Always You (Robert Goulet album)

Always You
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1961
Genre
Length36:35
LabelColumbia Records
ProducerFrank De Vol
Robert Goulet chronology
Always You
(1961)
Two of Us
(1962)

Always You is a debut album by American singer Robert Goulet, released in September 1961, by Columbia Records. and was available both in stereo and mono.[1] It was produced by Frank De Vol. AllMusic's William Ruhlmann explained that Columbia producer Frank DeVol took advantage of that voice on Always You, having Goulet record show tunes and old-time standards and bathing them all in string arrangements that [Goulet's] had no trouble dominating.[2]

The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the issue dated March 17, 1962, and remained on the chart for 65 weeks, peaking at number 43..[3]

The album was released on compact disc as one of two albums on one CD by Collectables Records on February 5, 2002, as tracks 1 through 12 with tracks 13 through 24 consisting of Goulet's Columbia 1963 live album, In Person.[2] Always You was included in a box set entitled The Wonderful World of Robert Goulet - The First Four Albums, released on June 23, 2017.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]

JT Griffith of AllMusic believed "The album's focus is of a jazz crooner nature, not a swinging one. There is not a single tongue-in-cheek note on Always You, rather every song fits into that Jackie Gleason genre of heart-felt sentiment similar to Music to Make You Misty or Songs for Young Lovers. Standout tracks include "Strange Music," "Always You," and "You're Breaking My Heart."[5]

Billboard stated the "Selections" of songs throughtout the album, "all wrapped up in a rich, feelingful baritone, include 'The Lamp Is Low", "Strange Music," "The Breeze and I," and other poignant oldies.[7]

Cashbox states that Goulet "Baritone’s typically legit voice has excellent range and pitch in 'And This Is My Beloved', 'It’s All In The Game', and 'Always You'."[8]

Variety notes Goulet's "baritone style is legit and strong and taliormade for the repertoire that includes such hefty items as 'Strange Music' and 'The Lamp is Low'.'[9] Both The Encyclopedia of Popular Music and AllMusic gave the album a three-star rating as well.[5][6]

Track listing

Side one

Side two

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Strange Music"George Forrest, Edvard Grieg, Robert Wright3:02
2."Always You"Will Jason, Sid Robin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky2:57
3."Here"Dorcas Cochran, Francesco Maria Piave, Henri René, Giuseppe Verdi3:09
4."The Things I Love"Harold Barlow, Lew Harris, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky3:23
5."The Story Of A Starry Night"Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston, Mann Curtis3:21
6."If You Are But a Dream" (from the RKO Pictures film: The House I Live In)Nathan J. Bonx, Jack Fulton, Moe Jaffe3:15

Charts

Chart (1962) Peak
position
US Billboard Top LPs[3] 43

References

  1. ^ Kinslow, Chris (2015). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide 2015. Penguin. p. 232. ISBN 9-781440-243721. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Always You/In Person". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's top pop albums : 1955-1996 : compiled from Billboard magazine's pop album charts, 1955-1996. Menomonee Falls, Wis.: Record Research. pp. 310–311. ISBN 0898201179.
  4. ^ "The Wonderful World of Robert Goulet: The First Four Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Griffith, JT. "Robert Goulet - Always You: Album Ratings & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  6. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The encyclopedia of popular music. Omnibus Press. p. 842. ISBN 9780195313734. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Billboard Reviews of New Albums: Spotlight Albums of The Week". Billboard. Vol. 73, no. 42. October 30, 1961. p. 28.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews". Cash Box. Vol. 23, no. 7. November 11, 1961. p. 24.
  9. ^ "Variety Records Reviews: Flower Drum, Hustler Trackers, Disney's Composers Top New LPs". Variety. Vol. 224, no. 12. November 15, 1961. p. 44.