''The Singles'' is a four-disc

box set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...

by the American pop singer

Johnny Mathis John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. Starting his 69-year career with singles of standard (music), standard music, Mathis is one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century and became highly popular as ...

that was released in 2015 by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

to commemorate the singer's 80th birthday. In his review of the collection Joe Marchese explains that it "doesn't bring together every track released by the legendary artist on 45 RPM; such an endeavor would take far more than four discs. Instead, it features the tracks originally released by Mathis on Columbia in the singles format – in other words, non-LP sides – between the years of 1956 and 1981, in their original single mixes." His description of the compilation echoes that of the compilation's producer Didier C. Deutsch in the liner notes as explanation for the exclusion of the hit singles "

Misty In cryptography, MISTY1 (or MISTY-1) is a block cipher designed in 1995 by Mitsuru Matsui and others for Mitsubishi Electric. MISTY1 is one of the selected algorithms in the European NESSIE project, and has been among the cryptographic tech ...

" from '' Heavenly'' (1959) and his "

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a song performed by singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, written by Nat Kipner and John Vallins. The single was a comeback of sorts for Mathis, because his last U.S. top 10 hit had been 1963’s " What ...

" duet with

Deniece Williams June Deniece Williams (née Chandler; born June 3, 1950) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great Soul music, soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free (Deniece Williams song), Free", "Silly (song ...

from '' You Light Up My Life'' (1978). Deutsch excuses these as "songs extracted from specific albums to call attention to these albums." The set does, however, include "Ten Times Forever More" and "I Was There" from his 1971 LP, ''

Love Story Love Story or A Love Story may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres * Romance (love) ** Romance film ** Romance novel Films * ''Love Story'' (1925 film), German silent film * ''Love Story'' (1942 film), Italian drama film * ''Love ...

'', and a shorter version of "If We Only Have Love" than the one that was included on his other 1971 album, ''

You've Got a Friend "You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song and single by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, '' Tapestry'' (1971). Another well-known version by James Taylor appears on his ...

''.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of ''

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

'' wrote that "the first two discs contain the music that crystallized Johnny Mathis' appeal: he made the middle of the road seem fresh and if

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

's productions grow wearisome, Mathis' voice never does". ''The Second Discs Joe Marchese argued that "this assemblage of hits and rarities belongs on the shelf of every fan of Johnny Mathis – which is to say of any fan of immaculate vocals, impeccable musicianship, and the full spectrum of American popular song."

Track listing

Recording dates and information taken from the liner notes.

Disc one

# "

Wonderful! Wonderful! "Wonderful! Wonderful!" is a song written by Ben Raleigh and Sherman Edwards that became the A-side of the first 7-inch single recorded by American singer Johnny Mathis. The recording was produced by Mitch Miller and released on November 5, 195 ...

" (

Sherman Edwards Sherman Edwards (April 3, 1919 – March 30, 1981) was an American composer, jazz pianist, and songwriter, best known for his songs from the 1969 Broadway musical ''1776'' and the 1972 film adaptation. Early life Edwards was born in the East ...

, Ben Raleigh) – 2:50 # "When Sunny Gets Blue" performed with

Ray Conniff Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s. Biography Conniff was born November 6, 1916, in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United S ...

& His Orchestra (Marvin Fisher,

Jack Segal Jack Segal (October 19, 1918 – February 10, 2005) was an American pianist and composer of popular American songs, known for writing the lyrics to '' Scarlet Ribbons''. His composition '' May I Come In?'' was the title track for a Blossom Dea ...

) – 2:41 #* above two recorded on September 20, 1956 and released on November 5, 1956 # " It's Not for Me to Say" from ''

Lizzie Lizzie or Lizzy is a nickname for Elizabeth or Elisabet, often given as an independent name in the United States, especially in the late 19th century. Lizzie can also be the shortened version of Lizeth, Lissette or Lizette. People * Elizabe ...

'' (1957); performed with Ray Conniff & His Orchestra ( Robert Allen,

Al Stillman Al Stillman ''(né'' Albert Irving Silverman; 26 June 1901 Manhattan, New York City, New York – 17 February 1979 Manhattan, New York City, New York) was an American lyricist. Biography Al Stillman was born as Albert Irving Silverman to American ...

) – 3:05 # "Warm and Tender" from ''Lizzie'' (1957); performed with Ray Conniff & His Orchestra (

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...

Hal David Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick. Early life David was born and raised in New ...

) – 2:23 #* above two rec. September 20, 1956, rel. February 25, 1957 # " Chances Are" performed with Ray Conniff & His Orchestra (Robert Allen, Al Stillman) – 3:03 # "

The Twelfth of Never "The Twelfth of Never" is a popular song adapted from an old English folk song in 1956 by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster. Various recording artists have had chart hits with "The Twelfth of Never", including Johnny Mathis, Cliff Richa ...

" performed with Ray Conniff & His Orchestra (

Jerry Livingston Jerry Livingston (born Jerry Levinson; March 25, 1909 – July 1, 1987) was an American songwriter and dance orchestra pianist. Life and career Born in Denver, Colorado to Sam and Dora (Lazarus) Levinson, Jerry Livingston studied music at the ...

Paul Francis Webster Paul Francis Webster (December 20, 1907 – March 18, 1984) was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and was nominated sixteen times for the award. Life and career Webster was born in New York City, United S ...

) – 2:28 #* above two rec. June 16, 1957, rel. August 12, 1957 # "

Wild Is the Wind Wild Is the Wind may refer to: * ''Wild Is the Wind'' (1957 film), a film starring Anna Magnani and Anthony Quinn * "Wild Is the Wind" (song), the title song from the film, also covered by David Bowie * ''Wild Is the Wind'' (album), an album by ...

" from ''

'' (1957) (

Dimitri Tiomkin Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin (May 10, 1894 – November 11, 1979) was a Russian and American film composer and conductor. Classically trained in Saint Petersburg before the Bolshevik Revolution, he moved to Berlin and then New York City after t ...

Ned Washington Ned Washington (born Edward Michael Washington, August 15, 1901 – December 20, 1976) was an American lyricist born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Life and career Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962. He won the Be ...

) – 2:26 #* rec. October 1, 1957, rel. November 11, 1957 # "No Love (But Your Love)" performed with Ray Conniff & His Orchestra (

Billy Myles William Myles Nobles (August 29, 1924 – October 9, 2005), known as Billy Myles, was an American R&B songwriter and singer active in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for writing "Tonight, Tonight" recorded by The Mello-Kings, "(You Were Mad ...

) – 2:34 #* rec. June 16, 1957, rel. November 11, 1957 # "When I Am with You" (Al Stillman,

Ben Weisman Benjamin Weisman (November 16, 1921 – May 20, 2007) was an American composer. He wrote 57 songs recorded by Elvis Presley, more than any other songwriter. Biography Weisman was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and grew up in Brooklyn, New Yor ...

) – 3:15 # "Come to Me" from the ''

Kraft Television Theatre ''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947, on NBC, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Impe ...

'' episode "Come to Me" (1957) (Robert Allen,

Peter Lind Hayes Peter Lind Hayes (born Joseph Conrad Lind Jr.; June 25, 1915 – April 21, 1998) was an American vaudeville entertainer and film and television actor. Early life Hayes was born in San Francisco, the son of Joseph Conrad Lind Sr., a railroad man ...

) – 3:21 #* above two rec. October 31, 1957, rel. December 30, 1957 # "All the Time" (

Ray Evans Raymond Bernard Evans (February 4, 1915 – February 15, 2007) was an American songwriter best known for being a half of a composing-songwriting duo with Jay Livingston, specializing himself in writing lyrics for film songs. On music Livingston ...

Jay Livingston Jay Livingston (born Jacob Harold Levison; March 28, 1915 – October 17, 2001) was an American composer best known as half of a composing-songwriting duo with Ray Evans, with whom he specialized in composing film scores and original soundtrack ...

) – 2:44 #* rec. January 7, 1958, rel. March 17, 1958 # "Teacher, Teacher" (Robert Allen, Al Stillman) – 2:38 #* rec. October 31, 1957, rel. March 17, 1958 # "

A Certain Smile ''A Certain Smile'' was originally published in French as ''Un certain sourire'' by the Paris publisher Juillard in 1956. It was the second novel by Françoise Sagan and was written in two months. Two translations into English then followed in 19 ...

