OCTOBER'S HERE: For the first time in a long time, I find myself glad that September, a month I normally look forward to, is overwith. On to October, with its cool air, fall rains, and fresh outlook. Hurricane season notwithstanding, of course.
GET THE EGGS: Singer/songwriter/producer Barry Manilow has left Arista Records. Now, I can hear the collective "big, freakin' whoop" worldwide as I write this, but I can assure my readers this is BIG news!
Manilow had been with Arista from the very beginning of his career, having signed on with them a quarter-century ago when it was still called Bell Records. Now that Arista's direction has changed under the new leadership of Antonio "L.A." Reid, for the price of one more greatest hits package he's jumped ship, and I can't really say that I blame him. Interestingly, he didn't follow former boss Clive Davis to J Records, but went to Concord, a smaller, independent label best known for its jazz artists.
Now, I'm no record industry expert, but it seems to me that when labels get huge, they can't possibly meet everybody's needs equally. In fact, they seem to focus all the promotion and advertising money to the more profitable members of the roster, i.e., the youngsters. So I think it stands to reason that maybe a large label isn't the best place for an artist who is perhaps more "specialized" or who otherwise doesn't fit the popular mold. A smaller, independent label may be just the ticket for artists whose work has value yet may never see the inside of a Top 40 list again.
Well, now the smarter readers can see where I'm headed with this, can't you? Bingo. Right now, our man Mathis has it within his power to just pick up all his toys and go somewhere he'll be appreciated. His attorneys taught him well, and he owns just about everything he's ever put out. Right now, he has the power to sell his own records on his own website, just like Manilow is doing, by the way, and be totally independent. Of course, whether he has the gumption to do it is another matter. Sometimes it's as if the man lives to step on his own foot. But there is no question of his having the means. I believe a smaller label would do Mathis a world of good, and there would be no dribbling of songs out of compilations here and there ad infinitum, but more real product. Sure not everything will sell gangbusters, but all artists have their failures. The fun is in the creation, and I think that for Johnny Mathis, there needs to be fun in the studio in order to get him in there more. Who's to say that an independent label wouldn't be the vehicle he needs to make the record business fun again. End of soapbox.
CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINAIRE: Pre-orders are being accepted for the Mannheim Steamroller's new Christmas DVD, Christmas Extraordinaire! It's $24.99. It's release date is October 30 and features for the first time ever, a vocal performance, to be delivered by...Johnny Mathis! It's also as a CD only, available for pre-order on CDNow for $14.49! Click to hear CDNow's sample of O Tannenbaum Check with your favorite music store for prices. I don't know about you out there, but I need a little Christmas right now, and I don't know who better to give it than the Mannheim Steamroller and Johnny Mathis!
MILESTONE: One of Johnny Mathis' biggest fans, David Grayson of West Medford, Massachusetts, turns 38 next weekend. That's a great age to be..I still remember my 30s! I understand his favorite Mathis song is "To The Ends Of The Earth". On behalf of the Mathis Chronicles I wish him a great day!
ON WITH THE SHOW: Tickets are $55 and $82 for the show at the Foxwoods Casino's Fox Theater in the Pequot Nation town of Mashantucket, Connecticut (about 50 miles SE of Providence, Rhode Island) on October 5th and 6th. Call 1-800-200-2882 for details. I take it as a very good sign that the shows have not been cancelled, as of this time. Foil the terrorists and go to the show...although I personally would probably see if one could get there by train...
Still seems to be a go for the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 19th and 20th. Tickets are $55, $65, & $75. They don't sell online either, call 1-800-222-5361.
Looks like it's still a go for Caesars Atlantic City November 9th and November 10th.
Tickets go on sale October 13 for the show in Fort Myers, Florida on the Washington's birthday (22nd) at the Barbara B. Mann Hall.
Johnny Mathis will hopefully return to Westbury in Long Island on March 8th and 9th, 2002, according to Pollstar, the best source for concert information.
I think it's more important than ever to get out and attend a concert if you've never seen one. We're all a little spooked by what's happened, but you know, living in fear is no way to live. Tomorrow never was a promise, so...live for the moment, make peace with a friend, acquaintance, or relative you haven't seen in a long time, and go see one of the greatest living phenomenons in the world doing what he does best!
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