. But there was a time when even those who had no interest in, or acumen for, impersonating celebrities could perform a passable Johnny Mathis. It was sort of like doing Howard Cosell. It seemed anyone could sing a line from Mathis', "Chances aaaaaare, 'cause-I-wear- a-silly griiiiiinn.. ." as readily as they could shout Cosell's "Welcome! To Monday! Night! Football!"
Those days of rampant mimicry have passed, and Mathis -- who is 74 now, ladies and gentlemen -- seems not to mind. "I had my time," he says, laughing. The legendary vocalist, whose classic intonations and vocal stylings have triggered millions of conceptions, is back in Las Vegas on Friday night. Well, not quite Las Vegas, but 40 or so miles southward at Primm's Star of the Desert Arena.
Mathis, who most recently headlined at the Las Vegas Hilton when in VegasVille, has not played Primm before. We'll see after Friday's show if he'll play there again. It's sort of a test-drive, but we're expecting he'll find the underrated arena to his liking. Foreigner sure seemed to have a good time there.
During a phone conversation last week, Mathis talked of his former athletic career (he was about to try out for the U.S. Olympic track and field team in 1956 before being lured into a recording contract by Columbia Records), how he keeps in shape today, and some of his favorite Vegas venues. We started with a personal reference to his days growing up in San Francisco:
"I have to start by telling you that I happen to know some people who went to high school with you at Washington High in San Francisco. Many years ago, one of them told me that if I ever had a chance to interview Johnny Mathis to ask about his track career. She said you could have been the next Jesse Owens."
"I was really active athletically, definitely. I was a hurdler, a sprinter. I played basketball for years. I was a serious athlete (Mathis earned a track scholarship to San Francisco State University). I've paid the price over the years, though, a lot of injuries and surgeries related to my sports career, my hips and knees took a lot of wear and tear. I've had several unavoidable problems because of my athletic career."
"So what kind of shape are you in today?"
"I'm OK. I met a guy on the golf course, 20 years ago, who put me on an exercise routine and I'm regular with it. I get up at about 5 a.m., work out for 90 minutes, and I'm good for the rest of the day."
"You do this every day?"
"Yes."
"Oy."
"It is kinesiology, which works with movement of the body. It's wonderful. Before, I was limping around. But this has negated any physical problems I've had."
"You're a good golfer, then? Where do you play?"
"I'm a 12 handicap, still. I used to carry my clubs and play all day long. I play at the Riviera in Pacific Palisades, beautiful course."
"Musicians who have worked with you over the years in Las Vegas have marveled at your voice. How do you keep it in top condition?"
"Each person's voice is very different, so you need to find what works for you. Make sure you keep to your routine. My voice seems to respond when I limit excessive talking. I don't do any of the bad things anymore that can harm your voice, which people used to do in the old days."
"Like, smoke? Drink? Those kinds of bad things?"
"Smoke and drink, yes. But I've done nothing bad -- it's been at least 25 years that I quit smoking and drinking. For drinking, I got some professional help to quit (Mathis also went through rehab to kick an addiction to prescription medications) . Smoking, that was probably the worst thing you could ever do for a voice, and of course I smoked at the time, especially when I was anxious before a show."
"How hard was it for you to get clean?"
"Well, I didn't want to live the way I was living. I had to make a change, it was very important to me to change, but you don't really know what kind of effect it is having while you're doing it."
"Smoking is as hard to quit as anything."
"Yes, and it was very detrimental to me vocally, but fortunately I had a very good voice teacher (Connie Cox) -- she was around during most of the early part of my career when I was forming my vocal chords. She would listen to me, then listen to my recordings, and she could hear that my voice wasn't what it could be."
"There was a time when your voice was so universally recognizable that everyone could do a pretty good impression of you. What was that like?"
"It's so flattering to hear somebody imitate me, but I guess nowadays they're doing John Mayer (laughs). But it used to be -- even Sammy Davis did one. That was something, because he was such an incredible vocalist. But all of a sudden it went away and they stopped doing it."
"You happy with the move from the Hilton to the Star of the Desert?"
"It's a new venue for me, and to be honest I have no idea why we aren't at the Hilton, but things change. I don't know the venue, but if there are wonderful acoustics and a comfortable situation for the audience, it'll be a good show."
"You've played Las Vegas for decades. What have been your favorite places to perform here?"
"I started at the Sands, and of course during my tenure there the people who were working there were icons in music history, the Rat Pack, all of them. (The Copa Room) was a wonderful little venue. I worked Circus Maximus at Caesars Palace, which was great. I had a wonderful engagement at the Sahara, a nice little room with a balcony at the top."
"Any memories stand out?"
"Yes, it was odd, the kind of people who I was performing with, all comics. I kind of got tired of the comic/singer, comic/singer lineup, so one night I finally said, 'Can't we get someone else? What about... (famed jazz pianist) Erroll Garner?' I just blurted it out -- 'Erroll Garner!' I wanted someone who wasn't a comic, and Erroll Garner just came to mind. But then, Erroll Garner did perform as the opening act -- they actually went out and got Erroll Garner."
"That's influence, right?"
"I guess so, yes (laughs)."
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
Hi Marian
I'm at work having a really stressful day.
My head and shoulders feel as though they are in a vice, but I have taken two minutes out and have put on my i-pod to de-stress.
'Misty' has just come on - Marian, isn't it beautiful?
It's as good as a pill for me at the moment!
I love the lyrics - haven't listened this closely to them before.
What a heavenly escape - if only for a short while.
I'm at work having a really stressful day.
My head and shoulders feel as though they are in a vice, but I have taken two minutes out and have put on my i-pod to de-stress.
'Misty' has just come on - Marian, isn't it beautiful?
It's as good as a pill for me at the moment!
I love the lyrics - haven't listened this closely to them before.
What a heavenly escape - if only for a short while.
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
I know your post above was directed at the other Marian Gray, but I wondered if you'd see the film "Play Misty For Me" ?
I also love the song. Jack Jones's mother had a smallish part in the film, Irene Hervey.
Marian
I also love the song. Jack Jones's mother had a smallish part in the film, Irene Hervey.
Marian
Re: JOHNNY MATHIS
I saw the film several times--quite a classic in it'ds own way.
Gray, I have seen Johnny Mathis in concert--at least 150 times---and he has sung "Misty" at every concert--obviously different arrangements over the years--but it is always a showstopper.
Gray, I have seen Johnny Mathis in concert--at least 150 times---and he has sung "Misty" at every concert--obviously different arrangements over the years--but it is always a showstopper.
Mariana