" from ''

'' (1958) (

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatr ...

, Paul Francis Webster) – 2:47 #* rec. May 12, 1958, rel. June 2, 1958 # "Let It Rain" (Al Frisch,

Sid Wayne Sid Wayne (January 26, 1923 – December 26, 1991) was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Almost every Elvis Presley film contained one or more works written by W ...

) – 2:38 #* rec. January 7, 1958, rel. June 2, 1958 # "Call Me" (

Belford Hendricks Belford Cabell "Sinky" Hendricks (May 11, 1909 – September 24, 1977) was an American composer, pianist, arranger, conductor and record producer. He used a variety of names, including Belford Hendricks, Belford Cabell Hendricks, Belford Cliff ...

Clyde Otis Clyde Lovern Otis (September 11, 1924 – January 8, 2008) was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African-American A&R executives at a major label. ...

) – 2:46 # "Stairway to the Sea (Scalinatella)" (Albert Beach, Giuseppe Cioffi ) – 2:34 #*above two rec. May 12, 1958, rel. September 8, 1958 # "You Are Beautiful" from ''

Flower Drum Song ''Flower Drum Song'' was the eighth musical theatre, musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on the 1957 novel, ''The Flower Drum Song'', by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee (author), C. Y. Lee. It premiered on Broadway the ...

'' (1958) (

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Award ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers wa ...

) – 3:10 #* rec. November 10, 1958, rel. December 1, 1958 # "Let's Love" (Richard Ferraris, Norman Kaye) – 2:41 #* rec. September 26, 1958, rel. December 1, 1958 # "Someone" ( William J. Tennyson, Jr.) – 2:58 #* rec. September 26, 1958, rel. March 9, 1959 # "Very Much in Love" (

Ray Ellis Ray Ellis (July 28, 1923 – October 27, 2008) was an American record producer, arranger, conductor, and saxophonist. He was responsible for the orchestration in Billie Holiday's '' Lady in Satin'' (1958). Biography Raymond Spencer Elli ...

, Al Stillman) – 2:46 #* rec. November 10, 1958, rel. March 9, 1959 # "I Look at You" (Johnny Mathis,

Jessie Mae Robinson Jessie Mae Robinson (née Booker, October 1, 1918 – October 26, 1966) was an American musician and songwriter, whose compositions included many R&B and pop hits of the 1940s and 1950s, including " Black Night", " I Went to Your Wedding", ...

) – 2:59 #* CD bonus track from ''

Johnny's Greatest Hits ''Johnny's Greatest Hits'' is a compilation album by vocalist Johnny Mathis that was released by Columbia Records on March 17, 1958; the album has been described as the "original greatest-hits package". The LP collected all but one of the song ...

''; rec. January 7, 1958, rel. March 17, 1958 # "The Flame of Love" (

Lee Pockriss Lee Julian Pockriss (January 20, 1924 – November 14, 2011) was an American songwriter who wrote popular songs and scores for films and Broadway shows, mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Early life and career Born in Brooklyn and graduating ...

Paul Vance Joseph Paul Florio (November 4, 1929 – May 30, 2022), known professionally as Paul Vance, was an American songwriter and record producer, primarily from the 1950s until the 1970s. His most successful song compositions, all written with Lee Po ...

) – 2:51 #* CD bonus track from ''

More Johnny's Greatest Hits ''More Johnny's Greatest Hits'' is a compilation album by Johnny Mathis that was released by Columbia Records on June 22, 1959, and contains the A- and B-sides of five of his singles as well as "Teacher, Teacher", the chart hit that was the B-s ...

''; rec. April 29, 1959, rel. June 22, 1959 ;Personnel *

– producer (tracks 1–21) *

Al Ham Albert W. Ham (February 6, 1925 in Malden, Massachusetts — October 4, 2001 in Spring Hill, Florida) was an American composer and jingle writer. He was notable as the composer of the '' Move Closer to Your World'' music package used since the ...

– producer (tracks 1–3, 7, 13;(2004) ''The Essential Johnny Mathis'' by Johnny Mathis

D booklet D, or d, is the fourth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''. History Th ...

