Customer Reviews

Essential Johnny Mathis

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My relatives were Johnny Mathis fans when I was growing up. I liked his music then so I was curious to hear this double-album. Not surprisingly, I'm glad I got it.

The forty tracks on this compilation cover 1956 through 2000. To the new listener, it's an excellent introduction to a legendary artist. To the long time fan, it's a very impressive collection with tracks not found on previous Jon Mat compilations. The first eight tracks are mono. Most of his early hits like "Chances Are", "The Twelfth of Never" and "It's Not For Me To Say" were performed with Ray Conniff. Other hits include "Wonderful! Wonderful!", "A Certain Smile", "Gina" and his popular duet with Deniece Williams "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". There's one Christmas song: "Sleigh Ride". "99 Miles From L.A." was originally from the 1975 album "Feelings" but here it's a live version. "A Time For Us" is actually the Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet.

He also sings songs from Broadway shows such as "Gypsy", "Cats", "West Side Story" and "Evergreen" to name a few. He also has a few movie tunes here as well. There are also several cover songs including most recently "Unbreak My Heart" and "Because You Loved Me". A few album cuts and some minor hits make up the rest of the album. The booklet has no essay; instead there's a track listing with recording dates, chart positions and some photos.

If you're just getting familiar with Jon Mat, you found a great place to begin your collection. If you have other collections already give this some consideration since it covers slightly more material. If you want just one Johnny Mathis compilation, this is it.

You won't find "Tonight" (from Westside Story) in this collection. And you also won't get liner notes. Seems like a rush job to cash in on this remarkable singer and snag wallets from the pockets of nostalgic baby-boomers without doing a thing to earn the right.

The best thing I can say about this collection is that most casual fans will like the first disc, and they'll get turned on to new things they'll like on the second disc. I know of no other single CD disc you can buy that has as extensive a collection of recognizable "greatest hits" than what you'll get all on the first CD of this 2-CD set.

But if you're a real fan... get "The Music of Johnny Mathis -- A Personal Collection" 4-CD box set. It's really not a lot more money. (In fact, for a box set, it's a steal.) And you get informative liner notes. I know that's a lot of music, but like walking through someone's prolific garden, you get to pick and choose. And you probably won't miss what you were looking for. (Unless if you were looking for his great recording of "All the Time"...) Ah, well... I tried to help.

The Essential Johnny Mathis is a splendid two CD set that is an absolute must have for fans of the great Johnny Mathis. The sound quality is excellent and I like the artwork.

"Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)" starts the first CD with Johnny crooning just as well as any crooner ever could! The arrangement highlights Johnny's vocals and this suits me just fine. Johnny handles this tune with sophistication. "When Sunny Gets Blue" features Johnny with a lush musical arrangement; his voice is as smooth as silk. "It's Not For Me To Say" is a Johnny Mathis classic; he aces this number and it's gorgeous to hear! "Wonderful! Wonderful!" stuns me with its beauty; and listen also for "Chances Are." "Chances Are" is a rather romantic number that features Johnny front and center; it's beautiful when he delivers this so flawlessly.

"A Certain Smile" again features Johnny's excellent vocal talents and the arrangement makes good use of the strings; and there's also "Misty." "Misty" is easily worth the price of this CD set alone; I love every minute of it! "What Will My Mary Say" is another huge hit for Johnny Mathis; he bats this one straight out of the ballpark! Awesome!

The first CD ends with Johnny singing "The Look Of Love." Johnny never sings a superfluous note and this really impresses me.

The second CD continues the hits. "I'm Coming Hone" is a fantastic tune and Johnny sings this with panache, heart and soul. "What I Did For Love," a song from A Chorus Song, showcases Johnny's vocal talents as he sings this with great sensitivity. "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a beautiful duet between Johnny and Deniece Williams; their voices complement each other perfectly and I love it!

"Begin The Beguine" is a particularly fine number and it shines like gold when Johnny sings it; and listen for Johnny on "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?" This ballad was always one of my very favorite love songs; and Johnny delivers this like the pro he was and remains! "Because You Loved Me" is also a number I really like. Great!

"Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries" may not be the newest song on this two CD set; but Johnny makes it sound fresh and new as he sings this with a lot of style! The second CD ends with Johnny performing "On Broadway." Johnny covers this song with a somewhat jazzy arrangement and the backup singers bolster Johnny's exquisite delivery of this ballad.

Overall, this two CD set is guaranteed to make Johnny Mathis fans smile! This is also a wonderful package for those of us who enjoy classic pop vocals and even a few of the "oldies."

Thank you, Johnny!

I have been listening to Johnnie Mathis for over 40 years. And, while I did "stray" from his music in my 30's, I have found that as the years go by, I am making my way back to him. This is an album that does exactly that: takes me back to his music that I know and love. Regardless of your mood, there is a song on this album for you. When I listen, certain songs bring back very, very fond memories, while others are used to create new ones in my life today. It's an album worth having.

Johnny was one of the most successful balladeers of the twentieth century although he does not get the recognition that he deserves for his achievements. This compilation includes most of the songs for which he is famous, together with a selection of other tracks that demonstrate his brilliance. Three British top ten hits (Someone, My love for you, I'm stone in love with you) are omitted but those seeking the definitive British hits collection should go for the earlier double CD, Very best of Johnny Mathis, which contains all his British hits, however minor. This set, compiled in America, offers a very different selection of songs although there is some duplication.

Johnny had his first American hit (Wonderful wonderful) in 1957. Other American hits from the fifties and early sixties included here are Chances are, Twelfth of never, It's not for me to say, Wild is the wind, Teacher teacher, A certain smile and Misty, of which the last three also became UK hits. As ever, Brits were slow to appreciate American talent in those days.

Through the sixties, Johnny focused more on albums than singles (he became Columbia's most successful album artist) but he scored some big hits in the seventies, making number one in Britain with a Christmas song (When a child is born) and making number one in America with a duet (Too much too little too late) with Deniece Williams. All these hits can be found on this collection.

Apart from the hits, this collection includes plenty of songs from stage and screen. Among these are Memory (from Cats) and What I did for love (from A chorus line), both of which Elaine Paige also recorded (she was the original singer of Memory). Great as Johnny is on these songs, he's no match for Elaine. However, Johnny's versions of the other classics here are as good as any that I've heard including Maria (from West side story), On Broadway (from Saturday Joe's café), A time for us (from Romeo and Juliet), Life is just a bowl of cherries (from Fosse) and Small world (from Gypsy).

There is plenty to interest fans who just want one Johnny Mathis collection as well as those who already have some of Johnny's music and wish to buy more.

I am a huge Mathis fan and this 2 cd set covers a good part of his career. It was nice to hear some live recordingd. It has been in my player non stop.

Nice selection of songs, but why are almost all of the early hits in mono? Some of these have been available in stereo before and for the remaining few, I hoped that they might remix them to stereo if the 2-track tapes still existed. Oh well...

Johnny's recorded 100 plus albums in his career, a two disc set just can't summarize that much material; still, there are a few signature tunes missing. "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" which warrented inclusion on the soundtrack but not the soundtrack album of "To Wong Foo" is rather a sore spot for me, I really want that song and the album is out of print. "You Who Brought Me Love" performed with Patti Austin and featured on the t.v. soap "General Hospital" was a huge A/C hit and by all rights should be here. It is nice that this collection is updated to include tracks from Johnny's career of late, all the way up to his Broadway album released in 2000. "Sleigh Ride" from one of the most successful Christmas albums ever, is included so a cut from his very last album, a Christmas album, was understandably skipped. Overall this isn't a bad collection, just not comprehensive enough.

I have to say this CD is the best music purchase I have made in a long time. I have been a Mathis fan for years, but for some reason have not listened to his music for some time. After watching a PBS special a few weeks ago I was inspired to break out his music again. I ordered this CD since it had such a wonderful collection of his hits, as well as many other songs made special by Mathis magic. Truly, his voice is comparable to a fine musical instrument, with such range and feeling in every piece of music. He once again made my heart sing with the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. It really is a must for any Mathis fan.

The emotion Johnny Mathis exudes when he sings takes my breath away...he is a gift to music...