By Troy Carrington
Legacy Recordings celebrates Johnny Mathis’ 80th birthday (September 30) with the release of Johnny Mathis: The Singles, a definitive four-disc anthology. The set (released today) brings together for the first time every Johnny Mathis recording which was first issued for the singles market, as well as tracks released exclusively on compilations. Of the 87 tracks, 31 are being released on CD for the very first time. The anthology compiles every non-LP single side released between 1956 and 1981.
“Listening to this collection,” says Mathis, “not only was I amazed at how great it sounds, but I was being reminded of some songs I had totally forgotten. It is my greatest hope that my fans will share my enthusiasm.”
The openly gay singer is one of the longest-running artists on the Columbia Records label, with 17 million RIAA-certified album and singles sales in the U.S. alone. A sublime vocalist whose approach to pop music transcends passing fads and trends, the legendary crooner has performed songs in an incredible variety of styles and categories—from music composed for stage and film to golden-era jazz standards, contemporary pop hits, and holiday music both sacred and secular—assuring his reputation as one of the most enduring traditional pop vocalists in music history.
From Columbia Records (columbiarecords.com, johnnymathis.com).
