The Sweetheart Tree
| The Sweetheart Tree | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Johnny Mathis | ||||
| Released | 1965 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length |
40:58 (US Version) 50:36 (UK Version) | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | Johnny Mathis | |||
| Johnny Mathis chronology | ||||
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The Sweetheart Tree is the 23rd original studio album released by singer Johnny Mathis and his seventh for Mercury Records.
Overview
Much of the album was recorded in London and features songs with an international flavor. It was released in two versions: in the US as The Sweetheart Tree, and in the UK it appeared under the title Away From Home. Ten of the songs are found on both albums. The US version has twelve tracks and includes the title track and "Mirage", not found on the UK version. The UK version has fourteen tracks, three of which ("If I Had You", "Try a Little Tenderness" and "If Love Were All") have never been released in the US. A further song, "In Love for the Very First Time" would appear on Mathis' next album The Shadow of Your Smile.
It's also worth noting is that the cover photographs on the US version of the album are the work of actor Roddy McDowall who also found acclaim for his photography.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | link |
Track listing (US version)
- "A Wonderful Day Like Today" (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) - 2:42
- "Arrivederci Roma" (Pietro Garinei, Sandro Giovannini, Renato Rascel, Carl Sigman) - 3:41
- "Clopin Clopant" (Bruno Coquatrix, Pierre Dundan, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) - 3:40
- "This Is Love" (Norman Newell) - 3:23
- "I'll Close My Eyes" (Buddy Kaye, Billy Reid) - 3:53
- "The Very Thought of You" (Ray Noble) - 3:49
- "Danny Boy" (Frederick Weatherly) - 4:55
- "The Sweetheart Tree" (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) - 2:15
- "Symphony" (Alex Alstone, Jack Lawrence, Andre Tabet) - 2:59
- "The Skye Boat Song" (Traditional) - 3:50
- "Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kasma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prevert) - 3:45
- "Mirage" (Quincy Jones) - 2:06
Track listing (UK version)
- "On a Wonderful Day Like Today" (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley) - 2:42
UK cover art for Away From Home - "Clopin Clopant" (Bruno Coquatrix, Pierre Dundan, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) - 3:40
- "The Skye Boat Song" (Traditional) - 3:50
- "If I Had You" (Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Sharpio) - 3:23
- "Symphony" (Alex Alstone, Jack Lawrence, Andre Tabet) - 2:59
- "Try a Little Tenderness" (Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry Woods) - 3:25
- "If Love Were All" (Noël Coward) - 3:51
- "Danny Boy" (Frederick Weatherly) - 4:55
- "The Very Thought of You" (Ray Noble) - 3:49
- "Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kasma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prevert) - 3:45
- "I'll Close My Eyes" (Buddy Kaye, Billy Reid) - 3:53
- "This Is Love" (Norman Newell) - 3:23
- "Arrivederci Roma" (Pietro Garinei, Sandro Giovannini, Renato Rascel, Carl Sigman) - 3:41
- "I'm in Love for the Very First Time" - 3:20
Billboard charts
In the US, The Sweetheart Tree peaked at #71 on the Billboard album chart.[1] This was Mathis' 27th album to place on the chart. He also enjoyed a hit single from the album with the title song peaking at #108 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and at #21 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.[2]
Highlights
The title track is from the 1965 film The Great Race, and written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Mercer also wrote the English lyrics to "Autumn Leaves". "On a Wonderful Day Like Today" is by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse and is from their show The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. The album also contains versions of such classic British songs as "Danny Boy and "The Skye Boat Song". "Try a Little Tenderness" was first heard in 1932 and has been frequently recorded over the years. Mathis' version as a traditional ballad is far removed from the soul version recorded by Otis Redding the following year.
References
- ↑ All Music Billboard Album Chart Position
- ↑ Johnny Mathis Hit Singles Billboard Singles Chart Positions