New York: Columbia Records C2K-63562.(2006) ''Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration'' by Johnny Mathis

New York: Sony BMG Music Entertainment 82876 88583 2. 5, 6, 8, 12; 18, 19, 22) *

– conductor (tracks 1–6, 8); chorus conductor (track 1) *

– conductor (tracks 7, 9–21) * Glenn Osser – conductor (track 22) * While this compilation only credits Ham as producer for tracks 18, 19, and 22 on this disc, the other compilations listed in the Notes section credit him as such on the tracks indicated. Neither the original singles nor the compilations released before these provided this information.

Disc two

# "Small World" from ''

Gypsy {{Infobox ethnic group , group = Romani people , image = , image_caption = , flag = Roma flag.svg , flag_caption = Romani flag created in 1933 and accepted at the 1971 World Romani Congress , po ...

'' (1959) (

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

Jule Styne Jule Styne ( ; born Julius Kerwin Stein; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer widely known for a series of Broadway theatre, Broadway musical theatre, musicals, including several famous frequ ...

) – 3:18 #* rec. April 29, 1959, rel. May 25, 1959 # "You Are Everything to Me" (

Percy Faith Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian–American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of instrumental ballads and Christmas standards. He is often credited with popularizin ...

Carl Sigman Carl Sigman (September 24, 1909 – September 26, 2000) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish-American family, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his bar exams to practice ...

) – 2:56 #* rec. November 10, 1958, rel. May 25, 1959 # "The Story of Our Love" (Michael Colicchio, Anthony Piano) – 2:24 #* rec. April 29, 1959, rel. September 14, 1959 # "The Best of Everything" from '' The Best of Everything'' (1959) (

Sammy Cahn Samuel Cohen (June 18, 1913 – January 15, 1993), known professionally as Sammy Cahn, was an American lyricist, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premie ...

Alfred Newman Alfred Newman (March 17, 1900 – February 17, 1970) was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of film music. From his start as a music prodigy, he came to be regarded as a respected figure in the history of film music. He won nine Acad ...

) – 2:45 #* rec. September 8, 1959, rel. September 28, 1959 # "Cherie" (Michael Coldin, T. Prescott) – 2:49 #* rec. May 1, 1959, rel. September 28, 1959 # "Starbright" (Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance) – 2:48 #* rec. April 29, 1959, rel. February 15, 1960 # "All Is Well" (

Jerry Leiber Leiber and Stoller were an American songwriting and record production duo, consisting of lyricist Jerome Leiber (; April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933). As well as many R&B and pop hits, they wr ...

Mike Stoller Leiber and Stoller were an American songwriting and record production duo, consisting of lyricist Jerome Leiber (; April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933). As well as many R&B and pop hits, they wr ...

) – 2:31 #* rec. May 1, 1959, rel. February 15, 1960 # "Hey Love" (Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance) – 2:28 #* rec. May 1, 1959, rel. May 9, 1960 # "My Love for You" (

Abner Silver Abner Silberman (28 December 1899 in New York City, New York, United States – 24 November 1966) as pen name Abner Silver, was an American songwriter who worked primarily during the Tin Pan Alley era of the craft. Career Usually composing the ...

) – 3:07 # "Oh That Feeling" (Jack Segal, Paul Vance) – 2:36 #* above two rec. May 31, 1960, rel. July 25, 1960 # "How to Handle a Woman" from ''

Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...

'' (1960); performed with

& His Orchestra (

Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre bot ...

Frederick Loewe Frederick Loewe ( ; born Friedrich "Fritz" Löwe, ; June 10, 1901 – February 14, 1988

) – 3:02 #* rec. October 27, 1960, rel. November 7, 1960 # "While You're Young" ( Barbara Hayden, Tony Romano) – 2:54 #* rec. May 1, 1959, rel. November 7, 1960 # "You Set My Heart to Music" from '' Thirteen Daughters'' (1961) (Eaton Magoon, Jr.) – 2:46 #* rec. March 4, 1961, rel. March 20, 1961 # "Jenny" (Jack Segal, Paul Vance) – 2:58 #* rec. February 8, 1961, rel. March 20, 1961 # "Should I Wait (Or Should I Run to Her)" (

Leon Carr Leon Carr (June 10, 1910 – March 27, 1976) was an American songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor. He developed several famed marketing jingles used in advertisements, including "Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut..." for Mounds ca ...

