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The open fire of the title is a warm hearth, not an invitation to gunplay. On this 1959 album, Johnny Mathis creates an atmosphere of fireside intimacy by dispensing with his usual orchestral accompaniment so that the purity of his voice entices the listener's full attention. Al Caiola and Tony Mattola play the two guitars that supplement Mathis' crooning, with an upright bass providing the album's only other instrument. Producer Mitch Miller is often associated with gimmicky or novelty productions, but his work on Open Fire, Two Guitars is perfectly understated, emphasizing the gentle caress of Mathis' voice over the relaxed counterpoint of the two guitars. The songs give prominence to the pop standards of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, and the Gershwins, but the title track, "Open Fire," is a new composition by Leiber & Stoller. The album's effect seems nearly a cappella at times, but "In the Still of the Night" finds Mathis intoning the lyrics over gently rhythmic guitar figures that educe new harmonic complexities from a well-known song. The enduring popularity of Open Fire, Two Guitars is attributable in part to its hypnotic aura of closeness and confidentiality, but also to the simple instrumentation that appeals to many rock-era listeners' preference for guitars over orchestral arrangements.
© Greg Adams /TiVo
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Jerry Leiber, Composer, Lyricist - Mike Stoller, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Mort Dixon, Composer, Lyricist - Ray Henderson, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Cole Porter, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Sammy Fain, Composer, Lyricist - Irving Kahal, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Jack Lawrence, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - WALTER GROSS, Composer, Lyricist - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Victor Young, Composer, Lyricist - Edward Heyman, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Cole Porter, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Sammy Cahn, Composer, Lyricist - SAUL CHAPLIN, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Harry Warren, Composer, Lyricist - Mack Gordon, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Shirley Cowell, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Richard Rodgers, Composer, Lyricist - Lorenz Hart, Composer, Lyricist - Johnny Mathis, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Boutote, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Mitch Miller, Producer
Originally released 1959. All rights reserved by Jon Mat Records, Inc.
Album review
The open fire of the title is a warm hearth, not an invitation to gunplay. On this 1959 album, Johnny Mathis creates an atmosphere of fireside intimacy by dispensing with his usual orchestral accompaniment so that the purity of his voice entices the listener's full attention. Al Caiola and Tony Mattola play the two guitars that supplement Mathis' crooning, with an upright bass providing the album's only other instrument. Producer Mitch Miller is often associated with gimmicky or novelty productions, but his work on Open Fire, Two Guitars is perfectly understated, emphasizing the gentle caress of Mathis' voice over the relaxed counterpoint of the two guitars. The songs give prominence to the pop standards of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, and the Gershwins, but the title track, "Open Fire," is a new composition by Leiber & Stoller. The album's effect seems nearly a cappella at times, but "In the Still of the Night" finds Mathis intoning the lyrics over gently rhythmic guitar figures that educe new harmonic complexities from a well-known song. The enduring popularity of Open Fire, Two Guitars is attributable in part to its hypnotic aura of closeness and confidentiality, but also to the simple instrumentation that appeals to many rock-era listeners' preference for guitars over orchestral arrangements.
© Greg Adams /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:31
- Main artists: Johnny Mathis
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
Originally Released 1959 Jon Mat Records, Inc.
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