Johnny Mathis Live - Wonderful, Wonderful - A Gold 50th Anniversary Celebration (2006)

Back in the mid-'50s, Johnny Mathis had a choice: a star in track and field, he could try out for the U.S. Olympic team… or else he could travel from his home in San Francisco to New York, where he'd been invited to record a few tunes for Columbia Records. Zillions (OK, hundreds of millions) of sales and half a century later, it's pretty obvious that Mathis, whose extraordinary career is celebrated on Johnny Mathis Live - Wonderful, Wonderful - A Gold 50th Anniversary Celebration, made the right move. The singer was 71 when he took the stage for this 2006 concert in Atlantic City; and while age has undoubtedly taken a toll (he looks a bit like the version of himself in the Las Vegas branch of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum--well-preserved, but kinda weird), his voice has lost little of its strength and almost none of its pure beauty. Backed by a large orchestra, Mathis moves easily through a set spanning his entire repertoire: Broadway and film numbers (a medley from Kismet, some Henry Mancini movie tunes), Brazilian sounds (the medley of "Manha de Carnaval" and "Brazil," on which he's accompanied by an excellent nylon-stringed guitarist, is one of the show's best moments), more recent material (Barry Gibb's "In the Morning," Albert Hammond's "99 Miles from L.A."), and, of course, the romantic ballads that still make lovers swoon, including what Mathis calls "the Holy Trinity" of "It's Not for Me to Say," "Chances Are," and "Misty." Mathis makes music that soothes rather than challenges; it may be easy listening, but it's far too classy and professional to be written off as schlock. There's a reason this guy has been around for so long: he's good. The DVD includes interview segments with Mathis, clips from old TV appearances, and a substantial set of bonus performances from the same concert. --Sam Graham Amazon.com

A DVD Worth Many, Many, Wonderful, Wonderful Viewings!

My husband and I went to Johnny Mathis' concert on 9/11/08 in Sacramento. I was smitten with his beautiful singing and amazing good looks. I chose this DVD to enjoy his great singing again. I have actually lost count of how many times I've watched it. I love his narrated tour of his gorgeous home in West Hollywood. He is truly one of our "greats." October 15, 2008

WONDERFUL! - WONDERFUL!!! !!! !!!

I'M A JONNY MATHIS FAN SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY. ALTHOUGH I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM IN CONCERT, THIS WAS JUST AS WONDERFUL AS ANY CONCERT. THE PICTURE QUALITY WAS "EXCELLENT!, THE SOUND WAS "SUPERB"
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A WONDERFUL BUY!!!
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BRUCE TAIT September 19, 2008

Wonderful, wonderful!

Johnny Mathis, as the good french wines, older means better. You can believe his age just because you see him but his voice is not only the same but better, maybe he uses it with much more experience. June 30, 2008

Review

Wonderful! His best video out. Also, it is great to see clips of him when he was young on various shows. Very interesting. Wonderfully done! March 20, 2008

It doesn't get better...

If I was told I could keep only one DVD out of my entire collection, this would be the one. Well rounded collection of the best of Johnny Mathis with wonderful interviews and a tour of his beautiful home, which so well reflects his personality. If I was able to gather my favorite people in the world for a dinner party, Johnny would be sitting at the head of the table! March 15, 2008

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