Until 14 months ago, Johnny Mathis was best known as an athlete: he
could high-jump 6 ft. 5 in., only 2 3/4 in. short of the Olympic
record . Then the San Francisco State
College sophomore started to sing in San Francisco nightclubs during
his spare time. A record executive heard him, and now the talented
young Negro is the star of his own LP called Johnny Mathis
. As a singer his virtues are many, for he can warble a
lyrical tune with husky tenderness and a fine sense of phrasing, light
into a tbrchy tune with a dramatic sense of rhythm, or blend neatly
with his cool jazz background, all with equal ease. In each style he
has a distinctive little trick of rushing words here and there in a
manner that once would have been called corny, but according to today's
tastes, is passable. With Columbia's help. Singer Mathis may well leap
into the lead in setting a new style. Other pop records: The Ballad of James Dean . A hammy elegy to the
late young film actor replete
with funereal fanfare and theatrical allusion. The song seems to have
caused a brain flash in Victor's repertory department, which has dished
out three more records about popular personalities. Marlon Doesn't Love
Me Anymore is a ballad about a teen-ager who has
received no answer to her latest mash note to “Marlon darlin', ” and is
considering resigning from her fan club. My Boy Elvis is
a real rock 'n' roller , while on
The Elvis Bines a fellow complains he lost his girl to the
Presley charm. Brubeck Plays Brubeck . Top Jazz Pianist Brubeck plays nine
original compositions, tunes that possess charmingly childlike
qualities but that are full-grown in their harmonic adventurousness.
They have the added attraction of inspiring Composer Brubeck to pretty
flights of improvising fancy. A Heart Without a Sweetheart . Songstress Storm's
sweet-heartless heart is like a “ship without a harbor, or a bird
without a wing,” as she croons in duet with herself while a Salvation
Army trumpet bleats behind her. The Hi-Lo's, I Presume . The most remarkable vocal group in
the business, running the gamut from rich-hued harmonies of velvety
texture to barely controlled hysteria . It's all great fun. Just One of Those Things . In a day when many
folks are uncertain of their identity, Singer Davis seems sure of his:
Frank Sinatra. This is a fair sample in Frankie's tough, dry
style, would sound better if Sammy had Frankie's pretty voice.
Nevertheless, the wild, finger-snapping finale takes the listener for a
real ride. Le Rififi . Top Harmonica Player Adler, still
based on the continent after his brush with politics , shows his technique to be more spectacular than it ever was. The
tune is the one he played on the soundtrack of the current French film
of the same name.
