''I'll Buy You a Star'' is an

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...

by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on February 27, 1961 by Columbia Records and was the first of two album collaborations with arranger and conductor Nelson Riddle. This LP includes both ballads and swinging uptempo material throughout a mix of songs that range from the new to the familiar and obscure. The album made its first appearance on '' Billboard'' magazine's album chart in the May 5, 1961, issue and reached number 38 during its 23 weeks there. The first compact disc release of the album came on May 7, 1996, and included four bonus tracks that were recorded during the sessions for this album and originally released as singles or included on Mathis compilations. The same four tracks were included with this LP on disc one of the two-CD set released on June 9, 2009, while the other disc featured his 1962 project '' Live It Up!''.

Reception

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

's Joe Viglione was especially impressed. "The voice of Johnny Mathis is always distinctive and compelling, but when blended with Nelson Riddle,… the results are extraordinary." Viglione pointed out that what set this recording apart "is that there is a smooth continuity of styles, a departure from the usual Mathis formula which would have the singer switching musical genres on many of his albums with only his voice to keep things consistent." As an example he wrote, "Where another '60s LP, '' So Nice'', would blend current Top 40 and show tunes, a combination carried over to Mathis's projects in the '70s, Riddle works on the same level, equally talented and matching Johnny, their skills weaving a texture that creates a superior work of art -- and one without the necessity of a Top 40 hit." He does single out a couple of tracks in particular. "'

The Best Is Yet to Come "The Best Is Yet to Come" is a 1959 song composed by Cy Coleman to lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. It is associated with Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on his 1964 album ''It Might as Well Be Swing'' accompanied by Count Basie under the direction ...

' is sassy and smart, the horns fitting nicely under the singer's perfect vocal instrument. '

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...

' is elegance suspended in space -- the instrumentation and voice swimming together, wrapped in a warm production." He concludes, "It's a fabulous set of recordings for those who appreciate music as art." In their capsule review at the time of release, ''Billboard'' wrote, "Nelson Riddle provides fine backing" and that Mathis "is most effective on the ballads."

Track listing

Side one

#"I'll Buy You a Star" from '' A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' (

Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields (July 15, 1904 – March 28, 1974) was an American librettist and lyricist. She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Her best-known pieces include "The Way You Look Tonight" (1936), "A Fine Romance" (1936), " On t ...

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) – 3:20 #" Stairway to the Stars" (

Matty Malneck Matthew Michael "Matty" Malneck (December 9, 1903 – February 25, 1981) was an American jazz violinist, songwriter, and arranger. Career Born in 1903, Malneck's career as a violinist began when he was age 16. He was a member of the Paul White ...

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) – 4:51 #"

When My Sugar Walks Down the Street "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street (All the Little Birdies Go Tweet-Tweet-Tweet)" is a 1920s jazz standard, written by Gene Austin, Jimmy McHugh and Irving Mills in 1924. The Victor Talking Machine, bought by RCA and renamed RCA Victor at the ...

" (

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, Irving Mills) – 3:30 #"Magic Garden" ( Alan Bergman, Marilyn Keith,

Lew Spence Lew Spence (June 29, 1920, Cedarhurst, New York – January 9, 2008, Los Angeles) was an American songwriter. Spence received little formal musical training, and led a dance band in his hometown as a teenager.Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...

" ( Charlie Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons,

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) – 3:15 #"Oh, How I Try" (

Roy Alfred Roy Alfred (May 14, 1916 – 2008) was an American Tin Pan Alley lyricist whose successful songs included " The Hucklebuck", "Rock and Roll Waltz", " Who Can Explain?", and " Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)". His first major succe ...

, Marvin Fisher) – 3:40

Side two

#"Ring the Bell" ( Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 1:57 #"Love Look Away" from ''

Flower Drum Song ''Flower Drum Song'' was the eighth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on the 1957 novel, '' The Flower Drum Song'', by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee. It premiered on Broadway in 1958 and was then performed in the ...

'' ( Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 3:28 #"Sudden Love" (

Arthur Hamilton Arthur Hamilton Stern (born October 22, 1926),Stern, Arthur “Art”
''Mar-Ken ...

) – 3:28 #"

" ( Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) – 3:42 #"Warm and Willing" from ''

A Private's Affair ''A Private's Affair'' is a 1959 American musical comedy film directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Sal Mineo and Christine Carère. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1960. Plot Two men from New York—Luigi, a hip wanna-be beatnik, an ...

''(1961) ''I'll Buy You a Star'' by Johnny Mathis ide two label New York: Columbia Records CS 8423. ( Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, McHugh) – 3:13 #"My Heart and I" (

Allyn Ferguson Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. (October 18, 1924 – June 23, 2010) was an American composer, whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs ''Barney Miller'' and '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976-1981), which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott ...

, Donald Sargent) – 3:29

1996 and 2009 CD bonus tracks

# "Jenny" ( Jack Segal,

Paul Vance Joseph Paul Florio (November 4, 1929 – May 30, 2022), known professionally as Paul Vance, was an American songwriter and record producer, primarily from the 1950s until the 1970s. His most successful song compositions, all written with Lee Po ...

) – 2:58 #* released 3/20/61;(2015) ''The Singles'' by Johnny Mathis D booklet New York: Columbia Records 88875120552. B-side of "You Set My Heart to Music"; "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" chart: 118. # "Wasn't the Summer Short?" (Ruth Lyons) – 2:53 #*rel. 9/8/61; ''Billboard'' Hot 100: #89 #"Wherever You Are It's Spring" (

Arthur Hamilton Arthur Hamilton Stern (born October 22, 1926),Stern, Arthur “Art”
''Mar-Ken ...

) – 2:33 #*rel. 1964 on '' I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits'' # "Should I Wait (Or Should I Run to Her)" ( Leon Carr,

) – 2:48 #*rel. 4/24/61; non-charting single

Recording dates

Original album

*February 7, 1961 — "Love Look Away", "My Heart and I", "Smile", "Stairway to the Stars" *February 10, 1961 — "Magic Garden", "Oh, How I Try", "Sudden Love", "Warm and Willing" *February 13, 1961 — "The Best Is Yet to Come", "I'll Buy You a Star", "Ring the Bell", "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street"

1996 and 2009 CD bonus tracks

*February 8, 1961 – "Jenny", "Should I Wait (Or Should I Run to Her)", "Wasn't the Summer Short?", "Wherever You Are It's Spring"

Personnel

*Johnny Mathis – vocals *

Irving Townsend Irving Townsend (November 27, 1920 – December 17, 1981) was an American record producer and author. He is most famous for having produced the Miles Davis album ''Kind of Blue'', which is the best-selling jazz album of all time according to ...

– producer * Nelson Riddle – arranger and conductor(1961) ''I'll Buy You a Star'' by Johnny Mathis lbum jacket New York: Columbia Records CS 8423. * Leigh Wiener – cover photo

References

Bibliography

* * {{Authority control 1961 albums Johnny Mathis albums Columbia Records albums Albums produced by Irving Townsend Albums conducted by Nelson Riddle Albums arranged by Nelson Riddle