Tornado season has officially arrived. Woo hoo.
THOSE WERE THE DAYS: This is an absolutely awful album that actually has a couple of interesting songs on it, mostly on side B. I listen to Light My Fire and can't help but wonder if José Feliciano hadn't done such a bang-up job remaking the Doors classic would anybody else have dared to touch it. I mean, if you HAVE to remake a song, it makes sense to make it your own rather than to try to copy the original. Mathis' version is of course almost identical to José's. Even though he always tries to do a song the way the songwriter intended, as he was taught by Mitch Miller, can you IMAGINE if he had tried mimicking Jim Morrison?? I think he was wise, in this case, to take the easy way out.
Every Time I Dream of You sounds like it belongs on the Heavenly album rather than this late 60's production album. It's full-fledged, heavily-orchestrated sap with the soft, altar-boy highs that any Misty-lover would appreciate. The odd thing about it is, it's like it tries to finish, but then it fades back in again! The orchestral break seems out of place there.
I found another Rod McKuen poem on this album, The World I Used To Know. It's short, and I hear Jimmie Rodgers made this one popular, but I'm glad Mathis sang another one of his songs. I had thought that Jean was the only McKuen cover. I so admire Rod McKuen. He puts his feelings out there for everyone to read, and he makes no apologies for who he is and what he stands for. Sadly, the man can't sing worth a duck-dying flip. He actually told me his voice was an "acquired taste", but I've been sampling for a year now and he still needs a LOT of ketchup. But, he's a nice man, and he doesn't contribute to his website, www.mckuen.com, as much as he used to, because he's back touring and recording! But when he does, his insights are a joy to read.
I think the best song on the album is the country-flavored Turn Around, Look At Me. I believe it was made famous by a group called The Vogues. The arrangement by Robert Mersey is such that it could well have been capably performed by Charlie Rich or even Glen Campbell and, outside of a couple awkward places, it really works for this song.
MATHIS IN CONCERT: Tickets for the show in Buffalo run from $35 to $45 and, lo and behold, they are available online! Click here to buy and for more information. Very reasonable prices for these shows, running May 11 and May 12.
Tickets are on sale NOW for the Nashville Symphony concert in Antioch (June 14). There is an 8-ticket limit with strict enforcement, which is good, as 8 should certainly be plenty for anyone!
Tickets are on sale for the shows at the Silver Legacy Casino in Reno, Nevada. Prices are $50, $44, and $30; call (800) 687-8733 for details or use the online form.
Mathis returns to the Westbury Music Fair on July 20th & 21st. Tickets are on sale NOW online via Ticketmaster for these new dates.
Tickets for the North Shore Music Theatre concert in Wednesday, August 15 and Thursday, August 16 in Beverly, MA are on sale online NOW!
Tickets for the concert in Saratoga, California (a suburb of San Jose) on August 30th go on sale to the public on April 13th. There is a ticket limit and prices are from $60-$100.
Don't know yet if tickets can be bought now for the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut (don't ask where that is) on October 5th and 6th.
NEW CONCERT DATE FOR 2002! Ticketmaster shows a date for Jones Hall, Houston, Texas, on Thursday, February 7, 2002. Obviously tickets are not on sale yet, but I think the fact that he has started booking next year's shows is WONDERFUL. Is Johnny Mathis not amazing? Soon to be 66 years old and still very much in demand!
Sorry, still no Canadian or other foreign dates that I can see. I think I'd find some way to let Mathis know you guys want to hear him sing, too.
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