Essential Johnny Mathis, The - Johnny Mathis

Faced with a career choice between Track & Field and music in 1955 Johnny decided on music. He was a very talented athlete who in 1954 broke the San Francisco State University high jump record with a leap of 1.96 metres (6 feet 5 inches). He was invited to take part in Olympic trials for the Melbourne Olympics but chose music instead.

His interest in sports remained and after making it huge in music he went on to sponsor and many golf ...
...with a reported 6 holes in 1 to date.

Mathis' has his own unique and unmistakable singing style and very quickly achieved a string of hits in 1957.

In 1959 he released "Misty" which is perhaps the song he is best known for. One of his other signature tunes is "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" dueting with Deniece Williams in 1978. Both of these tracks are on this album which is 40 tracks in all.
... more

Faced with a career choice between Track & Field and music in 1955 Johnny decided on music. He was a very talented athlete who in 1954 broke the San Francisco State University high jump record with a leap of 1.96 metres (6 feet 5 inches). He was invited to take part in Olympic trials for the Melbourne Olympics but chose music instead.

His interest in sports remained and after making it huge in music he went on to sponsor and many golf and athletics events and is a very good golfer himself with a reported 6 holes in 1 to date.

Mathis' has his own unique and unmistakable singing style and very quickly achieved a string of hits in 1957.

In 1959 he released "Misty" which is perhaps the song he is best known for. One of his other signature tunes is "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" dueting with Deniece Williams in 1978. Both of these tracks are on this album which is 40 tracks in all.

This is a great chance to enjoy his very special interpretation of some fine songs.

One small negative of this double album is the omission of his rendition of "Moon River" which is one of my personal favourites.

Full track listing:

Disc 1
1. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
2. When Sunny Gets Blue
3. It's Not For Me To Say - Johnny Mathis With Ray Conniff & His Orchestra
4. Wonderful! Wonderful! - With Ray Conniff & His Orchestra And Chorus
5. Chances Are Single - With Ray Conniff & His Orchestra
6. No Love (But Your Love)
7. The Twelfth Of Never - With Ray Conniff & His Orchestra
8. Wild Is The Wind - Featuring Ray Ellis & His Orchestra
9. Teacher, Teacher
10. A Certain Smile
11. Sleigh Ride
12. My Funny Valentine
13. Misty - Featuring Glenn Osser & His Orchestra
14. Small World - Featuring Glenn Osser & His Orchestra
15. Maria
16. Dancing On The Ceiling
17. Stairway To The Stars
18. Gina
19. What Will My Mary Say
20. The Sweetheart Tree
21. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
22. The Look Of Love
23. A Time For Us

Disc 2
1. I'm Coming Home
2. Life Is A Song Worth Singing
3. 99 Miles From L.A.
4. What I Did For Love
5. When A Child Is Born
6. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - With Deniece Williams
7. Begin The Beguine
8. Memory
9. Friends In Love - With Dionne Warwick
10. Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)
11. Prelude To A Kiss
12. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
13. Let Your Heart Remember
14. Unbreak My Heart
15. Because You Loved Me
16. Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries - Featuring Forever Plaid
17. On Broadway  

...less