Johnny Mathis - Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration

Johnny Mathis's 2006 return to the spotlight was richly deserved, not because his career needed resurrecting--he's continued touring and recording for breathless fans well into his seventh decade--but because post-boomer generations shouldn't be allowed to roam the world asking "Johnny Who?" when his name gets mentioned. Mathis is that important an artist, and this compendium of his work, best thought of as a winking glance, does an able job of demonstrating why: "Chances Are," a slice of pop brilliance set to a piano with a broken heart, has always sounded as though it's been pulled off a silver platter. The Mathis voice--rich and deep at some turns, high and fragile at others, poured gold either way--seals it in timelessness; it's a pop scholar's very definition of a classic. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" throws off the same sparks to a lesser degree--delivery-wise, it's nearly impossible not to attach the word delightful, and overall it reeks of cultural importance. The rest of these songs add up to a case study in why Mathis matters: "Misty" may be dusty, but it still melts the heart. And "When Sunny Gets Blue," with its slow, sad strings, stings with Roy Orbison-caliber potency. Two previously unreleased tracks, "So Many Stars," produced by Sergio Mendes, and "The Shadow of Your Smile," with Dave Koz and Chris Botti, shine a light on Mathis's more recent work. It holds up brilliantly (not easy, considering Mathis's clean, distinctive voice). It also accounts, probably, for this disc's closing track--Ray Charles wouldn't have recorded his late-career rendition of "Over the Rainbow" with just anybody. If you didn't hear it on Genius Loves Company, hear it here. --Tammy La Gorce Amazon.com

Such A Pleasure

Upon listening to the song `One God'.....I was moved to tears at the truth behind it...and the simple way his melodic voice made me feel so wonderful. Great listening CD June 19, 2008

exquisite--as far as it goes, that is (three and one-half stars)

Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration is a somewhat disappointing single CD retrospective that just can't possibly reflect all the golden hits of Johnny Mathis' illustrious career. The sound quality, however, is very good; and the artwork is nicely done.

The track set starts with Johnny Mathis performing "Chances Are." This awesome hit for Johnny brings out all the wonderful qualities of his voice. Johnny croons this number just as well as the best of them ever could! The musical arrangement uses the strings to great advantage and I love every minute of it! "Wonderful! Wonderful!" follows and if you're not hooked on Johnny Mathis by now you may wish to check your pulse! Johnny sings this to perfection and beyond; he never misses a beat and I'm very impressed with "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

"It's Not For Me To Say" was definitely another huge hit for Johnny; this beautiful melody sounds very sweet and Johnny Mathis delivers this with great panache. The piano arrangement is very elegant and the overall effect is gorgeous. "Misty" is another excellent classic pop hit that features Johnny front and center. Johnny's excellent diction and timing turns "Misty" into a true masterpiece. Listen also for "A Certain Smile;" this love song never sounded better than when Johnny sang it and it's great he's still here today to perform it in concert all over again!

"What'll I Do" gets the royal treatment for this masterful talent named Johnny Mathis; he delivers this beautifully with sophistication, heart and soul. The backup chorus enhances the beauty of the number. There's also "In A Sentimental Mood;" Johnny massages the lyrics to make this tune remarkably beautiful and it all works very well.

"The Shadow Of Your Smile" has a stunning arrangement and the horn solo works well for this romantic number. The album also ends nicely with Johnny and Ray Charles performing Judy Garland's signature song entitled "Over The Rainbow." Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles sing "Over The Rainbow" with great sensitivity; and this makes a wonderful ending for this CD.

Now I have no gripes or complaints about these heavenly numbers. Johnny's voice is in excellent form throughout the CD and the music is grand. However, I must complain that any set of eighteen tracks is just not enough for the producers of the CD to call this a golden type of "50th anniversary celebration." That would take a CD box set.

Fans of Johnny Mathis will be charmed by this although they also have these numbers already in their collections. Casual fans and newcomers to Johnny Mathis will benefit more from this single CD retrospective. Diehard fans will appreciate the four CD boxed set called The Music of Johnny Mathis - A Personal Collection. This box set is also available for sale on this website.
March 30, 2008

Johnny Mathis 50 Years

Johnny Mathis and his Greatest Hit's.I have followed his carrer from his days in SFO to his great Show here at The Veterans Home in Yontville CA. in 2005.One of the greatest Ballad Singers of all times - If not the Greatest!!!PLEASE KEEP IT UP JOHNNY..
An 80 year old fan - Plus all my Kids(5), and Grandkids (6).
Paul Maier December 9, 2007

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

This man still has the the most wonderful voice. He actually gets better with age. Love this!!! July 15, 2007

Smoooth

This cd lives up to what you would expect from Johnny....and it brings back the memories. June 15, 2007

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