, Paul Vance) – 2:48 #* rec. February 8, 1961, rel. April 24, 1961 # "Laurie, My Love" (Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster) – 2:25 #* rec. March 4, 1961, rel. June 16, 1961 # "Wasn't the Summer Short?" (Ruth Lyons) – 2:53 #* rec. February 8, 1961, rel. September 8, 1961 # "There You Are" (Clyde Otis, Chris Towns) – 2:48 #* rec. September 26, 1958, rel. September 8, 1961 # "My Kind of Christmas" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra (Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster) – 3:02 # "Christmas Eve" performed with Percy Faith & His Orchestra (

Allyn Ferguson Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. (October 18, 1924 – June 23, 2010) was an American composer, whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs ''Barney Miller'' and ''Charlie's Angels'' (1976-1981), which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott ( ...

, Sidney Shaw) – 2:56 #* above two rec. September 11, 1961, rel. September 17, 1961 # "Sweet Thursday" (Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster) – 2:30 # "One Look" (

Arthur Hamilton Arthur Hamilton Stern (October 22, 1926 – May 20, 2025) was an American songwriter. He is best known for the song " Cry Me a River", first published in 1953 and recorded by Julie London and numerous other artists. Life and career Arthur "Ar ...

) – 2:52 #* above two rec. October 9, 1961, rel. December 29, 1961 # "Marianna" from ''

The Counterfeit Traitor ''The Counterfeit Traitor'' is a 1962 espionage thriller film starring William Holden, Hugh Griffith, and Lilli Palmer. Holden plays the Swedish-American oil executive Eric Erickson, who is forced to spy on the Nazis in World War II. It was b ...

'' (1962) (Alfred Newman, Paul Francis Webster) – 2:50 #* rec. March 29, 1962, rel. April 27, 1962 # "Unaccustomed As I Am" (Ray Ellis, Al Stillman) – 2:55 #* rec. March 4, 1961, rel. April 27, 1962 # "That's the Way It Is" (Leon Carr, Paul Vance) – 2:49 #* rec. March 29, 1962, rel. July 27, 1962 ;Personnel *Al Ham – producer (tracks 1–8, 18) *Mitch Miller – producer (tracks 9–12, 18) *

Frank DeVol Frank, FRANK, or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a Germanic people in late Roman times * Franks, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusa ...

– producer (tracks 13, 16, 24) *

Irving Townsend Irving Townsend (November 27, 1920 – December 17, 1981) was an American record producer and author. He is most famous for having produced the Miles Davis album ''Kind of Blue'', which is the best-selling jazz album of all time according to ...

– producer (tracks 14, 15, 17, 19–23, 25) *Glenn Osser – conductor (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10) * Ray Ellis – conductor (tracks 2, 13–18, 24) *

Ralph Burns Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attend ...

– conductor (tracks 5, 8, 12) *Percy Faith – conductor (tracks 11, 19, 20) * Pete King – conductor (tracks 23, 25) *no conductor is indicated for tracks 21 & 22

Disc three

# "I'll Never Be Lonely Again" (Sherman Edwards,

Aaron Schroeder Aaron Harold Schroeder (September 7, 1926 – December 2, 2009) was an American songwriter and music publisher. Early years Born in Brooklyn, Schroeder graduated from the school now known as the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art a ...

) – 3:08 #* rec. May 23, 1960, rel. July 27, 1962 # " Gina" (

) – 2:46 #* rec. August 9, 1962, rel. September 7, 1962 # "I Love Her That's Why" (Jack Segal, Paul Vance) – 2:27 #* rec. October 9, 1961, rel. September 7, 1962 # "

What Will Mary Say "What Will Mary Say" is a song written by Eddie Snyder and Paul Vance. It was originally performed and issued as a single by Mark Dinning in 1961, but did not chart. Two years later, the song was recorded and released by Johnny Mathis, who made t ...

" (

Eddie Snyder Edward Abraham Snyder (February 22, 1919 – March 10, 2011) was an American composer and songwriter. Snyder is credited with co-writing the English language lyrics and music for Frank Sinatra's 1966 hit, "Strangers in the Night". Snyder was bor ...

) – 3:09 #* rec. August 9, 1962, rel. January 4, 1963 # "Quiet Girl" (Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal) – 2:56 #* rec. October 9, 1961, rel. January 4, 1963 # "Every Step of the Way" (Robert Allen, Al Stillman) – 3:21 #* rec. May 31, 1960, rel. May 7, 1963 # "Sooner or Later" (Thomas Garlock, Alan Jeffreys) – 3:15 #* rec. August 9, 1962, rel. July 30, 1963 # "I'll Search My Heart" (Allyn Ferguson, Ernie Richman, Neil Westen) – 3:02 #* rec. August 9, 1962, rel. November 5, 1963 # "All the Sad Young Men" (Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster) – 3:02 #* rec. March 29, 1962, rel. November 5, 1963 # "Don't Talk to Me" (

Milt Gabler Milton Gabler (May 20, 1911 – July 20, 2001) was an American record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording industry of the 20th century. These included being the first person to deal in record reissues, the first to sel ...

Bert Kaempfert Bert Kaempfert (born ; 16 October 1923 – 21 June 1980) was a German orchestra leader, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, arranger, and composer. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records and wrote the music for a number of well-kno ...

Herbert Rehbein Herbert "Herb" Rehbein (15 April 1922 – 28 July 1979) was a German songwriter, composer and arranger of light orchestral music. Together with his friend and collaborator Bert Kaempfert, he was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of F ...

) – 3:11 #* rec. May 15, 1967, rel. August 15, 1967 # "Among the First to Know" (Fred Haber) – 2:57 #* rec. November 2, 1967, rel. November 29, 1967 # "Long Winter Nights" (Gene Allan,

Ron Dante Carmine John Granito (born August 22, 1945), known professionally as Ron Dante, is an American singing, singer, songwriter, Session musician, session vocalist, and record producer. Dante is best known as the real life lead singer of the fiction ...

, Bob Feldman) – 2:35 #* rec. October 20, 1967, rel. November 29, 1967 # "Night Dreams" (Bert Kaempfert, Herbert Rehbein, Charles Singleton) – 2:49 #* rec. July 5, 1968, rel. September 3, 1968 # "Whoever You Are, I Love You" from '' Promises, Promises'' (1968) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 3:59 #* rec. January 18, 1969, rel. April 8, 1969 # " For All We Know" ( J. Fred Coots,

Sam M. Lewis Sam M. Lewis (born Samuel M. Levine; October 25, 1885 – November 22, 1959) was an American singer and lyricist. Career Lewis was born in New York City, United States. He began his music career by singing in cafés throughout New York City, ...

) – 3:00 #* rec. January 6, 1970, rel. February 11, 1970 # "Wherefore and Why" (

Gordon Lightfoot Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved worldwide success and helped define the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Widely considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, ...

) – 3:23 # "The Last Time I Saw Her" (Gordon Lightfoot) – 5:12 #* above two rec. March 25, 1970, rel. June 1, 1970 # "Darling Lili" from ''

Darling Lili ''Darling Lili'' is a 1970 American romantic-musical spy film, written by William Peter Blatty and Blake Edwards, the latter also directing the film. It stars Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, and Jeremy Kemp, with music by Henry Mancini and lyrics b ...

'' (1970) (Henry Mancini,

Johnny Mercer John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Wallichs Music Cit ...

) – 2:52 #* rec. July 10, 1970, rel. August 14, 1970 # "Sign of the Dove" (Bradford Craig) – 2:49 # "Christmas Is..." (Percy Faith, Spence Maxwell) – 3:06 #* above two rec. October 30, 1970, rel. November 23, 1970 # "Ten Times Forever More" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 2:36 #* rec. January 4, 1971, rel. January 21, 1971 ;Personnel *Mitch Miller – producer (tracks 1, 6) *Ernie Altschuler – producer (tracks 2, 4, 7, 8) *Irving Townsend – producer (tracks 3, 5, 9) *Robert Mersey – producer, conductor (tracks 10–14) *Jack Gold – producer (tracks 15–21) *Ralph Burns – conductor (track 1) *

Don Costa Dominick P. "Don" Costa (June 10, 1925 – January 19, 1983) was an American conductor and record producer. He discovered singer Paul Anka and worked on several hit albums by Frank Sinatra, including '' Sinatra and Strings'' and '' My Way'' ...

