Killing Digital Hominids

The early 1970s was a tough time for established ballad singers, but Johnny Mathis, who was younger than his peers and Columbia Records labelmates like Tony Bennett and Andy Williams, weathered the lean times better than most. Some of the reasons why are suggested in this 1973 album. It wasn't a big seller by any means, but this enjoyable, contemporary-sounding set made the charts. Basically, all Mathis did was turn on the radio and cut a bunch of soft rock and easy listening hits of the time the title song, a chart-topper for Roberta Flack, Bread's "Aubrey," Perry Como's "And I Love You So," the Stylistics' "Break Up to Make Up," Gladys Knight & the Pips' "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," Skylark's "Wildflower," Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," the Carpenters' "Sing," and Diana Ross' "Good Morning Heartache."