PRESENTS

Welcome to the Grapevine News. This section of the Mathis Chronicles contains my views about anything I find or am sent about Johnny Mathis on the Internet and elsewhere, that had been overlooked by the "official" sites. Occasionally, I report on things not directly related to Mathis but have a connection, may even make up a question to ask myself and try to answer. Readers are welcome to share their experiences here also. So enjoy and thanks for coming.

VOL. 3 NO. 8 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

69 AND STILL SO FINE: I can't let this day go by without acknowledging the birthday of the great Johnny Mathis. It's hard to believe he's 69, he's the age Mother was when she died, but I certainly hope he'll be blessed with the long life that seems to have eluded so many of his contemporaries. God Bless and Keep You Mr. Mathis.

It looks as though one thing we can look forward to in his 70th year is a new album! In Hector Saldana's article for the San Antonio Express-News dated 9/29, an album called Isn't It Romantic is due out next February. (Would I be wrong to guess near Valentine's Day?) It's to be an album of...hold your applause...the romantic music of the Broadway theater! Yay! Interestingly, Michael Feinstein has an album of exactly the same name. If this remains the title, the title song was, of course one of Ella Fitzgerald's classic songs, Ms. Fitzgerald being one of Mathis' musical heroes. Here's hoping they can find more than thirty minutes' worth to put on this one, and do a Johnny Mathis album up right for a change! Although, come to think of it, in this age of mp3s and downloads, a physical product one can actually hold in one's hands is no longer even needed...

BROTHER RAY, PT. 4: Well, more good news since last month. Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles' last studio album, has released gold, and is Concord Records' largest selling album to date. Starbucks has really been pushing the album, I understand. The opening numbers have been staggering; according to Billboard, Genius Loves Company sold more copies than any duet recording since Nielsen started keeping track of such things in 1991. It became Brother Ray's highest-charting album in over 40 years when it entered Billboard's top 200 chart at No. 2. (Nothing like death and illness to boost sales, huh?)

I've been reading the reviews of the album and consequently the song "Over the Rainbow"; and as I know only too well, it's sometimes hard to be honest in the face of zealots, but on the other hand, I wonder if some of the reviewers were just assigned the job of reviewing without doing a lot of research. It's hilarious, how different people interpret the same song.

Some seem especially confused about the nature of the song Johnny Mathis sings with Ray Charles, "Over the Rainbow". Larry Katz at The Boston Herald thinks "Over the Rainbow'' might fit better on another album. What kind of album was Mr. Katz looking for? Maybe he's used to albums that sound the same; it could be that he's not used to the work of consummate artists that can ably handle a variety of different styles. Or could it be that he and others like him have never heard or developed an appreciation for orchestral music? It's the same thing that frustrates me about the folks who think Mathis is nothing but "Chances Are" because that's the music the old people and the marketers have made famous. There's no appreciation. Myself, I was listening to strings since I was a baby listening to just about any Motown song that was out at the time, so hearing them even in a rock song is not a shock to my system at all.

The Washington Post's Richard Harrington feels Mathis carries the song, comparing Mathis' "smooth, sophisticated vocals" to Ray's weary voice. A sort of noncommital opinion comes from the website jazzitude, where it is written, "how well "Over The Rainbow" works is going to depend on the individual listeners' enthusiasm for, or ability to tolerate, Johnny Mathis. But there's nothing intrinsically wrong with the performance, and Ray gives it just the right touch of melancholy romance." Well, at least it wasn't a thumbs down!

Then there's Greg Tate of The Village Voice, with his downright strange take. He uses so many hip-hopisms I don't know whether or not he liked it or not...the man seems incapable of plain English. But somewhere in his review I believe rests a compliment for the duet between Mathis and Charles.

I personally find Genius Loves Company a fantastic album, as someone who had grown up with the music of Ray Charles as well as most of his guest artists. I was listening to it in my car (where I can get the full effect and can play full blast without disturbing neighbors). The arrangements are fabulous, and even the artists I'm not as familiar with (like Diana Krall and Norah Jones) are able to work well with the dying legend without seeming intimidated by him. Sir Elton's duet with his hit song (and I remember, and was a fan of Elton John, when it came out the first time) absolutely brought tears to my eyes, and I understand it had the same effect on Sir Elton as well. I think the album is rather poignant but fabulous, almost a guaranteed Grammy, and of course Over the Rainbow is absolutely pristine. I was recently given the original version of" Over the Rainbow" as recorded by Ray Charles, and it's very similar to the way it was in the 1970s. Brother Ray did himself proud with Genius Loves Company and his guests did Brother Ray proud. All of them.

MAYBE NEXT TIME: The Kennedy Center Honors have been announced, and I'm pleased to say that Sir Elton John is one of this year's honorees, and not so pleased to say that Johnny Mathis is not! Maybe they're saving that one for his 70th? Hm. I've been recruiting for that one for years, but I'm not giving up. A search of my archives will show, I want Mathis to be an American Master, and have PBS do a show on him. And I also want him to have a Kennedy Center Honor like all his friends do! I thought it odd that there was no representative in the dance category like always, but two from the movies. I wouldn't have given Warren Beatty the time of day, but what do I know. I wonder who bought that one.

GET WELL AVEDON: Granted, I thought Richard Avedon was long dead, but he's 81 and was still working when he suffered a brain hemorraghe at the time of this writing. Avedon photographed some of Johnny Mathis' most classic album covers, notably the Killing Me Softly with Her Song album, which made numerous billboards back in its day, as well as the covers for The Heart of a Woman, and the Rhythms and the Ballads of Broadway. Avedon's covers were truly works of art, and I for one appreciate his wonderful work and wish him Godspeed.

UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME: In light of the fact that our beloved singers are leaving this world everytime you bat an eye, it really makes me thankful for the people, like my beloved Mathis, who are still here. The Lord chose not to take Luther Vandross for reasons only He knows, and I'm thankful. By the way, there's a new biography out, called simply "Luther" by Craig Seymour, which should be readily available at your local bookstore. Authorized biographies tend to be boring as hell, but I skimmed it and it looked pretty good. Join me in continuing to send love and encouragement his way. He believes in the power of love, as well as the power of prayer, and so do I! Keep fighting, Luther!

TOUR BUS: The bus stops next in San Antonio, Texas. Visit See Mathis Live! for details.

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