– conductor (tracks 2, 4, 7, 8) *

– conductor (tracks 3, 5) *Glenn Osser – conductor (track 6) *Pete King – conductor (track 9) *

Ernie Freeman Ernest Aaron Freeman (August 16, 1922 – May 16, 1981) was an American pianist, organist, bandleader, and arranger. He was responsible for arranging many successful rhythm and blues and pop music, pop records from the 1950s to the 1970s. B ...

– conductor (tracks 15, 18–20) *

Perry Botkin, Jr. Perry Botkin Jr. (April 16, 1933 – January 18, 2021) was an American composer, Record producer, producer, arranger, and musician. Life and career He was born in 1933 in New York City, the son of Perry Botkin Sr., who also was a successful ...

– conductor (tracks 16, 17, 21)

Disc four

# "I Was There" (

Gerry Goffin Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the US No.1 hits " Will You L ...

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billbo ...

) – 2:26 #* rec. January 18, 1969, rel. January 21, 1971 # "Evie" (

Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...

) – 3:09 # "Think About Things" (

Artie Butler Arthur Butler (born December 2, 1942) is an American arranger, composer, songwriter, and session musician. In a long career, he has been involved in numerous hit records and other recordings, and has been awarded over 60 gold and platinum album ...

, Jerry Fuller) – 2:56 #* above two rec. March 19, 1971, rel. April 15, 1971 # "If We Only Have Love" (

Eric Blau Milton Eric Blau (June 1, 1921 – February 17, 2009) was an author and is best known as the creator of the Off Broadway show ''Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris''. Biography Blau was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June ...

Jacques Brel Jacques Romain Georges Brel (; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world ...

Mort Shuman Mortimer Shuman (12 November 1938 – 2 November 1991) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including " Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as ...

) – 2:45 #* rec. July 8, 1971, rel. February 17, 1972 # "This Way Mary" from ''

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

'' (1971) ( Don Black, John Barry) – 3:13 #* rec. January 27, 1972, rel. February 17, 1972 # "Sometimes" (Felice Mancini, Henry Mancini) – 3:02 #* rec. February 11, 1972, rel. June 16, 1972 # "I" (

Jerry Fuller Jerrell Lee Fuller (November 19, 1938 – July 18, 2024) was an American songwriter, singer, and record producer, best known for writing several hit songs in the 1960s. Fuller toured as a featured singer with The Champs before leaving to serve i ...

, D'Arneill Pershing) – 3:05 #* rec. September 1972, rel. October 27, 1972 # "

Take Good Care of Her "Take Good Care of Her" is a 1961 song written by Arthur Kent and Ed Warren and recorded by Adam Wade. It reached number twenty on the R&B charts and number seven on the Hot 100. In the song, the narrator speaks to the groom of his ex-girlfrien ...

" (Arthur Kent, Ed Warren) – 3:01 # "Walking Tall" from '' Walking Tall'' (1973) (Don Black,

Walter Scharf Walter Scharf (August 1, 1910 – February 24, 2003) was an American musician, best known as a film, television and concert composer and arranger/conductor. Biography Broadway theatre Born in Manhattan, he was the son of Yiddish theatre comic Be ...

) – 3:34 #* above two rec. December 19, 1972, rel. January 19, 1973 # "Turn the Lights Down" (Jerry Fuller, Richard Littlefield) – 4:13 #* rec. September 22, 1976, rel. November 9, 1976 # "Christmas in the City of the Angels" (Suzy Elman; Arnold Goland; Jack Gold) – 2:50 # "The Very First Christmas Day" (Clark Gassman, Molly-Ann Leikin) – 3:07 #* above two rec. June 5, 1979, rel. November 8, 1979 # "

The Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also known by its incipit Our Father (, ), is a central Christian prayer attributed to Jesus. It contains petitions to God focused on God’s holiness, will, and kingdom, as well as human needs, with variations across manusc ...

