The year before Johnny Mathis would get his first number one hit in 21 years -- the duet with Deniece Williams, "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" -- Jack Gold produced an album of show tunes and '70s pop hits arranged and conducted by Gene Page.

The title track remake of the '50s hit for Karen Chandler, perhaps best known after Mel Carter brought it Top Ten in 1965, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" fits in nicely a decade forward; after all, Mathis' reign was during the '50s and '60s, and this was the moment before another chart comeback (notice the similarity in the song titles -- "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" consists of three sets of two words separated by commas, as would be "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late").

It's a fine mixture of classic Mathis, as on "All the Things You Are," and covers of Albert Hammond's "When I Need You," Boz Scaggs' "We're All Alone," Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen," David Soul's number one hit "Don't Give up on Us," and Charlie Rich's "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World." And it all comes off very adult contemporary pop, the momentum getting thrown for a bit of a loop when "One" from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line takes things to another world.

A mellow version of the Three Dog Night/Nilsson classic "One" would have been preferable, but they seem to be trying to cover all the bases here.

"When I Need You" is close to Leo Sayer's rendition; this is Mathis giving his fans his voice on familiar material -- that Mitch Miller formula working so well so many years later.

Gerry Goffin's"I Always Knew I Had It in Me" is immersed in the operatic pop the singer made famous, while "Don't Give up on Us" is closer to the radio-friendly sound of the original, though Mathis injects far more soul than David Soul could ever muster.

The actor's reading was perfect for that moment in time; however, Mathis turns the composition into a near-standard.

"Tomorrow" from the Broadway musical Annie follows the non-country approach to "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," all making for a pleasant album from a performer who delivers the goods with ease.