The Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection

Ebony, March, 1994 by Lynn Norment

The Music of Johnny Mathis--A Persond Collection (Columbia) takes the listener on a wonderful musical journey with Mathis' soothing vocals as the tour guide. The 86 songs are Mathis personal favorites from the nearly 100 albums he's recorded since 1956. Among them are "There Goes My Heart," You'll Never Know" and "More Than You Know" from Disc I. On Disc II are "A Ride On A Rainbow," "Don't Blame Me" and "In Love For The Very First Time." Mathis' duet with Deniece Williams, "Too much, Too Little, Too Late," and I'm Coming Home" are on Disc III, while his duet with Barbra Streisand, "I Have A Love/ One Hand, One Heart," and another with Dionne Warwick, "Friends In Love," are on Disc IV. For the incurable romantic and those who simply appreciate great music, this collection is a must-have.

ALSO NOTED: Ralph Tresvant, It's Goin' Down (MCA); Color Me Badd, Time And Chance (Giant); The Greatest Hits of Freddie Jackson (Capitol); Jodeci, Diary Of A Mad Band (MCA); Perfect Gentlemen (Warner Bros.); Shaquille O'Neal, Shaq Diesel (Jive); Funky Poets, True To Life (500/Epic); Me'Shell NdegeOcello, Plantation Lullabies (Maverick); Hugh Masekela, Hope (Triloka); Charlie Watts Quintet, Warm & Tender (Continuum); Don Pullen, Ode To Life (Blue Note); T.S. Monk, Changing of The Guard (Blue Note); Ahmad, Jamal, Live In Paris (Verve); Jackie McLean, The Jackie Mac Attack (Verve); Earl Klugh Ballads (Blue Note); Kevin Eubanks, Spirit Talk (Blue Note); Roy Haynes, When It's Haynes It Roars (Dreyfus); Straight Company, So Excited, A Capella (Benson); Northern California Chapter Mass Choir, Wait On The Lord (Ocean); The Inspirers, Don't Quit (TM).