Johnny Mathis

Johnny Mathis' 1973 LP The Heart of a Woman is coming to CD  from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music in a deluxe, double-disc expanded edition, paired with 1975's Feelings.  Johnny teamed with Motown's legendary producer Johnny Bristol and arranger Paul Riser - plus session players like Dennis Coffey and Ray Parker, Jr. - for a set filled with Bristol originals also recorded by artists such as Boz Scaggs and Tom Jones.  Feelings, produced by Jack Gold, introduced Mathis' evocative version of Albert Hammond and Hal David's "99 Miles from L.A.," a song which he still performs in concert today.  It also boasts David and Henry Mancini's "The Greatest Gift" from The Return of the Pink Panther, and smooth interpretations of Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban's standout ballad "What Did for Love" from A Chorus Line, Melissa Manchester's enchanting "Midnight Blue," and Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."  Nine fascinating period bonus tracks are included on this 2-CD set including two tracks produced by composer Roger Nichols (frequent songwriting partner of Paul Williams) and a rare session reuniting Johnny with producer-songwriter Jerry Fuller.  Joe Marchese's new liner notes draw on interviews with Mathis and Fuller, and Mike Piacentini has remastered at Battery.