Johnny Mathis, who, as these notes are being written in March 2026, is still a much-loved and respected figure in popular music at the age of 90, has been one the most distinctive and successful singers in popular music for the last seven decades. His velvet voice and immaculate phrasing enabled him to transcend the genres to encompass, sophisticated pop, jazz, easy listening and even disco over the years, and he had over 80 hits from the 1950s through to the ‘80s (see Johnny Mathis “The Complete US Singles As & Bs 1957-62” Acrobat ADDCD3171). 

He began his recording career just as the long-playing album format was becoming a burgeoning medium, soon followed by the stereo boom and he was ideally placed to take advantage of that. This 46-track 2-CD collection features just about all the titles from his first albums for Columbia, “Johnny Mathis”, “Wonderful, Wonderful”, “Warm” and “Swing Softly”. 

Mostly comprising his trademark versions of classics from the Great American Songbook, and with accompaniments directed by great arranger/composers of the day - Percy Faith, Ted Macero, Bob Prince, Manny Albam, Gil Evans, and John Lewis – the collection offers a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for his unique talent, captured at the start of what would be a long and illustrious career. 

CD 1
1. AUTUMN IN ROME Johnny Mathis 
2. EASY TO LOVE  Johnny Mathis 
3. STREET OF DREAMS Johnny Mathis 
4. LOVE, YOUR MAGIC SPELL IS EVERYWHERE  Johnny Mathis 
5. PRELUDE TO A KISS Johnny Mathis 
6. BABALU Johnny Mathis 
7. CARAVAN Johnny Mathis 
8. IN OTHER WORDS (FLY ME TO THE MOON) Johnny Mathis 
9. STAR EYES  Johnny Mathis 
10. IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING  Johnny Mathis 
11. CABIN IN THE SKY  Johnny Mathis 
12. ANGEL EYES  Johnny Mathis 
From the album “Johnny Mathis” (Columbia  CL887)  August 1956

13. WILL I FIND MY LOVE TODAY? Johnny Mathis 
14. LOOKING AT YOU Johnny Mathis 
15. LET ME LOVE YOU Johnny Mathis 
16. ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT Johnny Mathis 
17. IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU  Johnny Mathis 
18. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC Johnny Mathis 
19. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT  Johnny Mathis 
20. IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING Johnny Mathis 
21. YEAR AFTER YEAR Johnny Mathis 
22. YOU STEPPED OUT OF A DREAM  Johnny Mathis
From the album “Wonderful, Wonderful” (Columbia CL1028)   July 1957

CD 2
1. EARLY AUTUMN Johnny Mathis 
2. DAY IN, DAY OUT Johnny Mathis 
3. WARM Johnny Mathis 
From the album “Wonderful, Wonderful” (Columbia CL1028)   July 1957

4. MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE Johnny Mathis 
5. BABY, BABY, BABY Johnny Mathis 
6. A HANDFUL OF STARS Johnny Mathis 
7. BY MYSELF Johnny Mathis 
8. THEN I'LL BE TIRED OF YOU Johnny Mathis 
9. I'M GLAD THERE IS YOU Johnny Mathis 
10. WHAT'LL I DO Johnny Mathis 
11. THE LOVELY THINGS YOU DO Johnny Mathis 
12. THERE GOES MY HEART Johnny Mathis 
13. WHILE WE'RE YOUNG Johnny Mathis 
From the album “Warm” (Columbia  CL1078)    November 1957

14. YOU HIT THE SPOT  Johnny Mathis 
15. IT'S DE-LOVELY  Johnny Mathis 
16. GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME  Johnny Mathis 
17. LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE Johnny Mathis 
18. YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO  Johnny Mathis 
19. LOVE WALKED IN Johnny Mathis 
20. THIS HEART OF MINE  Johnny Mathis 
21. SWEET LORRAINE Johnny Mathis 
22. CAN'T GET OUT OF THIS MOOD  Johnny Mathis 
23. I'VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING Johnny Mathis 
24. EASY TO SAY (BUT SO HARD TO DO) Johnny Mathis
From the album “Swing Softly” (Columbia    CL1165, CS8023)  June 1958