After nearly 40 years locked up in the vault, the Chic-produced album I Love My Lady will finally be released in its entirety with a release date given by Amazon for Feb 1.

Something to Sing About: Johnny Mathis and CHIC’s “I Love My Lady” Coming to CD from Second Disc, Real Gone

Something to Sing About: ...econd Disc

Johnny Mathis was billed on his very first album as “A New Sound in Popular Song.” In the decades since that 1956 debut, the vocalist has always explored new avenues in pop from Latin music to Philly soul. But the most adventurous of Mathis’ 60-plus albums may be the one that got away…until now. On February 1, 2019, Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music will proudly present the first-ever standalone compact disc release of I Love My Lady, the remarkable 1981 album by two American treasures: Johnny Mathis and CHIC.

Beginning in December 1980 and continuing through February 1981, Johnny teamed up with the white-hot CHIC production and songwriting team of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, fresh off triumphant collaborations with artists including Sister Sledge and Diana Ross, for I Love My Lady. Recording at New York’s Power Station, Mathis took his voice into new, uncharted territory on eight anthemic, club-ready track that pushed the envelope of rhythm and blues as they incorporated rock, funk, jazz, disco, soul, and dance rhythms. He was joined by a CHIC “Who’s Who” for the sessions: Tony Thompson on drums; Raymond Jones, Andy Schwartz, and Rob Sabino on keyboards; and of course, Nile on guitar and Bernard on bass. Nile also arranged and conducted The CHIC Strings. Alfa Anderson, Fonzi Thornton, Luci Martin, and Michelle Cobbs brought their tight, distinctive vocal blend to support Johnny.

Despite the irresistible beats, incomparable vocals, and sleek production, the September 1981 release date of I Love My Lady came and went, and Columbia Records ultimately shelved the album. Yet its legend only grew as the years passed. In 2006, house music duo The Shapeshifters tantalizingly sampled a track from one song (“Love and Be Loved”) while the full track remained in the vault. Finally, beginning in 2010, its songs began to trickle out on compilations, and in 2017, I Love My Lady was issued for the first time as part of a Mathis box set. It appeared on vinyl earlier this year.

For the occasion of its first standalone CD release, we’ve commissioned all-new cover artwork. The deluxe package, designed in period style by John Sellards, features a booklet rare photos of Johnny. Johnny Mathis, Alfa Anderson, and Fonzi Thornton have all contributed their reflections on the making of this very special album for the new liner notes by The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese. Mike Piacentini has remastered at Sony’s Battery Studios. A lost album no more, the powerfully rich and bold Love My Lady presents the eternal Voice of Romance and one of popular music’s most enduring teams out on the town in the early 1980s, with sensuality and soul going hand-in-hand. It’s Johnny Mathis as you’ve never heard him before.

1. Fall in Love (I Want To)
2. It’s Alright to Love Me
3. Something to Sing About
4. I Love My Lady
5. Take Me
6. Judy
7. Stay with Me
8. Love and Be Loved

Album originally scheduled as Columbia FC 37383, September 1981[/b]

Does anyone know why Columbia Records rejected this album in 1981? At that time,Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were one of the hottest production duos.A year ealier,they had totally revitalized Diana Ross' career.It's absurd for Columbia Records to cancel what could have been a huge comeback album for Johnny Mathis

"Something To Sing About"

"Love and Be Loved"

BANGIN'!!!! I was just reading about this album over Christmas and BAM! A week later...THIS! I'm STOKED!!!!

SoulAlive said:

Does anyone know why Columbia Records rejected this album in 1981? At that time,Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were one of the hottest production duos.A year ealier,they had totally revitalized Diana Ross' career.It's absurd for Columbia Records to cancel what could have been a huge comeback album for Johnny Mathis

From what I've read about it, the album was shelved for a common record company reason, they thought the album wouldn't appeal to his traditional audience (middle age white women). Diana Ross could get away with her album as while she was as mainstream as you could get, she still had a bit of edginess and street cred that Columbia probably thought that Mathis didn't.

UnderMySun said:

SoulAlive said:

Does anyone know why Columbia Records rejected this album in 1981? At that time,Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were one of the hottest production duos.A year ealier,they had totally revitalized Diana Ross' career.It's absurd for Columbia Records to cancel what could have been a huge comeback album for Johnny Mathis

From what I've read about it, the album was shelved for a common record company reason, they thought the album wouldn't appeal to his traditional audience (middle age white women). Diana Ross could get away with her album as while she was as mainstream as you could get, she still had a bit of edginess and street cred that Columbia probably thought that Mathis didn't.

Seems like they should have thought about that before they enlisted Niles and Bernard to produce it

Seems like they should have thought about that before they enlisted Niles and Bernard to produce it

I wonder if it might have been a case of Mathis or someone connected to him that came up with the idea in the first place and Columbia signed off on it. At the time the resurgance Mathis got with his duets with Dieniece Williams was slowing down and an album produced by Nile and 'Nard might have been seen as a way of getting it back, as well as expanding Mathis's musical boundaries.

UnderMySun said:

Seems like they should have thought about that before they enlisted Niles and Bernard to produce it

I wonder if it might have been a case of Mathis or someone connected to him that came up with the idea in the first place and Columbia signed off on it. At the time the resurgance Mathis got with his duets with Dieniece Williams was slowing down and an album produced by Nile and 'Nard might have been seen as a way of getting it back, as well as expanding Mathis's musical boundaries.

I think a Chic-produced album is exactly what Mathis' career needed at that point.It would have expanded his audience and made him "hip" to the mainstream.The album is terrific.

SoulAlive said:

UnderMySun said:

I wonder if it might have been a case of Mathis or someone connected to him that came up with the idea in the first place and Columbia signed off on it. At the time the resurgance Mathis got with his duets with Dieniece Williams was slowing down and an album produced by Nile and 'Nard might have been seen as a way of getting it back, as well as expanding Mathis's musical boundaries.

I think a Chic-produced album is exactly what Mathis' career needed at that point.It would have expanded his audience and made him "hip" to the mainstream.The album is terrific.

I Think the problem was the title.... I LOVE MY LADY is clearly not Johnny Mathis-like. It should be "I Love My Man" or, "I Love You, Man"


That said.. lamely and humorously... I love Johnny Mathis. (well, admittedly SOME of his stuff... one of his albums is in my top 10/20) I gotta pick this one up.

lastdecember said:

Similar to when Karen Carpenter did her solo album and everyone hated it, they were so used to her doing the ballads here she was doing uptempo almost dance music, produced by Phil Ramone no one liked it, her family, her label so she shelved it and did another carpenters record then died.

was that Karen Carpenter album eventually released?

SoulAlive said:

"Something To Sing About"

Tight!

SoulAlive said:

lastdecember said:

Similar to when Karen Carpenter did her solo album and everyone hated it, they were so used to her doing the ballads here she was doing uptempo almost dance music, produced by Phil Ramone no one liked it, her family, her label so she shelved it and did another carpenters record then died.

was that Karen Carpenter album eventually released?

It was eventually released in the 90's after she passed away.

UnderMySun said: