Introduction:
Few voices in American popular music possess the enduring elegance and emotional resonance of Johnny Mathis. With a career spanning more than six decades, Mathis has consistently demonstrated his remarkable ability to interpret timeless standards with warmth, grace, and subtle romanticism. Among his many memorable recordings, his rendition of “That Old Black Magic” stands as a testament to his musical finesse and his gift for breathing fresh life into beloved classics.
Originally written in 1942 by Harold Arlen (music) and Johnny Mercer (lyrics), “That Old Black Magic” was introduced to the public through a variety of popular renditions throughout the 1940s and ’50s. The song’s infectious melody and evocative lyrics—infused with references to enchantment, passion, and the inexplicable pull of love—made it an ideal vehicle for vocalists of depth and nuance. While artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Prima had their turns with the tune, Mathis’s version offers something particularly captivating: a velvety smoothness and interpretive restraint that allows the emotional undercurrents of the song to emerge with clarity and sophistication.
From the first line—“That old black magic has me in its spell”—Mathis sets a tone that is both nostalgic and haunting. There’s a mesmerizing control in his phrasing, a gentle lilt that guides the listener through a familiar yet ever-potent tale of infatuation and longing. The orchestration behind him, likely lush and cinematic in its arrangement, only enhances the spell he casts, evoking the smoky ambience of a candlelit ballroom or a rain-slicked city street at midnight. It’s music for the contemplative moments in life, when memory, emotion, and melody intertwine.
Mathis has always excelled in delivering ballads and standards that demand both vocal control and emotional intelligence. In “That Old Black Magic,” he channels the song’s inherent theatricality without tipping into melodrama. His voice dances lightly over the melody, weaving through the song’s arc with finesse and restraint. The result is not just a performance—it’s an atmosphere, a mood, a quiet transport into another time.
For seasoned listeners who value artistry over flash, and subtle storytelling over spectacle, Johnny Mathis’s take on “That Old Black Magic” is a masterclass in classic American singing. It serves as a reminder of a bygone era of music—when lyrics were poetic, arrangements were rich yet tasteful, and singers like Mathis could seduce audiences with little more than a microphone and a melody.
In an age of instant hits and fleeting fame, there’s something undeniably special about returning to a song like this—reimagined by a voice that refuses to age, that continues to resonate with poise and sincerity. For those looking to revisit a standard with a fresh, elegant perspective, Johnny Mathis – “That Old Black Magic” is well worth the listen.