" performed with

Gladys Knight & the Pips Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American Rhythm and blues, R&B, soul music, soul, and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early ...

(

Albert Hay Malotte Albert Hay Malotte (May 19, 1895 – November 16, 1964) was an American pianist, organist, composer and educator, best known for his musical setting of "The Lord's Prayer". Biography and career Malotte was the son of Charles and Katherine (Donav ...

) – 3:26 #* rec. May 21, 1979, rel. November 18, 1980 # " When a Child Is Born" performed with Gladys Knight & the Pips (Ciro Dammicco, Fred Jay) – 3:52 #* rec. April 23, 1979, rel. November 18, 1980 # "Nothing Between Us But Love" (

Ray Parker Jr. Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (born May 1, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo performer, he wrote and performed the theme song for the 1984 film '' Ghostbusters'' and also sounds from the animated series '' The ...

, Candy Parton) – 3:21 #* Single A-Side also included on '' The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''; rec. November 26, 1980, rel. June 19, 1981 # "It Doesn't Have to Hurt Every Time" (Jim Andron, Candy Parton) – 3:41 #* CD bonus track from '' The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''; rec. January 18, 1981, rel. June 19, 1981 # "

There! I've Said It Again "There! I've Said It Again" is a popular song written and published by Redd Evans and David Mann in 1941. In early 1945, Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra released Victor 20-1637, which reached the number one position on the Billboard's Natio ...

" (

Redd Evans Redd Evans (July 6, 1912 – August 29, 1972) was a lyricist whose songs have been recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, and many others. He may be best known for " There! I've Said It Again", a song that Bobby Vinton took to the top ...

, David Mann) – 2:46 #* CD bonus track from ''The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''; rec. November 26, 1980, rel. June 19, 1981 # "

Three Times a Lady "Three Times a Lady" is a 1978 song by American soul group Commodores for their album '' Natural High'', written by lead singer Lionel Richie. It was produced by James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores. It was Commodores' first number-one hit on ...

" (

Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recor ...

) – 4:15 #* CD bonus track from ''The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''; rec. March 5, 1980, rel. June 19, 1981 # "

The Way You Look Tonight "The Way You Look To-night" is a song from the film '' Swing Time'' that was performed by Fred Astaire and composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. Fields remarked, ...

" from ''

Swing Time In music, the term ''swing'' has two main uses. Colloquially, it is used to describe the propulsive quality or "feel" of a rhythm, especially when the music prompts a visceral response such as foot-tapping or head-nodding (see pulse). This sens ...

'' (1936) (

Dorothy Fields Dorothy Fields (July 15, 1904 – March 28, 1974) was an American librettist and lyricist. She wrote more than 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Her best-known pieces include " The Way You Look Tonight" (1936), "A Fine Romance" (193 ...

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

) – 3:17 #* CD bonus track from ''The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album''; rec. November 26, 1980, rel. June 19, 1981 ;Personnel *Robert Mersey – producer, conductor (track 1) *

– producer (tracks 2, 3, 5–10) *Jack Gold – producer (tracks 4, 11–19) *

Al Capps Allan Alfonzo Capps (April 26, 1939 – June 7, 2018) was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, he produced and arranged albums for popular artists such as Cher, A ...

– conductor (tracks 2, 3, 5) *D'Arneill Pershing – conductor (tracks 4, 6–9) *

Gene Page Eugene Edgar Page Jr. (September 13, 1939 – August 24, 1998) was an American conductor, composer, arranger and record producer, most active from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s. His sound can be heard in the arrangements he did for Jeffer ...

– conductor (tracks 10–19)

Additional personnel

Box set credits taken from the liner notes.

Singles

*Johnny Mathis – vocals

Box set

*Didier C. Deutsch – producer; liner notes *Mike Piacentini – producer; mastering *Jeff James – project A&R *Jim Lane – project director *Will McKinney – project director *Frank Harkins – art direction *Alice V. Butts – design *Sony Music Photo Archives – photography *Johnny Mathis – liner notes :*Mastered at Battery Studios,

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singles 2015 compilation albums Johnny Mathis compilation albums Columbia Records compilation albums