The Essential Johnny Mathis [Import]

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.

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.