The Ultimate Hits Collection Review

07/13/2005 6:28 AM, AMG


The title may be a little presumptuous, but The Ultimate Hits Collection lives up to its billing. Spanning over 20 years, from Johnny Mathis' first entry on the charts ("Wonderful! Wonderful!") in 1957 to his last chart-topper ("Too Much, Too Little, Too Late") in 1978, the collection offers no less than 18 hits. Yes, there are some hits missing, such as the Top Ten singles "Gina" and "What Will Mary Say," but the majority of the heavy-hitters are here: "It's Not for Me to Say," "Chances Are," "The Twelfth of Never," "Wild Is the Wind," "A Certain Smile," "Misty" and "Maria." The original 1962 collection Johnny's Greatest Hits remains the definitive Mathis collection, but this is a good substitute, especially for listeners that want to hear songs released after 1962. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide