Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If one needs a Mathis album to start with, this is the album to start with as it does have 12 of his greatest hits, just like the title says it has including "Wonderful, Wonderful" (which isn't on the album of the same name although a lot of people do assume that), "Chances Are," the often covered "The Twelfth of Never" and many others from the early years. As it was already mentioned, it is an all time best seller staying on the Billboard album chart for a long time for good reason. This is music from a bygone era when crooning your heart's content made you a superstar and this kind of music stands the test of time. The other greatest hits collections and some of his best albums that were also originally released during his peak years including 1959's "Heavenly," which also had been a best seller for years featuring hits such as "Hello, Young Lovers" and his cover of Erroll Garner's jazz standard "Misty", are great companions to this disc. If you feel sentimental from time to time, this album is for you as it is many things to all people and it is definitely "real" and personal.

Many people do not know that Johnny's Greatest Hits was the first album to be titled as such...

Johnny was scheduled to record a new album when this album was released, but was out of the country and unable to record. His manager decided to put together a compilation of previously released songs from his prior albums and release them as a collection in place of an album of new material from Johnny. They searched for an appropriate title for the album and ended up simply calling it Johnny's Greatest Hits.

To say the album did extremely well upon its initial release is an understatement in every way. This album spent 490 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That is the equivalent of 9 1/2 years! No other Greatest Hits album has come close.

Due to the enormous success of this album, every other artist capitalized on the idea and now everyone eventually releases a Greatest Hits album, even if they haven't really had a lot of hits...

The songs on this album are really all of Johnny's early career hits such as Misty, Chances Are, It's Not for Me to Say, When Sunny Gets Blue and The Twelfth of Never, etc.

Greatest Hits albums allow a new listener to be introduced to an artist without having to buy all of their albums in order to get a cross section of the artist's collective material. This album does a great job at pulling out the great songs Johnny has recorded while being easy on the wallet.

This album would be great for a quiet evening at home or to put on in the background when having guests over. Of course for the lovers, this album also fits the bill in the Romance department.

Johnn'y voice is crystal clear and deliberate on all of these songs. The orchestrations work with his voice and do not overpower him. A great blend for a great artist and a great choice for any fans of Adult Contemporary music!

Every single song in the album "Johnny's Greatest Hits" contains his best. Mainly every single song hits the mark with me. I've never heard a singer with so much warmth and love reflected in his beautiful voice.

My husband and I grew up listening to Johnny, but he never got into the " crass stuff" that is constantly on the airways today. I'm so thankful for that. I could just listen to him sing on and on and never get tired of his wonderful voice. He is also the most lovable singer I have ever heard -- kind of on the shy side, which attracts me even more. I love this album and I'm sure I'm not alone.

I love Johnny Mathis's style in this album and just can't get enough of hearing it. Again, "Johnny Greatest Hits" contains most all of the best of Mathis. I Love you Johnny -- especially for being you.

When you sing "Come to Me" in this album, that's just exactly what I want to do!

Marcia Hendricks

This is the music I grew up with. He's one of the greatest singers of his time. A definate buy.

Being a Mathis fan for forty two years and this being my first mathis LP it brings back many nostalgic memories, its a must for any Mathis fan

I love this CD! Sooo romantic, wonderful music and lyrics, great to sing along with (try that with rap!). A great way to unwind after a hectic day. Lots of great memories here. Johnny Mathis, a glass of wine, the love of your life, and WOW!

This is the first Mathis single hits collection and it has shown in the hit charts for many years. There is also an incredible list of arrangers behind each song and Mathis performances: Ray Conniff and Ray Ellis are there. You'll find simple songs here, as one has said, but simply beautiful songs which will remain in the deep of our hearts. Chances are 'cause I wear that silly grin ... I just wonder why Sony has replaced the original album cover photo for an updated one. Photo and sound does not match.

Few can deny that Johnny Mathis represents cheesiness of the highest order. But he also stands for a bygone era when a man could still croon a song about flowers and poets without sounding like a greeting card. Having grown up with Johnny Mathis around the house, I find that this album is a sheer pleasure to listen to. The songs are simple and the lyrics unapolagetically sappy. He's no Nat King Cole, but Johnny has definitely turned out some memorable tunes. You'll find the best of them here.

I remember the summer I turned fourteen years old and suddenly hearing this incredible voice pouring out of my transistor radio:

"Some quiet evening we sit side by side
And we're lost in a world of our own.
I feel the glow of your unspoken love
I'm aware of the treasure that I own.
And I say to myself, it's wonderful, wonderful..."

... and being totally blown away by that glorious sound. That was my introduction to Johnny Mathis, at that time a relatively unknown kid 21 years old with a voice that was pure magic. You listened to that voice and just let it flow over you and you were instantly and utterly enchanted. I fell in love with "Wonderful Wonderful" (still my favorite of all his songs) and "It's Not for Me To Say" and "Chances Are", and the following spring "Johnny's Greatest Hits" was released, featuring the three songs above and nine more. Some of these recordings weren't really hits before they were featured on this album, but the album itself was a mega-smash. And with good reason. Besides the three above, there is a lovely little ballad called "When Sunny Gets Blue" that actually makes you feel like you're hearing rain fall, the hauntingly beautiful "The Twelfth of Never", and seven more that are timeless listening pleasure.

Mathis had some great help on this album in the form of terrific arrangements by Ray Conniff, Ray Ellis and other musical giants; but what makes Johnny Mathis Johnny Mathis is, purely and simply, That Voice. Every word is clear as a crystal bell and every note is perfect. That Johnny hit his peak so young is nothing short of phenomenal. He went on to have a successful career that spanned forty years, but he was never as good as he was in this album. If you only listen to one album by Johnny Mathis in your life, this is it.

Judy Lind

Johnny Mathis scored a huge coup with his album entitled "Johnny's Greatest Hits." Johnny's voice never sounded better. Moreover, the fact that this album remains in print on CD half a century after its record album release proves that Johnny's fine artistry cannot be cast aside even in this age of rock and roll, punk rock and hip hop. This album is definitely worth a good listen!

The track set begins with one of Johnny's best songs ever, "Chances Are." "Chances Are" has an elegant arrangement for the harp, piano and strings while Johnny sings this flawlessly. "All The Time" has Johnny singing passionately of how he wants his one true love to always be at his side; Johnny handles the tempo changes like a pro and the musical arrangement lacks nothing--it's THAT good. Moreover, "The Twelfth Of Never" sports a great arrangement for the harp; Johnny performs "The Twelfth Of Never" with great sensitivity. Awesome.

"When Sunny Gets Blue" gives us Johnny singing a tender love ballad about how Sunny feels tremendously depressed unless she is in love; the strings and the harp carry the bulk of the melody. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" is a relentlessly upbeat melody that lets Johnny celebrate the pure joy of true love.

"It's Not For Me To Say" has a rather elegant arrangement for the piano; and Johnny croons this beautifully when he sings of his affection for his one true love; Johnny's character also hopes that their love will continue for a long while to come. "Wild Is The Wind" is a ballad about passionate love; the excellent chord changes and subtle tempo changes enhance the number. "No Love" continues along the same lines; and the CD ends strong with "I Look At You." The strings and the ladies on backup bolster "I Look At You" as Johnny sings of his love although he is too afraid of rejection to pursue a love affair with them. Excellent!

Johnny Mathis remains a giant amongst giants in the entertainment industry of the twentieth century. Johnny was blessed to receive an incredible voice that could stir many emotions easily in his adoring audiences; and if we're lucky he'll continue to entertain us with his masterful voice for many years to come.

Thank you, Johnny!