The Wonderful World of Make Believe


The Wonderful World of Make Believe is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released by Mercury Records on July 10, 1964, and described by Greg Adams of Allmusic, who wrote, "The theme is fantasy, from imaginary locations to fanciful yearnings to vague, idealized realms."
The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated July 25, 1964, and reached number 75 during its 10 weeks there.
This project was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums in a two-CD set by Sony Music Entertainment on August 28, 2012, the other album being Mathis's previous studio LP, Tender Is the Night. The Wonderful World of Make Believe was also included in Sony's Mathis box set The Complete Global Albums Collection, which was released on November 17, 2014.

Reception

Adams contrasts the approach of this album to his singles of the period. "Mercury didn't tamper with Mathis's established style on this album, so the arrangements are in keeping with his Columbia work, if a bit more swirly and ornate as the material seemed to require." He concludes that this project "is strictly an album effort -- no standout single tracks here -- but it's an enticingly dreamy effort and Mathis sings superbly."
Billboard especially appreciated the concept and team at work here: "A fine idea, beautifully performed by Mathis with able support from Allyn Ferguson's arrangements and Jack Feierman's orchestration."

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Camelot" from Camelot – 2:50
  2. "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" from Oh, Look! – 3:37
  3. "House of Flowers" from House of Flowers – 3:36
  4. "Beyond the Sea" – 3:25
  5. "Sky Full of Rainbows" – 3:09
  6. "Sands of Time" from Kismet – 3:11

Side two

  1. "Shangri-La" – 3:30
  2. "Alice in Wonderland" from Alice in Wonderland – 2:46
  3. "Dream, Dream, Dream" – 3:09
  4. "The World of Make-Believe" – 2:43
  5. "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio – 4:21
  6. "Beyond the Blue Horizon" from Monte Carlo – 2:57

Recording dates

Source:
  • February 7, 1964: "Alice in Wonderland", "Sky Full of Rainbows", "The World of Make-Believe"
  • February 8, 1964: "Beyond the Sea", "House of Flowers", "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", "Shangri-La", "When You Wish Upon a Star"
  • February 10, 1964: "Beyond the Blue Horizon", "Camelot", "Dream, Dream, Dream", "Sands of Time"

Personnel