Right from the Heart
Right From The Heart | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Johnny Mathis | ||||
Released | March 18, 1985[1] | |||
Recorded | June 1984–February 1985[1] | |||
Studio | The Complex, Los Angeles, California, Conway Studios, Hollywood, California, Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, California[2] | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 36:37 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Denny Diante[2] | |||
Johnny Mathis chronology | ||||
|
Right from the Heart is an album by the American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on March 18, 1985,[1] by Columbia Records. It was his first album without songs that were previously recorded by other artists. The title track is one of the album's four ballads that, along with four of the remaining six up-tempo tracks, delve into the subject of relationships, but it is the synth-driven "Step by Step" and the anthemic "Hold On" on which Mathis take a break from the usual focus on love songs. The former offers the hope that can be found in change that comes gradually until "I can see the way free from yesterday to a new beginning".[2] The latter stresses the importance of being oneself: "Life is a party. Why don't you come the way you are?"[2]
Even though the title track was used on the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope,[4] the album did not make it onto Billboard magazine's Top Pop Albums chart. The song "Right from the Heart" did reach number 38 during its two weeks on the magazine's list of the 40 Hot Adult Contemporary songs of the week in the US in May that year.[5]
Ryan's Hope cameos
In 1985, Mathis guest starred on the daytime drama Ryan's Hope in the April 9 and May 1 episodes,[6] the latter of which included a performance of the song "Right from the Heart".[7] In the plot of the show, Dave Greenberg (Scott Holmes) has written the song, and Katie Ryan Thompson (Julia Campbell) "takes the song to Mathis in the hope he'll record it".[4] Mathis lip syncs to his recording of the song as he pretends to be recording the song in a recording studio while the characters look on from the control room.[8]
Reception
People magazine gave the album a mixed review, noting the up-tempo songs, "such as "Touch by Touch", on which Mathis forces it a little".[9] Lamenting the lack of duets, the reviewer wrote that "he has had such success doing them",[9] and this is his first studio album since 1977 that has not included one. The reviewer does praise the title track as "vintage Mathis"[9] and asserts that "there's still nobody better when it comes to creating a warm, relaxed, mellow mood".[9]
Track listing
From the liner notes for the original album:[2]
- 1. "Touch by Touch" (Brent Mason, Keith Stegall) – 4:21
- Robbie Buchanan – acoustic piano and synthesizers
- Michel Colombier – Fender Rhodes, DX7
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- Kate Markowitz – background vocals
- Phil Perry – background vocals
- John Robinson – drums
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Ernie Watts – saxophone
- Larry Williams – saxophone
- 2. "Love Shock" (Michel Colombier, Denny Diante, Kathy Wakefield) – 4:19
- Robbie Buchanan – acoustic piano and synthesizers
- Michel Colombier – Fender Rhodes, DX7, DMX Drum Machine
- Siedah Garrett – background vocals
- Dann Huff – lead guitar
- Phillip Ingram – background vocals
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- John Robinson – Simmons Drums
- David Williams – rhythm guitar
- 3. "Just One Touch" (Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren) – 4:02
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards and synthesizers
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- Kate Markowitz – background vocals
- Phil Perry – background vocals
- John Robinson – drums
- 4. "Hooked on Goodbye" (Colombier, Diante, Wakefield) – 4:02
- Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers; synthesizer programming
- Michel Colombier – Fender Rhodes, DX7
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Phillip Ingram – harmony vocals; background vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- Phil Perry – background vocals
- Darryl Phinnessee – background vocals
- John Robinson – drums
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Ernie Watts – saxophone
- Larry Williams – saxophone
- 5. "I Need You (The Journey)" (Colombier, Wakefield) – 5:09
- Michel Colombier – Fender Rhodes, Jupiter 8
- Lynn Davis – female vocalist
- Randy Kerber – acoustic piano
- John Robinson – drums
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- 6. "Step by Step" (Brian Fairweather, Wakefield) – 4:34
- Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers; synthesizer programming
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Brian Fairweather – lead guitar, synthesizers, background vocals
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Phillip Ingram – harmony vocals; background vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Jeff Lorber – bass synthesizer, DX7, Prophet, Mini Moog
- John Robinson – drums
- 7. "Right from the Heart" from Ryan's Hope (Earl Rose, Wakefield) – 4:25
- Michel Colombier – DX7, Juno
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Phillip Ingram – harmony vocals
- Jeff Lorber – DX7, Juno, Mini Moog
- John Robinson – drums
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- 8. "Falling in Love" (Douglas Getschal, John Robinson) – 4:28
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Douglas Getschal – synthesizer and bass programming
- Phillip Ingram – background vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- Phil Perry – background vocals
- Darryl Phinnessee – background vocals
- John Robinson – drums; synthesizer and bass programming
- 9. "Here We Go Again" (Dave DeLuca, Marvin Morrow) – 4:04
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards and synthesizers
- Michel Colombier – keyboards and synthesizers
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background vocals
- Kate Markowitz – background vocals
- Phil Perry – background vocals
- John Robinson – drums
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- 10. "Hold On" (Colombier, Diante, Wakefield) – 4:31
- Wayne Anthony – harmony vocals
- Seline Armbeck – background singer
- Teri Armbeck – background singer
- Ron Bergan – background singer
- Buster Brafford – background singer
- Toni Brafford – background singer
- Darrell Brown – background singer
- Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers; synthesizer programming
- Jeff Clarke – background singer
- Judy Clarke – background singer
- Tammy Clarke – background singer
- Michel Colombier – Fender Rhodes
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Jim Ganduglia – background singer
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Phillip Ingram – background singer
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Edie Lehmann – background singer
- Clem Mathis – background singer
- The McGettricks – background singers
- Phil Perry – background singer
- Darryl Phinnessee – background singer
- Gil Reigers – background singer
- Mike Reigers – background singer
- John Robinson – drums
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- Maxine Sibley – background singer
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Dana Tehen – background singer
- Don Watson – background singer
- Ernie Watts – saxophone
- Larry Williams – saxophone
- Charles Zacharie – background singer
Recording dates
From the liner notes for The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection:[1]
- June 29, 1984 – "Hold On", "Touch by Touch"
- July 19, 1984 – "Here We Go Again"
- July 27, 1984 – "Falling in Love", "Hooked on Goodbye"
- August 14, 1984 – "Just One Touch"
- October 24, 1984 – "I Need You (The Journey)"
- December 6, 1984 – "Step by Step"
- January 3, 1985 – "Love Shock"
- February 8, 1985 – "Right from the Heart"
Personnel
From the liner notes for the original album:[2]
|
|
References
- ^ a b c d (2017) The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music Entertainment 88985 36892 2.
