''I Love My Lady'' is an
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by American pop singer
Johnny Mathis
John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum s ...
that was completed in 1981 but not released in its entirety until December 8, 2017,
[ when it was included in the box set '' The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection''. It was written and produced by ]Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
founders Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards (October 31, 1952 – April 18, 1996) was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the ...
and Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...
[ and represented an attempt at shifting away from the ]easy listening
Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...
style of music that Mathis had been recording for 25 years to the more contemporary sound of the team behind "Le Freak
"Le Freak" is a 1978 funk / disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band's third single and first ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks " I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number ...
" and " We Are Family".
As part of Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...
on April 21, 2018, Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is an American record label that is a division of Sony Music. Formed in 1990 after Sony's acquisition of CBS Records, Legacy originally handled the archives of Sony Music-owned labels Columbia Records and Epic Records. In 20 ...
gave ''I Love My Lady'' its standalone debut with a pressing on clear smoke vinyl.
History
Mathis experienced a career resurgence in the spring of 1978 with the release of a duet he recorded with Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams (born June Deniece Chandler; June 3, 1951) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs " Free", " Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two ''Bill ...
titled "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a song performed by singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams. Lyrics and music were arranged by Nat Kipner and John Vallins. The single was a comeback of sorts for Mathis as his last U.S. top 10 hit was 196 ...
". The single was his first to achieve Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
,[.] which at the time was awarded for sales of one million units in the US; it was his first song to make the top 40 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 since the number 30 showing of "Every Step of the Way" in 1963[ and his first number one song on that chart since the magazine started it in 1958 (although " Chances Are" spent a week at number one on the magazine's "Most Played by Jockeys" chart in 1957).][ The duet also gave Mathis a resurgence in album sales with its inclusion on '' You Light Up My Life'', his first top 10 entry on the magazine's LP chart since 1966 and his first non-holiday studio album to receive Platinum certification since 1959's '' Heavenly''.
Mathis was able to sustain some of the momentum in album sales by re-teaming with Williams immediately for an entire album of duets: '']That's What Friends Are For
"That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.
It was first recorded in 1982 by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the film '' Night Shift'', but it is better known for the 1985 cover version by Dionn ...
'' went Gold and had a respectable peak at number 19 on the album chart[.] but managed only the number 47 "You're All I Need to Get By
"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Ge ...
" as far as pop chart entries.[ His first album release in 1979, '']The Best Days of My Life
''The Best Days of My Life'' is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on January 29, 1979, by Columbia Records and scaled back considerably on his more than decade-long practice of recording recent hit songs by other ar ...
'', only got as high as number 122[ with two songs just making the ]Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
chart, and his second, ''Mathis Magic
''Mathis Magic'' is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on September 17, 1979, by Columbia Records and contained an equal balance of new material and songs associated with other artists.
Although this album did not ma ...
'', missed the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' album chart altogether[ and had no charting singles.][ Although he had been leaning more heavily on original material since the success with Williams, he had worked with the same producer, Jack Gold, on eight of the albums that he recorded between 1975 and 1980 and was willing to explore other options.
In late December 1980 and January 1981 Mathis recorded the album ''I Love My Lady'' with ]Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards (October 31, 1952 – April 18, 1996) was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the ...
and Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...
at the helm.[ All tracks for the album were written by the duo,][ whose songwriting credits included hits by their own band, ]Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
, as well as Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1971, the group consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge. The siblings achieved international success at the height of the disco era. ...
and Diana Ross
Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown's most successful act during the 1960s and one of the world's best-selling girl groups o ...
. Mathis was quoted as having enjoyed the project: "What a joy to work and sing with Bernard and Nile ... A unique experience that introduced me to new and exciting singing, as though using musical notes and phrases as brush strokes. A true departure for me as a vocalist and a milestone in my career."[(2013) ''Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization – Up All Night'' by various artists D booklet New York: Warner Music Group WMTV 200] After the completion of the album, "nobody said anything over at Columbia, and a best-of album 'The_First_25_Years_–_The_Silver_Anniversary_Album''.html" ;"title="The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album">' The_First_25_Years_–_The_Silver_Anniversary_Album">'The_First_25_Years_–_The_Silver_Anniversary_Album''came_out_instead."
In_2004_a_spokeswoman_for_Mathis_explained_the_efforts_that_had_been_made_to_get_the_album_released._"We_have_forwarded_to_Sony,_by_way_of_our_attorney,_letters,_inquiries,_etc._from_fans_who_were_hoping_to_hear_this_album._This_seems_to_have_had_no_impact."_When_asked_in_a_2011_radio_interview_as_to_why_the_album_had_never_been_released,_Mathis_gave_a_brief_chuckle_as_he_replied,_"Probably_because_the_record_company_is_almighty_when_you're_making_music_to_sell._They_have_their_likes_and_dislikes...._I_guess_because_they_didn't_think_it_would_sell."
