The Ultimate Hits Collection
Compilation album by
Johnny Mathis
ReleasedApril 21, 1998[1]
Recorded1956–1986
Genre
Length57:18
LabelColumbia
Johnny Mathis chronology
All About Love
(1996) 		The Ultimate Hits Collection
(1998) 		Because You Loved Me: The Songs of Diane Warren
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]

The Ultimate Hits Collection is a compilation album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released in 1998 by Columbia Records. In addition to offering several hit singles, the collection includes the first release of "Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)", a song that was originally recorded for his 1986 collaboration with Henry Mancini, The Hollywood Musicals, but not included in the final track selection.[3]

Reception

In giving a grade of A− to the compilation, Robert Christgau is especially fond of "Wonderful! Wonderful!", "It's Not for Me to Say", "Chances Are", "The Twelfth of Never", and "Wild Is the Wind", noting that "those five songs are the substance of Mathis's legend and legacy. Poised on the cusp of black and white, masculine and feminine, they projected an image of egoless tenderness, an irresistible breath of sensuality."[2]

In addition to receiving a five-star rating from AllMusic, this release has also been designated by the site as an Album Pick.[1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wonderful! Wonderful!"Sherman Edwards, Ben Raleigh2:50
2."It's Not for Me to Say"Robert Allen, Al Stillman3:05
3."When Sunny Gets Blue"Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal2:41
4."Chances Are"Robert Allen, Al Stillman3:03
5."The Twelfth of Never"Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster2:28
6."Wild Is the Wind"Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington2:26
7."A Certain Smile"Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster2:47
8."Misty"Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner3:34
9."Maria"Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim3:45
10."Stranger in Paradise"Alexander Borodin, Robert Wright, George Forrest5:53
11."Stardust"Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish3:27
12."The Sweetheart Tree"Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer2:11
13."Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet (A Time for Us)"Larry Kusik, Nino Rota, Eddie Snyder2:58
14."I'm Coming Home"Thom Bell, Linda Creed3:24
15."Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" (performed with Deniece Williams)Nat Kipner, John Vallins2:59
16."Friends in Love" (performed with Dionne Warwick)Bill Champlin, David Foster, Jay Graydon4:03
17."Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)"Ary Barroso, Bob Russell4:13
18."99 Miles from L.A." (live)Hal David, Albert Hammond3:35

Personnel

Compilation[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "The Ultimate Hits Collection - Johnny Mathis". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Johnny Mathis". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b (1998) The Ultimate Hits Collection by Johnny Mathis [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records CK-65540.
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