Johnny Mathis ~ How Do You Keep the Music Playing

This is another absolutely stunning and beautiful marriage of the gifts of Johnny Mathis, Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman. From the 1993 CD, with same title as this song, and again showcasing the talents of these 4 incomparable artists. While there are currently several other great uploads of this song, particularly two live in concert ("Chances Are" PBS special and "Live By Request" special), I'm sharing this for it's distinction - not - in 'addition to' . Most performers, and I believe Johnny has said this in interviews, experience a completely different dynamic when performing 'live' vs. recording in the studio. While still in the 'zone', and performing to his fullest in front of an audience, you can hear and hopefully appreciate, the experience of Johnny being 'one' with the music in this studio performance. While concert orchestrations are lovely, and compliment the performer- here- Johnny's voice and solo piano work of (either Michel Legrand or Michael Lang according to the liner notes- but in this case I will hope it's Michel Legrand)- play off and with each other, as two instruments. As the composer, arranger and conductor of the music for the CD it seems fitting that Michel Legrand is the soloist here- magnificent playing.

If you listen into Johnny's interview with Noel Edmonds (gerrymoran1 channel- song: "Johnny Mathis- If It's Magic") you'll hear his great (and I find fascinating) description of how he orchestrates his voice with choices of different instruments in the orchestra, and, how he (as he says) "utilize singing softly, almost in a whisper and other times make a joyful noise as loud and as far as I can sing." You'll hear the 'whisper' and the 'loud - joy' in this song in a completely different way than you'd experience it in a live performance. The 'die-hard' romantic soul in me is touched by the simplicity and depth of this beautiful interpretation.

As I copied from the liner notes in the last upload "After The Rain", the Bergmans express the "pure pleasure to hear our songs so lovingly sung... a gift we will always cherish." Listen. You'll hear the love, and for lack of a better word- the only one that comes to mind right now - 'oozing' in and out of this song. I wish I could put all of the songs from this CD up- but many of them are posted, several live, including one of mine "The Way She Makes Me Feel" . But I just had to share this one- it's such perfection.

Enjoy! And - if you don't have it - this CD is well worth owning- and appreciating time and time again. When you listen "in" to it - you'll hear different nuances every time.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Johnny
• Mathis
• How
• Do
• You
• Keep
• The
• Music
• Playing
• Michel
• Legrand
• Alan
• Marilyn
• Bergman

[Emil4ik]

incredible! look at the arrangement!

[lenoremewton]

@Emil4ik - Michel LeGrand is amazing- I just love listening to this entire CD- one of my favorites- and so worth owning. I have a few others up from the CD- . Really such a fantastic combination of gifted talent! Enjoy:)

[DaveyC95]

I am only 28 but my Father is a huge fan, I can remember when I was about 4 or 5 years old, he would listen on a Sunday to songs like When a Child is Born, Betcha By Golly Wow, I'm Stone in Love With You and If..He had a double LP dont know what happened to it, with his songs and plenty of cover songs by different artists on...I have looked online and have seen all the album covers except the one my Dad had, it was brown and Johnny is wistfully looking at a china figurine in his hand.

[lenoremewton]

@DaveyC95 Hi- so glad to hear from you- people of all ages appreciate Johnny's voice. I know exactly the cover you are talking about . While I don't own it- I can tell you the name of it- It was called The Johnny Mathis Collection. I just checked as I had a photo of the LP cover. Hope that helps. Those are all wonderful songs.Enjoy:)

[serpentinecreature]

Johnny is always vocally and spiritually refreshing,he fills the emptiness and translates the secret messages of my heart so that even I can make sense of their meanings.Sounds foolish ,maybe, but it is the only way I know to express it.Thank you and I can sleep more peacefully now.'nite lenoremewton.

[lenoremewton]

@serpentinecreature - you're welcome- i love this interpretation- it is purely Johnny's. (thank you for the note on the other channel with the live version)- I loved making this one- AND- i adore the live one- as I said- i watch it nearly nightly. Yes- we can all sleep well after that:)

[DaveyC95]

@lenoremewton I found it online, what a good memory I have, it looks exactly as I remembered as a child..It came out in 1977, and they must have reissued it several times because when I was a toddler in 1984/1985 I was told that I used the records as a frisbee, and several records were replaced lol..That's kids for you hehe..Trouble is they never issued it on CD, so you will never be able to get that collection of songs together again, and nobody has a turntable these days. :-)

[PSYLLA2020]

Endless dreams... thank you !!

[lenoremewton]

@oneoldknight - glad to hear this brings you back and and brings joy. Music and Memory are very intertwined.

Enjoy.

[oneoldknight]

wonderful, he is the music of my youth and the comfort of the twilight of my life.

when i hear his music, memories of my friend and love, lana, race back into my heart..sigh....long ago and still.