Search - Johnny Mathis :: For Christmas

Russell B. (Slim) from BENSALEM, PA
Reviewed on 3/2/2023...

Years ago I found a recording of Calypso Noel, and still love it.

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Good Mix, but not the original..

I. Gross Georg | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 02/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There were ten songs on the original LP...at least the one that I have. But it's only right that the CD version should allow for more because the CD holds more music than an LP...though they could have filled it up a lot more than with one extra song! Little Drummer Boy, Carol of the Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let It Snow-Let It Snow-Let It Snow, Rudolph, and the CD extra Hallelujah Chorus all come from the Mercury album Sounds of Christmas. Jingle Bell Rock, Do You Hear What I Hear, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and The Lord's Prayer all come from the Columbia album Give Me Your Love For Christmas. This CD is a good mix of the two albums, but there are some wonderful songs on the originals that would have been worth including."

Fair-to-middlin' compilation, but you can do better.

mister big | Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA | 08/18/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As noted above, this 1989 release is actually a compilation of tracks culled from two previously-released Mathis Christmas albums.



"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", "Carol of the Bells", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", and the "Hallelujah Chorus" are all taken from Johnny's 1963 album THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS, which was subsequently re-issued in 1972 as CHRISTMAS WITH JOHNNY MATHIS and is still available on CD under that title.



The balance of the tracks are taken from 1969's GIVE ME YOUR LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS. This album, too, is available on CD is its entirety.



There are no tracks here from Johnny's first (and best) Christmas album, 1958's MERRY CHRISTMAS, or from 1986's CHRISTMAS EVE WITH JOHNNY MATHIS. While everything on FOR CHRISTMAS is worth hearing, Mathis fans would be better off getting the original albums (or, if a more well-rounded compilation CD is desired, checking out THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC OF JOHNNY MATHIS: A PERSONAL COLLECTION).

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