Johnny Mathis Warm and Tender

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geoff85
Posts: 371
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:55 pm

Johnny Mathis Warm and Tender

Post by geoff85 »

I find this song so innovative for 1957. Is Mathis singing tritones? What am i hearing? Anyway i wanted to know if Lieber and Stoller had a hand in the production. This song sounds like a Bacharach composition produced by them. Around 1957 Bacharach was one of the main assistant composers to Lieber/Stoller and hadnt yet really branched out. Any insight?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MU04GiCGRA

sounds eerily similar to this Lieber Stoller production the background singers vocals are haunting to the point of being scary(like wailing ghosts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9wuTOedklo

here is a good example of bacharch/david and lieber stoller collaboration for more reference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmt2p-VqWpg.
Sara D
Posts: 391
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:32 am

Re: Johnny Mathis Warm and Tender

Post by Sara D »

Fascinating hearing Jay and the Americans' 'Look In My Eyes, Maria'. The only other version I've heard of this song is by Cliff Richard.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uqRvkpZ0LcM
steveo_1965
Posts: 1023
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:17 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Johnny Mathis Warm and Tender

Post by steveo_1965 »

Sara I do her a momentary tritone in bar one of the vocal,(or bar 2 if you are doing cut time) but it is merely a side stepping procedure to the next note forming a 4th....almost an ornamental note. It was kind of "jazzy" lol regarding the Leiber and Stoller connection...this is possible, as Burt was paying attention to their productions and hobnobbing with Jerry
I think this song was recorded at the Columbia 30th street studio in NYC, and recall that it was Mitch Miller or George Avakian producing... It was the B side of It's Not For Me To Say...
steveo_1965
Posts: 1023
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:17 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Johnny Mathis Warm and Tender

Post by steveo_1965 »

Noticing all the covers of Warm and Thender, I see that Orchestra leader LeRoy Holmes did a verison of it back in the day...He did it on an ep, as well as The B side to a 45 single(MGM K12460)
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