The first side of
I Love Everybody finds crooner
Johnny Hartman in an orchestral pop setting, with lush, sweeping strings arranged by
Jack Pleis. Those familiar with the intimate small-group albums
Hartman recorded for Impulse might find the backing just a bit saccharine, but fortunately the orchestra never overwhelms
Hartman's incredible voice. The song selection on this side is strong, too, with "I Cover the Waterfront" and "If I Had You" being the standouts. The superior second side features a big band of Hollywood studio musicians arranged by the inventive
Oliver Nelson. If the first side is a showcase for
Hartman's much-lauded ballad technique, the second side finds him in a party mood. There's an appreciative live studio audience on hand to hear
Hartman and band tackle up-tempo dance numbers ("Today I Love Everybody"), blues ("T'Ain't No Need"), and a rousing medley of "Old Black Magic" and the calypso "Matilda," with a few phrases of the Yiddish folk tune "Greena Couzina" thrown in for good measure. The two sides of
I Love Everybody seem like separate mini-albums, but both are strong and offer a good showcase for
Hartman's impressive vocal technique.