The open fire of the title is a warm hearth, not an invitation to gunplay. On this 1959 album,
Johnny Mathis creates an atmosphere of fireside intimacy by dispensing with his usual orchestral accompaniment so that the purity of his voice entices the listener's full attention.
Al Caiola and
Tony Mattola play the two guitars that supplement
Mathis' crooning, with an upright bass providing the album's only other instrument. Producer
Mitch Miller is often associated with gimmicky or novelty productions, but his work on
Open Fire, Two Guitars is perfectly understated, emphasizing the gentle caress of
Mathis' voice over the relaxed counterpoint of the two guitars. The songs give prominence to the pop standards of
Rodgers & Hart,
Cole Porter, and the Gershwins, but the title track, "Open Fire," is a new composition by
Leiber & Stoller. The album's effect seems nearly a cappella at times, but "In the Still of the Night" finds
Mathis intoning the lyrics over gently rhythmic guitar figures that educe new harmonic complexities from a well-known song. The enduring popularity of
Open Fire, Two Guitars is attributable in part to its hypnotic aura of closeness and confidentiality, but also to the simple instrumentation that appeals to many rock-era listeners' preference for guitars over orchestral arrangements.