''The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway'' is a

double album A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...

by American pop singer

Johnny Mathis John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum s ...

that was released in September 1960 by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...

. Despite the order of the words in the title, the ballads actually make up sides one and two while the uptempo numbers fill sides three and four. The album debuted on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'' magazine's album chart in the issue dated October 3, 1960, and stayed on the list for 27 weeks, during which time it peaked at number six. Columbia also released the album as two separate LPs in 1960 titled ''Ballads of Broadway'' and ''Rhythms of Broadway''.(2017) ''The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection'' by Johnny Mathis

D booklet D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''. History Th ...

New York: Sony Music Entertainment 88985 36892 2. The two-LP set was released for the first time on compact disc on June 7, 1999.

Reception

''Billboard'' described it as a "power-packed item, from the chanter's pretty vocalizing, and smart

Ralph Burns Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he atten ...

Glenn Osser Abraham Arthur "Glenn" Osser (August 28, 1914 – April 29, 2014) was an American musician, musical arranger, orchestra leader, and songwriter. His birthname was Abraham (Abe), but much of his work was under the name Glenn; he can be found with re ...

backings, to the attractive, eye-catching cover."

Track listing

The Ballads of Broadway

;Side one #"

Moanin' Low Moanin' Low is a popular torch song. The music was written by Ralph Rainger; the lyrics by Howard Dietz. The song was published in 1929 and was introduced that same year in the musical revue ''The Little Show'' by Libby Holman becoming a hit and Hol ...

" from '' The Little Show'' ( Howard Dietz,

Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger ( Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer of popular music principally for films. Biography Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, United States, Rainger initially embarked on a legal career, ...

) – 3:56 #"Fun to Be Fooled" from '' Life Begins at 8:40'' (

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ' ...

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

, E. Y. Harburg) – 4:02 #" I Have Dreamed" from ''

The King And I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the chil ...

'' (

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most well-known American ...

) – 4:04 #"

On the Sunny Side of the Street "On the Sunny Side of the Street" is a 1930 song composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Some authors say that Fats Waller was the composer, but he sold the rights to the song. It was introduced in the Broadway musical '' Lew Lesli ...

" from '' Lew Leslie's International Revue'' (

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 ...

Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, Ju ...

) – 3:57 #" My Romance" from ''

Jumbo Jumbo (about December 25, 1860 – September 15, 1885), also known as Jumbo the Elephant and Jumbo the Circus Elephant, was a 19th-century male African bush elephant born in Sudan. Jumbo was exported to Jardin des Plantes, a zoo in Paris, and t ...

'' (

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include "Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", " Bewitched, B ...

, Rodgers) – 3:10 #" Dancing on the Ceiling" from '' Ever Green'' (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:54 ;Side two #"I Married an Angel" from '' I Married an Angel'' (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:48 #"

Isn't It a Pity? "Isn't It a Pity?" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the unsuccessful 1933 musical ''Pardon My English''. It was introduced by George Givot and Josephine Huston. Notable recordings *Victor Arden - Ph ...

" from ''

Pardon My English ''Pardon My English'' is a musical with a book by Herbert Fields and Morrie Ryskind, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Set in 1933 Dresden, the farcical plot satirizes the Prohibition era. Production history Producers Alex ...

'' (

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

, I. Gershwin) – 3:55 #" Spring Is Here" from ''I Married an Angel'' (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:48 #" Don't Blame Me" from ''Clowns in Clover'' (Fields, McHugh) – 4:38 #"

Taking a Chance on Love "Taking a Chance on Love" is a popular song from the 1940 Broadway musical '' Cabin in the Sky''. It was introduced by Ethel Waters playing the role of Petunia Jackson both on Broadway and later in the 1943 MGM musical Cabin in the Sky (film). ...

" from '' Cabin in the Sky'' (

Vernon Duke Vernon Duke ( 16 January 1969) was a Russian-born American composer/songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for " Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940), "I Can' ...

Ted Fetter Theodore Fetter (June 10, 1906 – March 13, 1996) was a Broadway lyricist who contributed material to such revues as ''The Show Is On'' (1936) and ''Billy Rose's Aquacade'' (1939), but is best remembered for co-writing the song "Taking a Cha ...

, John La Touche) – 3:33 #"

The Party's Over The Party's Over may refer to: Film and TV * ''The Party's Over'' (1934 film), starring Stuart Erwin and Ann Sothern, based on the 1933 Broadway play * ''The Party's Over'' (1965 film), directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Oliver Reed, with a ...

" from '' Bells Are Ringing'' (

Betty Comden Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 - November 23, 2006) was an American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter who contributed to numerous Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green spanned ...

Adolph Green Adolph Green (December 2, 1914 – October 23, 2002) was an American lyricist and playwright who, with long-time collaborator Betty Comden, penned the screenplays and songs for some of the most beloved film musicals, particularly as part of Ar ...

Jule Styne Jule Styne (; born Julius Kerwin Stein; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer best known for a series of Broadway musicals, including several famous frequently-revived shows that also becam ...

) – 4:01

The Rhythms of Broadway

;Side three #" Everything's Coming Up Roses" from '' Gypsy: A Musical Fable'' (

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

, Styne) – 2:51 #"Guys and Dolls" from ''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...

'' (

Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...

) – 3:00 #"

I Wish I Were in Love Again "I Wish I Were in Love Again" is a show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical ''Babes in Arms''. In the original show, Dolores, the Sheriff's daughter (played by Grace McDonald), talks to Gus, her former boyfriend (Rolly Pickert), who tries t ...

" from ''

Babes in Arms ''Babes in Arms'' is a 1937 coming-of-age musical comedy with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Rodgers and Hart. It concerns a group of small-town Long Island teenagers who put on a show to avoid being sent to a wor ...

'' (Hart, Rodgers) – 3:36 #" You Do Something to Me" from ''

Fifty Million Frenchmen ''Fifty Million Frenchmen'' is a musical comedy with a book by Herbert Fields and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It opened on Broadway in 1929 and was adapted for a film two years later. The title is a reference to the hit 1927 song "Fifty Milli ...

'' (

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

) – 3:05 #"

Let's Misbehave "Let's Misbehave" is a song written by Cole Porter in 1927, originally intended for the female lead of his first major production, ''Paris''. It was discarded before the Broadway opening in favor of " Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love". However, the ...

" from '' You Never Know'' (Porter) – 2:46 #" I Could Have Danced All Night" from ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...

'' (

Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre b ...

Frederick Loewe Frederick Loewe (, originally German Friedrich (Fritz) Löwe ; June 10, 1901 – February 14, 1988) was an Austrian-American composer. He collaborated with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner on a series of Broadway musicals, including ''Brigadoon'', '' ...

) – 3:01 ;Side four #"A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from ''

South Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

'' (Hammerstein, Rodgers) – 2:33 #" I Just Found Out About Love" from ''Strip for Action'' (

Harold Adamson Harold Campbell Adamson (December 10, 1906 – August 17, 1980) was an American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s. Early life Adamson, the son of building contractor Harold Adamson and Marion "Minnie" Campbell Adamson, was born and raised in ...

, McHugh) – 3:12 #" Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)" from ''

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

'' (Porter) – 3:50 #"

I Am in Love "I Am in Love" is a 1953 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical '' Can-Can'', where it was introduced by Peter Cookson. Notable recordings *Nat King Cole - His 1953 single release reached No. 19 in the ''Billboard'' chart. Cole re-r ...

" from '' Can-Can'' (Porter) – 4:15 #"Love Eyes" from '' Whoop-Up'' (

Moose Charlap Morris Isaac "Moose" Charlap (December 19, 1928 – July 8, 1974) was an American Broadway composer best known for '' Peter Pan'' (1954), for which Carolyn Leigh wrote the lyrics. The idea for the show came from Jerome Robbins, who planned to have ...

Norman Gimbel Norman Gimbel (November 16, 1927 – December 19, 2018) was an American lyricist of popular songs, television and movie themes. He wrote the lyrics for songs including " Killing Me Softly with His Song", " Ready to Take a Chance Again" (both wit ...

) – 2:32 #"Love Is a Gamble" from ''American Motors Industrial Show'' (Sydney Shaw, Jane Douglas White) – 2:35

Recording dates

From the liner notes for '' The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection'': *April 4, 1960 — "I Have Dreamed", "Isn't It a Pity?" *April 7, 1960 — "Dancing on the Ceiling", "I Married an Angel", "Moanin' Low", "My Romance", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "The Party's Over", "Spring Is Here" *April 8, 1960 — "Don't Blame Me", "Taking a Chance on Love" *May 17, 1960 — "Guys and Dolls", "I Am in Love", "I Just Found Out About Love", "I Wish I Were in Love Again" *May 19, 1960 — "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Fun to Be Fooled", "Love Is a Gamble" *May 20, 1960 — "A Cock-Eyed Optimist", "I Could Have Danced All Night", "Let's Misbehave", "You Do Something to Me" *May 23, 1960 — "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)", "Love Eyes"

Personnel

*Johnny Mathis – vocals *

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

– producer *

– arranger and conductor (sides one and two, except as noted)(1960) ''The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway'' by Johnny Mathis lbum jacket New York: Columbia Records C2L 17. *

– arranger and conductor (sides three and four); conductor ("Fun to Be Fooled")(1960) ''The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway'' by Johnny Mathis ide one label New York: Columbia Records C2L 17. *

Richard Avedon Richard Avedon (May 15, 1923 – October 1, 2004) was an American fashion and portrait photographer. He worked for ''Harper's Bazaar'', ''Vogue'' and ''Elle'' specializing in capturing movement in still pictures of fashion, theater and danc ...

– photography *Gilbert Millstein – liner notes

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway 1960 albums Johnny Mathis albums Columbia Records albums Albums arranged by Glenn Osser Albums conducted by Glenn Osser Albums arranged by Ralph Burns Albums conducted by Ralph Burns Albums produced by Mitch Miller