_Resurfacing
At_the_EMP_Museum.html" ;"title="The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''">The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album">'The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''came out instead."
In 2004 a spokeswoman for Mathis explained the efforts that had been made to get the album released. "We have forwarded to Sony, by way of our attorney, letters, inquiries, etc. from fans who were hoping to hear this album. This seems to have had no impact." When asked in a 2011 radio interview as to why the album had never been released, Mathis gave a brief chuckle as he replied, "Probably because the record company is almighty when you're making music to sell. They have their likes and dislikes.... I guess because they didn't think it would sell."
Resurfacing
At the EMP Museum">EMP Pop Conference on April 19, 2009, music historian Andy Zax gave the presentation "Lost in Lost Music: Rediscovering Johnny Mathis' ''I Love My Lady''" in which he describes his interest in producing a CD box set that would cover the music that Edwards and Rodgers produced for Chic and other artists.[ He discovered the unreleased Mathis album in August 2007 while looking through the vault of tapes that would have held much of the material he was wanting for the project.][
Music journalist Ned Raggett included his notes in his report on the presentation that described the album as "less funk uch as what Chic was known forand more jazz, like ]Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz fusion band active from 1970 to 1986. The band was founded in 1970 by Austrian virtuoso keyboardist Joe Zawinul, American saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš, American drummer and vocali ...
but with bright melodic hooks. Sounds like Al Jarreau
Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...
's '' This Time'' and Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...
's ''Gaucho
A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...
'' (minus the boring stuff!)."[ Reviewing the album in '' Echoes'', ]Adam Mattera
Adam Mattera was the editor of ''Attitude'' magazine, a leading UK monthly publication aimed at the gay market, from 1999 to 2008. During the period, he secured numerous celebrity cover exclusives including David Beckham, Madonna, Tony Blair and ...
singled out "Fall In Love (I Want To)" as "arguably Chic's greatest production of the era - recalling both the hypnotic allure of " I Want Your Love" and the smooth jazz of "Savoir Faire", topped with a gossamer vocal from Johnny."
Four of the eight tracks from the album have made their way onto compilations by Rodgers. The 2010 release ''Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization Boxset Vol 1 / "Savoir Faire"'' included the tracks "I Want to Fall in Love", "It's Alright to Love Me", and "Something to Sing About". The title track from the album, along with "Something to Sing About", was released on Mathis' UK-only ''Ultimate Collection'' in 2011. "I Love My Lady" also appeared in 2013 on two two-disc compilations: '' Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization – Up All Night''[ and ''Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization – Up All Night Disco Edition''.
]The Shapeshifters
The Shapeshifters is the current alias of English house producer Simon Marlin and a former duo comprising Marlin and Swedish producer Max Reich, from Gothenburg. The Shapeshifters have been signed to Defected Records since 2008, and the duo we ...
' 2006 single "Sensitivity" features samples from an out-take version of "Love and Be Loved" supplied to them by Nile Rodgers. Chic are given a featured artist credit on the track.
Track listing
All tracks written by Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards (October 31, 1952 – April 18, 1996) was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the ...
& Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...
Side one
# "Fall in Love (I Want to)" – 6:00
# "It's Alright to Love Me" – 4:20
# "Something to Sing About" – 4:13
# "I Love My Lady" – 5:26
Side two
# "Take Me" – 6:50
# "Judy" – 3:11
# "Stay with Me" – 3:38
# "Love and Be Loved" – 4:54
Recording dates
From the liner notes for '' The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection'':[
*December 23, 1980 – "Love and Be Loved", "Something to Sing About"
*January 6, 1981 – "Fall in Love (I Want to)", "I Love My Lady"
*January 8, 1981 – "It's Alright to Love Me", "Stay with Me", "Take Me"
*January 21, 1981 – "Judy"
]
Personnel
From the liner notes for ''The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection'':[
*]Johnny Mathis
John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum s ...
– vocals
*Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards (October 31, 1952 – April 18, 1996) was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the ...
– producer
*Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...
– producer
Nile Rodgers has confirmed that he is the sole arranger-conductor of "I Love My Lady", not Gene Page as has been previously reported.
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
{{Chic
Johnny Mathis albums
Columbia Records albums
Albums produced by Nile Rodgers
Albums produced by Bernard Edwards