Christmas Album

As for the rest of the album, it too, like good wine, gets better with age. For example, Johnny almost makes me forget Burl Ives with his treatment of "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Snowfall" gives me chills with its gorgeous evoking of an afternoon gazing out the window at falling snow.

If you're a Mathis fan you owe it to yourself to give this CD repeated listenings. It's a worthy member of the Mathis Christmas music family.


Short But Sweet....   December 19, 2002
David A. Preiser (Tacoma, WA United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Johnny's newest Christmas gift to his fans is just that! Clocking in at under 32 minutes, The cd is on the short side! But the music contained within is magical!!! Standout tracks include:"A Christmas Love Song", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Snowfall/Christmas Time Is Here" & The seldom heard gem "Merry Christmas". A Personal favorite is the new song "Heavenly Peace" which shows Johnny's voice is still a GREAT interpreter for new songs!!! Johnny-Next time could you double the length? You are after all the voice of Christmas!!


Solid Holiday effort from the other troubadour of Christmas   December 18, 2002
R. L. MILLER (FT LAUDERDALE FL USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Really, as other reviewers have pointed out here, when it comes to Christmas music, the only one in Mathis' league is the late Bing Crosby. Not only that, his range is actually better here than it was back in 1969 and 1986 on "Give Me Your Love For Christmas" and "Christmas Eve" respectively, when both efforts saw him apparently limited to baritone. Those two albums had me thinking that the famous tenor we came to love on his first two was history. As is often the case, Mathis is best on more familiar material like "Joy To the World" and "Away In a Manger". The more contemporary "Heavenly Peace" seems more like what you'd find on a Michael Bolton Christmas album. This is not to say that other non-perennials like "Christmas Love Song" and "Merry Christmas" don't fit--actually, they just sound more like what you'd expect from Mathis. This album's swing treatment of "Frosty the Snowman" is a reminder that, although we don't usually think of Johnny as a jazz singer, he can handle it. "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" isn't exactly a Christmas song, but neither is "Let It Snow", really. But it shows up on almost half of the pop Holiday albums out there, including Johnny's own "Sounds Of Christmas" back in 1963. The appearance of Vince Guaraldi's "Christmastime Is Here" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is welcome--except for Michael Franks, not enough singers do it. "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year" and "Christmas Without You" got left out of the final pressing for some reason--both are clearly listed on the blurb for this album on his website. I can understand "Wonderful Time" getting skipped--it's already on "Chrsitmas Eve"--but why the other song? It was bad enough that a superior version of "Drummer Boy" didn't make the crossing when "Sounds Of Christmas" got rereleased as "Christmas With...". That version is better than the one on "Love For Christmas"--less rushed and a better tenor range. Another casualty of that rerelease was "Have Reindeer Will Travel". So that makes four Mathis Christmas songs that aren't on CD. Maybe if they do a four-song EP. Or stick them on a compilation disc. One can only hope.


Uneven seasonal effort by Mathis has its highlights   November 30, 2002
6 out of 12 found this review helpful

Arriving nearly a half-century after his first, Johnny Mathis' newest Christmas album (unoriginally - and perhaps confusingly - titled simply "The Christmas Album") is an uneven effort by the legendary balladeer. At 67, Mathis has less control over his vibrato then he did in his salad days. His voice wobbles heavily on sustained notes, and this is especially noticeable on the three religious chestnuts. The dismal "Heavenly Peace" is a blundering attempt to create a modern pop record, complete with cheesy accompaniment and trite lyrics. It also feels out of place on a record otherwise firmly grounded in traditional orchestral pop. Yet the album does succeed in places, particularly its second half. The final ten minutes - "Snowfall," "Christmas Time is Here," and "Merry Christmas" - are beautiful, with lush orchestrations aiding Mathis' sensitive vocals. The two swing tunes are also enjoyable, and perhaps more should have been included in the lineup. Although not a must-have, this release has its moments, and buyers will certainly find something rewarding.


Never Better   November 12, 2002
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

A joy to listen to. Then again, what Mathis music isn't a joy to listen to? This man's voice just gets better and better. Deeper, mellower and more beautiful than ever! It's hard to believe he's 67 yrs. old! I agree with a previous reviewer that "Heavenly Peace" is the weakest song on the CD and that the CD is much too short, at around 30 minutes. But, his version of "Snowfall/Christmas Time Is Here" can't be topped! Also love the upbeat "Frosty the Snowman" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm". His phrasing can't be beat!!....Sinatra who? Also agree that the picture on the cover of the CD is worth the price of the CD itself! Keep'em coming Mr.Mathis...nobody does it better!!