Mathis on Broadway


Mathis on Broadway is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on April 25, 2000, by Columbia Records and focuses upon songs included in musicals from the previous two decades.

Reception

Reviews of the singer's most recent tribute to the Great White Way were positive: Michael Portantiere of TheaterMania.com wrote that "Mathis comes across with the smooth, rich, velvety vocalism for which he is legendary," noting that certain songs covered on the album "require the kind of breath support, legato, and phrasing that precious few singers of Mathis's age can supply. But this guy still has the right stuff, in abundance." Billboard magazine echoed these sentiments: "The legendary performer breathes fresh perspective into songs that might sound overdone in lesser hands." And William Ruhlmann of AllMusic goes so far as to say that "the lesser talents among the composers -- Lloyd Webber, Wildhorn, Claude-Michel Schönberg -- owe Mathis a debt for making their music sound so good, while Sondheim can be grateful that Mathis makes him sound so accessible.

Track listing

From the liner notes for the original album:
  1. "On Broadway" from Smokey Joe's Cafe – 3:24
  2. * William Ross – producer, arranger, conductor
  3. * Jay Landers – producer
  4. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  5. * Al Schmitt – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  6. * Randy Waldman – piano
  7. * David Boruff – saxophone
  8. * Dean Parks – guitar
  9. * Chuck Domanico – bass
  10. * John Robinson – drums
  11. * Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  12. * Alex Acuña – percussion
  13. * Efrain Toro – percussion
  14. * Maxine Waters – background vocals
  15. * Julia Waters – background vocals
  16. * Oren Waters – background vocals
  17. "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" from Fosse – 2:46
  18. * Jorge Calandrelli – producer, arranger, conductor
  19. * Jay Landers – producer
  20. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  21. * Al Schmitt – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  22. * Randy Waldman – piano
  23. * David Boruff – saxophone
  24. * Dean Parks – guitar
  25. * Chuck Domanico – bass
  26. * John Robinson – drums
  27. * Leo Daignault – Forever Plaid
  28. * David Engel – Forever Plaid
  29. * Jason Graae – Forever Plaid
  30. * Michael Winther – Forever Plaid
  31. "Loving You" from Passion – 4:38
  32. * Jonathan Tunick – producer, arranger, conductor
  33. * Jay Landers – producer
  34. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  35. * Frank Wolf – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  36. "They Live in You" from The Lion King – 4:13
  37. * Randy Waldman – producer, arranger, recording engineer; keyboards and programming
  38. * Jay Landers – producer
  39. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  40. * Lebo M – coproducer; choir arranger and conductor
  41. * Kevin Clark – recording engineer
  42. * Ray Bardini – recording engineer
  43. * Frank Wolf – mixing engineer
  44. * Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  45. * Nandi Morake – choir
  46. * Ntombikhona Dlamini – choir
  47. * Lindiwe Dlamini – choir
  48. * Lindiwe Hlengwa– choir
  49. * Bonginkosi Kulu – choir
  50. * Ronald Kunene– choir
  51. * Anthony Manough – choir
  52. * Philip McAdoo – choir
  53. * Rema Webb – choir
  54. "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables – 3:23
  55. * William Ross – producer, arranger, conductor
  56. * Jay Landers – producer
  57. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  58. * Frank Wolf – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  59. Medley – 5:45
a. "Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods
b. "Our Children" from Ragtime
  1. * William Ross – producer, arranger, conductor
  2. * Jay Landers – producer
  3. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  4. * Frank Wolf – recording engineer
  5. * Al Schmitt – mixing engineer
  6. "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera – 4:15
  7. * William Ross – producer, arranger, conductor
  8. * Jay Landers – producer
  9. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  10. * Frank Wolf – recording engineer
  11. * Al Schmitt – mixing engineer
  12. "Once Upon a Dream" from Jekyll & Hyde – 5:10
  13. * Jay Landers – producer
  14. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  15. * Megan Cavallari – arranger
  16. * Frank Wolf – recording engineer, mixing engineer
  17. * William Ross – conductor
  18. "Seasons of Love" from Rent – 4:08
  19. * Randy Waldman – producer, arranger, recording engineer; keyboards and programming
  20. * Jay Landers – producer
  21. * Richard Jay-Alexander – producer
  22. * Megan Cavallari – choir arranger and conductor
  23. * Kevin Clark – recording engineer
  24. * Frank Wolf – mixing engineer
  25. * Nathan East – bass
  26. * Maxine Waters – choir
  27. * Julia Waters – choir
  28. * Oren Waters – choir
  29. * Luther Waters – choir
  30. * Sally Stevens – choir
  31. * Terry Wood – choir
  32. * Bobbi Page – choir
  33. * Carmen Twillie – choir
  34. * Angie Jaree – choir
  35. * Ginger Freers – choir
  36. * Susan Boyd – choir
  37. * Jeffrey Polk – choir
  38. * Jim Gilstrap – choir
  39. * Rick Logan – choir
  40. * Josef Powell – choir
  41. * Jon Joyce – choir

    Personnel

From the liner notes for the original album:
  • Johnny Mathis – vocals
  • Jay Landers – executive producer
  • Richard Jay-Alexander – executive producer
  • Robbie Buchanan – additional vocal production
  • Bill Smith – associate producer and engineering
  • Martie Kolbl – production coordinator
  • Patti Zimmitti – orchestra contractor
  • Debbi Datz-Pyle – orchestra contractor
  • Jo Ann Kane – music preparation
  • Matt Della Polla – scoring coordinator for William Ross
  • Lenny LaCroix – rehearsal pianist
  • Charlie Paakkari – assistant engineer
  • John Sorensen – assistant engineer
  • John Hendrickson – assistant engineer
  • James McCrone – assistant engineer
  • Alan Sanderson – assistant engineer
  • Jenny Knotts – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Laura Grover – liner notes editor
  • Peter Fletcher – product manager
  • Bob Semanovich – product manager
  • Christine Wilson – art direction
  • David Vance – photography
  • Mastered at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California