- ^ a b c d e f (1985) Right from the Heart by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records FC 39601.
- ^ "Right from the Heart - Johnny Mathis". Allmusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ a b Peterson 1985, p. B10.
- ^ Whitburn 2007, p. 179.
- ^ "Johnny Mathis". IMDb. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ^ "Rose's star is rising with Mathis record". Reading Eagle. 1986-03-30. p. B15.
- ^ Ryan's Hope. Season 10. May 1, 1985. ABC.
- ^ a b c d "Picks and Pans Review: Right from the Heart". People. May 20, 1985.
Bibliography
- Peterson, BetteLou (8 April 1985), "Johnny Mathis guests on Ryan's Hope", The Montréal Gazette, pp. B10
- Whitburn, Joel (2007), Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006, Record Research Inc., ISBN 978-0898201697
- v
- t
- e
- Johnny Mathis
- Wonderful, Wonderful
- Warm
- Good Night, Dear Lord
- Swing Softly
- Merry Christmas
- Open Fire, Two Guitars
- Heavenly
- Faithfully
- Johnny's Mood
- The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway
- I'll Buy You a Star
- Live It Up!
- Rapture
- Johnny
- Sounds of Christmas
- Romantically
- Tender Is the Night
- The Wonderful World of Make Believe
- This Is Love
- Olé
- Broadway
- Love Is Everything
- The Sweetheart Tree
- The Shadow of Your Smile
- So Nice
- Johnny Mathis Sings
- Up, Up and Away
- Love Is Blue
- Those Were the Days
- Love Theme from "Romeo And Juliet" (A Time for Us)
- Give Me Your Love for Christmas
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
- Close to You
- Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert
- Love Story
- You've Got a Friend
- The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)
- Song Sung Blue
- Me and Mrs. Jones
- Killing Me Softly with Her Song
- I'm Coming Home
- The Heart of a Woman
- When Will I See You Again
- Feelings
- I Only Have Eyes for You
- Mathis Is...
- Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
- You Light Up My Life
- That's What Friends Are For
- The Best Days of My Life
- Mathis Magic
- Different Kinda Different
- I Love My Lady
- Friends in Love
- A Special Part of Me
- Right from the Heart
- Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis
- The Hollywood Musicals
- Once in a While
- In the Still of the Night
- In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington
- How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
- All About Love
- Because You Loved Me: The Songs of Diane Warren
- Mathis on Broadway
- The Christmas Album
- Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album
- A Night to Remember
- Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville
- Sending You a Little Christmas
- Johnny Mathis Sings the Great New American Songbook
- Johnny's Greatest Hits
- More Johnny's Greatest Hits
- Portrait of Johnny
- Johnny's Newest Hits
- I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
- The Great Years
- People
- The Impossible Dream
- Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits
- Johnny Mathis Sings the Great Songs
- The Johnny Mathis Collection
- The Mathis Collection
- Tears and Laughter
- The Best of Johnny Mathis 1975–1980
- The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album
- Celebration – The Anniversary Album
- 16 Most Requested Songs
- Better Together: The Duet Album
- The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection
- The Hits of Johnny Mathis
- The Ultimate Hits Collection
- The Essential Johnny Mathis
- The Very Best of Johnny Mathis
- Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration
- Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
- The Ultimate Collection
- The Classic Christmas Album
- Johnny Mathis in Person: Recorded Live at Las Vegas
- Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole
- Live
- The Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection
- The Complete Global Albums Collection
- The Singles
- The Complete Christmas Collection 1958–2010
- The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection
- "Wonderful! Wonderful!"
- "It's Not for Me to Say"
- "Chances Are"
- "The Twelfth of Never"
- "Wild Is the Wind"
- "A Certain Smile"
- "Sleigh Ride"
- "Misty"
- "Gina
- "What Will Mary Say"
- "Beyond the Blue Horizon"
- "Remember When (We Made These Memories)"
- "Love Me Tonight"
- "Odds and Ends"
- "I'm Coming Home"
- "Life Is a Song Worth Singing"
- "When a Child Is Born"
- "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"
- "You're All I Need to Get By"
- Live by Request: Johnny Mathis
- Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful!