The Classic Christmas Album (Johnny Mathis album)


The Classic Christmas Album is a Christmas compilation album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on October 7, 2014, by Columbia Records and includes two 1961 recordings that were previously unavailable: "Ol' Kris Kringle" and the original version of the title track from his 1969 Christmas album Give Me Your Love for Christmas. Three other songs make their debut on compact disc as of this release, and two other non-album singles can be counted among the rarities here. The collection also includes a selection or two from several of Mathis's Christmas studio albums—"Sleigh Ride" from Merry Christmas, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Sounds of Christmas, "Calypso Noel" from Give Me Your Love for Christmas, "The Christmas Waltz" and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" from Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis, and "Home for the Holidays" from Sending You a Little Christmas—as well as his duet with Bette Midler from her 2006 holiday album Cool Yule, which was a medley of "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!".

Critical reception

The Second Disc's Joe Marchese was impressed by the rarities on this collection and also the sound quality.
George W. Harris of Jazz Weekly wrote in his review of the disc that Mathis is "one of the few vocalists that owns 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', and December 25th is better off for it."

Track listing

  1. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" – 2:14
  2. * Jeremy Lubbock – arranger, conductor
  3. * Denny Diante – producer
  4. "Ol' Kris Kringle" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra – 2:24
  5. * Lou Halmy – arranger
  6. * Irving Townsend – producer
  7. "The Very First Christmas Day" – 3:07
  8. * Gene Page – arranger, conductor
  9. * Jack Gold – producer
  10. "Calypso Noel" – 2:14
  11. * Ernie Freeman – arranger, conductor
  12. * Jack Gold – producer
  13. "My Kind of Christmas" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra – 3:02
  14. * Irving Townsend – producer
  15. Medley performed with Bette Midler – 2:47
a. "Winter Wonderland"
b. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
  1. *Bette Sussman – arranger
  2. * Patrick Williams – arranger
  3. * Robbie Buchanan – producer
  4. "Give Me Your Love for Christmas" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra – 2:55
  5. * Irving Townsend – producer
  6. "Sleigh Ride" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra – 3:01
  7. * Mitch Miller – producer
  8. "The Christmas Waltz" – 2:36
  9. * Ray Ellis – arranger, conductor
  10. * Denny Diante – producer
  11. "Christmas in the City of the Angels" – 2:50
  12. * Gene Page – arranger, conductor
  13. * Jack Gold – producer
  14. "Christmas Is..." – 3:06
  15. * Ernie Freeman – arranger, conductor
  16. * Jack Gold – producer
  17. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – 3:33
  18. * Glenn Osser – arranger
  19. * Jack Feierman – conductor
  20. * Don Costa – producer
  21. "Home for the Holidays" performed with The Jordanaires – 3:07
  22. * Fred Mollin – producer
  23. "Sign of the Dove" – 2:49
  24. * Ernie Freeman – arranger, conductor
  25. * Jack Gold – producer

    Recording dates

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