Customer Reviews

For Christmas

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There were ten songs on the original LP...at least the one that I have. But it's only right that the CD version should allow for more because the CD holds more music than an LP...though they could have filled it up a lot more than with one extra song! Little Drummer Boy, Carol of the Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let It Snow-Let It Snow-Let It Snow, Rudolph, and the CD extra Hallelujah Chorus all come from the Mercury album Sounds of Christmas. Jingle Bell Rock, Do You Hear What I Hear, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and The Lord's Prayer all come from the Columbia album Give Me Your Love For Christmas. This CD is a good mix of the two albums, but there are some wonderful songs on the originals that would have been worth including.

This is an enjoyable CD, but I caution anybody who already has some Johnny Mathis Christmas CDs or plans to buy more than one to be careful. This one contains a combination of songs from other releases. It is not an original album. So check the song list against other CDs you own or plan to buy to avoid getting duplication.

I enjoy listening to this CD, but it's not his best Christmas CD. If you are planning to buy just one Johnny Mathis CD, buy Christmas Eve With Johnny Mathis. That is the one that contains the Johnny Mathis holiday hits you hear most often on your radio.

The songs on this CD are pleasant enough. I like his slowed down version of Let It Snow, Let It Snow. It's a nice change from the perkier versions, which I also like. However, I must admit, if something happened to my copy of this CD, I wouldn't bother to replace it.

As noted above, this 1989 release is actually a compilation of tracks culled from two previously-released Mathis Christmas albums.

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", "Carol of the Bells", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", and the "Hallelujah Chorus" are all taken from Johnny's 1963 album THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS, which was subsequently re-issued in 1972 as CHRISTMAS WITH JOHNNY MATHIS and is still available on CD under that title.

The balance of the tracks are taken from 1969's GIVE ME YOUR LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS. This album, too, is available on CD is its entirety.

There are no tracks here from Johnny's first (and best) Christmas album, 1958's MERRY CHRISTMAS, or from 1986's CHRISTMAS EVE WITH JOHNNY MATHIS. While everything on FOR CHRISTMAS is worth hearing, Mathis fans would be better off getting the original albums (or, if a more well-rounded compilation CD is desired, checking out THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC OF JOHNNY MATHIS: A PERSONAL COLLECTION).

This is a great CD. My parents always listened to it when I was growing up, so it brings back memories! Strongly recommended.

My old copy got lost, and this CD is very hard to find. So I bought two copies! It is my kids (4 and 7) favorite, as it has Hallelujah and Little Drummer Boy. Last year they made my wife and I keep playing it in the car well into August. Nothing like driving around in 80 degree weather singing about Santa Claus. This is a complilation record and is his best one.

This is a wonderful cd for the holidays. Mr. Mathis version of "Do You HEar What I Hear" is amamzing. I also think his "Little Drummer Boy", "Lord's Prayer" and the rare "Calypso Noel" are top rate. Buy this cd or give as a gift. It will be enjoyed year to year. A. J. McCall - Lowville, NY