Introduction:
In the grand tradition of American popular song, few compositions have enjoyed the longevity and reinterpretation quite like “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)”, originally penned by the legendary Cole Porter in 1928. This standard, witty and melodically rich, has been sung by countless greats—Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong—each lending it a distinct flavor. Yet, when it comes to refined romanticism and velvet-toned delivery, Johnny Mathis offers a rendition that stands in a class of its own. With his signature vocal smoothness and emotional grace, Mathis takes this classic and turns it into something deeply personal, yet universally appealing.
What makes Johnny Mathis – “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” so distinctive is not merely the quality of the voice—a voice often described as one of the most beautiful in American pop—but the intention behind every phrase. Mathis doesn’t merely sing the song; he caresses it, giving Porter’s cheeky metaphors and slyly sophisticated lyrics a new sense of warmth and depth. In his hands, the clever lists of birds, bees, and even “educated fleas” that “do it” become more than clever wordplay—they are a celebration of love’s inevitability, its boundless reach across species and cultures, and the gentle invitation to surrender to it.
Mathis recorded the song during a time when the American songbook was seeing a renewed appreciation, with audiences eager for timeless tunes that spoke to deeper emotional truths in a rapidly changing world. His take on “Let’s Do It” captures that moment perfectly: the nostalgia of a golden era of songwriting combined with a fresh sincerity that prevents the song from ever feeling dated or overly stylized. It’s playful, yes—but never flippant. Romantic, but never saccharine.
The arrangement accompanying Mathis’s performance is equally notable. Light and jazzy, with subtle string flourishes and tasteful piano accents, it allows the lyrics and vocals to shine. There’s a certain restraint at play—no grand crescendos or overwrought orchestration—just a graceful, timeless interpretation that lets the song breathe. It’s a masterclass in musical storytelling through subtlety and control.
For seasoned listeners who’ve long admired the Great American Songbook, and even for newer generations discovering its riches, Johnny Mathis – “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” is more than a cover—it’s a rekindling of the very spirit that made these songs endure. Mathis, with his unwavering elegance and vocal purity, reminds us that the art of singing is not just about the voice, but the soul behind it. And in this recording, he opens his heart just wide enough to invite us in, to fall in love once again—with the song, with the singer, and with the idea that love, in all its simplicity and complexity, is always worth another try.