Introduction:
“Love Is Blue,” while perhaps not as instantly recognizable as “Misty,” remains a significant entry in the extensive and celebrated discography of Johnny Mathis. The song, a cover of the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest entry originally performed by Vicky Leandros for Luxembourg, was given Mathis’s signature smooth treatment and released in 1968. It served as the title track for his album, also titled “Love Is Blue”, which was released by Columbia Records on March 6th of that year.
The musical genre of Johnny Mathis’s rendition of “Love Is Blue” firmly resides within the realm of traditional pop and easy listening. Characterized by its gentle orchestral arrangements, a prominent string section, and Mathis’s warm, tender vocals, the song aligns perfectly with the romantic ballad style that defined much of his successful career. While the original Eurovision version had a more distinct European pop flavor, Mathis imbued it with a lush, American pop sensibility, emphasizing the melodic beauty and sentimental lyrical content.
Although the original French version, “L’amour est bleu,” achieved considerable success in Europe, Johnny Mathis’s interpretation helped bring the song to a wider audience in the United States. While the single itself did not reach the same chart heights as some of his earlier hits, the “Love Is Blue” album proved to be a solid performer on the Billboard charts. It debuted on the Top LPs chart in April 1968 and peaked at number 26, spending a notable 40 weeks on the chart. The album also ventured onto the Best Selling Rhythm & Blues LPs chart, reaching number 44. Notably, Mathis’s cover of Frankie Avalon’s “Venus,” also featured on the album, “bubbled under” the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s success underscored Mathis’s continued popularity and his knack for interpreting contemporary songs in his distinctive style, further solidifying his position as one of the leading voices in popular music.