Chances Are – Johnny Mathis | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1957
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1957, Johnny Mathis released Chances Are, a romantic ballad that became one of his signature recordings. Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman, the song showcased Mathis’ smooth vocal style during the peak of traditional pop’s popularity.
Produced by Mitch Miller, the recording featured lush orchestration and a restrained tempo that highlighted Mathis’ phrasing. Released in the fall of 1957, Chances Are reached #1 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The lyric centers on uncertainty in love, with the narrator wondering whether his feelings are truly reciprocated. Rather than dramatic tension, the song conveys gentle romantic doubt.
Chances Are won the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance and remains one of Johnny Mathis’ most enduring hits.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Mitch Miller
Lyrics Written by:
Robert Allen
Al Stillman
Awards:
Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance (1959)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.