Love Him
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Album Summary
Now, if you were anywhere near a radio in 1964, you know that Doris Day was something special — a voice that could reach right into your chest and hold on. "Love Him" came out that year on Columbia Records, a label that knew exactly what they had in Doris and dressed her up accordingly in those rich, lush orchestral arrangements that were the hallmark of Columbia's adult pop sound. Recorded during a time when Day was navigating the changing tides of American popular music, the album found her leaning deep into romantic balladry and standards — the kind of material that let that warm, honeyed instrument of hers do what it did best. The production followed Columbia's established approach for her mature catalog, pairing her voice with sweeping string arrangements that felt like a warm evening you never wanted to end.
Reception
- The album reflected Day's continued commercial presence with her established adult audience, even as the pop landscape was beginning to shift dramatically around her in 1964.
- Critical response acknowledged what it always acknowledged about Doris Day — that her interpretive instincts were impeccable, her phrasing natural and unforced, and her emotional sincerity impossible to fake.
- The album did not match the commercial peaks of her 1950s recordings, situating itself as a steady, respected entry in her catalog rather than a chart-dominating moment.
Significance
- "Love Him" stands as a beautifully preserved snapshot of the orchestral adult pop tradition that had defined American mainstream music for well over a decade — a tradition that would be turned upside down by the British Invasion arriving at nearly the same moment this record hit shelves.
- The album showcases Day operating in full command of the standards and sophisticated pop idiom, drawing on material from Broadway — including the show-stopping 'As Long As He Needs Me' from Oliver! — and popular song in a way that honored the craft of the Great American Songbook.
- It represents a significant chapter in Day's artistic journey, demonstrating her graceful evolution from the peppy, effervescent performer of the early 1950s into a mature, deeply felt interpretive vocalist of considerable power and nuance.
Tracklist
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A1 More (Theme From The Film "Mondo Cane") —
2:45
-
A2 Can't Help Falling In Love 146
2:46
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A3 Since I Fell For You 95
4:27
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A4 Losing You 67
2:49
-
A5 (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I 83
3:02
-
A6 As Long As He Needs Me (From The Broadway Musical Production "Oliver!") —
4:10
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B1 Night Life 61
4:34
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B2 Funny 101
2:52
-
B3 Softly, As I Leave You 146
3:12
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B4 Lollipops And Roses 72
2:59
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B5 Love Him 146
2:23
Artist Details
Doris Day, born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1922, was one of the sweetest, most luminous voices to ever grace the American pop and big band scene, rising to fame in the late 1940s and carrying that sunshine right on through the 1950s with a warm, honeyed sound that could make a rainy day feel like a Sunday afternoon. She cut her teeth singing with Les Brown and His Band of Renown before launching a solo career that gave the world timeless treasures like "Que Sera, Sera" and "Secret Love," cementing her place not just in music but in the hearts of an entire generation. Beyond the records, Doris Day became a cultural icon whose breezy, wholesome image and undeniable talent helped define the sound and spirit of postwar American optimism, making her one of the most beloved entertainers the twentieth century ever produced.
