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The Wonderful World of Make Believe

The Wonderful World of Make Believe
Johnny-Mathis-The-Wonderful-Wor-475314.jpg
Studio album by Johnny Mathis
Released July 10, 1964
Recorded February 7, 1964–
February 10, 1964 at
United Recording Studios
Hollywood, California
Genre
Length 39:14
Label Mercury
Producer Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis chronology
I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits
(1964)I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits1964
The Wonderful World of Make Believe
(1964)
The Great Years
(1964)The Great Years1964
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars link
Billboard positive

The Wonderful World of Make Believe is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released by Mercury Records on July 10, 1964, and described by Greg Adams of Allmusic, who wrote, "The theme is fantasy, from imaginary locations ('Camelot', 'Shangri-La') to fanciful yearnings ('I'm Always Chasing Rainbows', 'When You Wish Upon a Star') to vague, idealized realms ('Beyond the Sea', 'Beyond the Blue Horizon')."

The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated July 25, 1964, and reached number 75 during its 10 weeks there.

This project was released on compact disc for the first time as one of two albums in a two-CD set by Sony Music Entertainment on August 28, 2012, the other album being Mathis's previous studio LP, Tender Is the Night.The Wonderful World of Make Believe was also included in Sony's Mathis box set The Complete Global Albums Collection, which was released on November 17, 2014.

Adams contrasts the approach of this album to his singles of the period. "Mercury didn't tamper with Mathis's established style on this album (unlike his first singles for the label, which seemed geared toward a younger audience), so the arrangements are in keeping with his Columbia work, if a bit more swirly and ornate as the material seemed to require." He concludes that this project "is strictly an album effort -- no standout single tracks here -- but it's an enticingly dreamy effort and Mathis sings superbly."

Billboard especially appreciated the concept and team at work here: "A fine idea, beautifully performed by Mathis with able support from Allyn Ferguson's arrangements and Jack Feierman's orchestration."


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