Open Fire, Two Guitars

Performer: Johnny Mathis
Artist: Al Caiola; Tony Mottola; Milt Hinton
Producer: Didier C. Deutsch (Reissue)
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Master Sound releases are 24-karat gold CDs remastered from first-generation masters. They utilize 20-bit technology and Sony's revolutionary "Super Bit Mapping" system. Personnel: Johnny Mathis (vocals); Al Caiola, Tony Mottola (guitar); Frank Carroll, Milt Hinton (bass). This is part of Columbia/Legacy's Master Sound series. Personnel: Johnny Mathis (vocals); Al Caiola, Tony Mottola (guitar); Frank Carroll, Milt Hinton (bass). Originally released on Columbia (8056). Digitally remastered by Kevin Boutote (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York). The open fire of the title is a warm hearth, not an invitation to gunplay. On this 1959 album, Johnny Mathis creates an atmosphere of fireside intimacy by dispensing with his usual orchestral accompaniment so that the purity of his voice entices the listener's full attention. Al Caiola and Tony Mattola play the two guitars that supplement Mathis' crooning, with an upright bass providing the album's only other instrument. Producer Mitch Miller is often associated with gimmicky or novelty productions, but his work on Open Fire, Two Guitars is perfectly understated, emphasizing the gentle caress of Mathis' voice over the relaxed counterpoint of the two guitars. The songs give prominence to the pop standards of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, and the Gershwins, but the title track, "Open Fire," is a new composition by Leiber & Stoller. The album's effect seems nearly a cappella at times, but "In the Still of the Night" finds Mathis intoning the lyrics over gently rhythmic guitar figures that educe new harmonic complexities from a well-known song. The enduring popularity of Open Fire, Two Guitars is attributable in part to its hypnotic aura of closeness and confidentiality, but also to the simple instrumentation that appeals to many rock-era listeners' preference for guitars over orchestral arrangements. ~ Greg Adams

Q (3/95, p.118) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...A minimal backing of two acoustic guitars and bass provide a warm, intimate setting for Mathis' wistfully tremulous singing style and the extraordinary range, depth and delicacy of his delivery. The selections of lilting ballads from Leiber & Stoller, George & Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter is similarly faultless." Q (3/95, p.118) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...A minimal backing of two acoustic guitars and bass provide a warm, intimate setting for Mathis' wistfully tremulous singing style and the extraordinary range, depth and delicacy of his delivery. The selections of lilting ballads from Leiber & Stoller, George & Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter is similarly faultless."

Although Johnny Mathis got his start as a jazz singer, his velvety 1956 hit "Wonderful, Wonderful" set the course for the rest of his career as a smooth pop crooner and key supplier of make-out music. He maintained a steady career course over the following decades, and in the late '70s enjoyed a renewed popularity, scoring a few high-charting duets with Deniece Williams. One of the most popular recording artists of all time, Mathis has reputedly sold over 350 million records, and his 1958 greatest-hits collection--the first compilation of its kind--stayed on the U.S. charts for almost 10 years. Past his 50th year in show business, Mathis was still recording and performing, his special brand of silky pop balladeering never quite falling out of favor.

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