Johnny Mathis - That's What Friends Are For (2003)

The 1978 duet album That's What Friends Are For was far more of a highlight in Deniece Williams' career than it was in Johnny Mathis'. Nonetheless, it's well-done, lightly likable late-1970s adult contemporary R&B music, the two sparring sweetly and respectfully on upbeat, radio-friendly, easy listening soul tunes and romantic ballads. Gene Page's arrangements are pretty (and effectively) understated for the genre, and though the record doesn't boast any heavyweight classics, it did land a small hit with their cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need to Get By." The 2003 CD reissue adds four bonus tracks, including their 1978 Number One hit "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late"; its B-side, a cover of Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb's "Emotion"; "Love Won't Let Me Wait," a Mathis-Williams duet from Mathis' 1984 album A Special Part of Me; and the previously unreleased "Without Us," the theme for the TV series Family Ties.