Merry Christmas (Johnny Mathis album)
Encyclopedia
Merry Christmas is the seventh album and first Christmas album
by singer Johnny Mathis
. Released in 1958 by Columbia Records (CL 1195/CS 8021), it was also the sixth original studio album by the singer.
The album ranks highly among the many holiday albums released throughout the years due to its skillful blend of traditional Christmas carols ("Silent Night, Holy Night", "O Holy Night
" and "The First Noel
") with popular Christmas songs ("The Christmas Song
", "White Christmas
" and "Silver Bells"). As with a number of Mathis's previous albums, Percy Faith
provided the album's musical direction.
In the first flush of his success, Mathis offered a safe popular music alternative to rock 'n' roll rebelliousness of Elvis Presley
, also in the first flush of his success and born in the same year as Mathis. On this album, Mathis tries his hand at a Christmas song associated with Presley, "Blue Christmas
".
album sales chart in 1959, the year following its release, and peaked again at number 10 in 1960 and at number 12 in 1962. The album also spawned a hit single, "Winter Wonderland
", that peaked at number 17 on the UK singles charts in 1958.
describes Mathis as "the king of Christmas" in the banter at the outset of the Mathis/Midler duet "Winter Wonderland
/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (from Midler's 2006 holiday album Cool Yule
), a fitting tribute given his many best-selling holiday albums. He has recorded five holiday albums to date:
Christmas Album
Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album , a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb Alpert album), a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb...
by singer Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. Released in 1958 by Columbia Records (CL 1195/CS 8021), it was also the sixth original studio album by the singer.
The album ranks highly among the many holiday albums released throughout the years due to its skillful blend of traditional Christmas carols ("Silent Night, Holy Night", "O Holy Night
O Holy Night
"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" and "The First Noel
The First Noël
The First Nowell is a traditional classical English carol, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier...
") with popular Christmas songs ("The Christmas Song
The Christmas Song
"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
", "White Christmas
White Christmas
A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere...
" and "Silver Bells"). As with a number of Mathis's previous albums, Percy Faith
Percy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
provided the album's musical direction.
In the first flush of his success, Mathis offered a safe popular music alternative to rock 'n' roll rebelliousness of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, also in the first flush of his success and born in the same year as Mathis. On this album, Mathis tries his hand at a Christmas song associated with Presley, "Blue Christmas
Blue Christmas
"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. The heart-broken tale of unrequited love during the holidays had long been considered a Christmas staple of country music, having been recorded first by Doye O'Dell in 1948 and popularised by Ernest Tubb the next year...
".
Track listing
- "Winter WonderlandWinter Wonderland"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
" – 3:19 - "The Christmas SongThe Christmas Song"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
" – 4:18 - "Sleigh RideSleigh Ride"Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person,...
" – 2:58 - "Blue ChristmasBlue Christmas"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. The heart-broken tale of unrequited love during the holidays had long been considered a Christmas staple of country music, having been recorded first by Doye O'Dell in 1948 and popularised by Ernest Tubb the next year...
" – 3:02 - "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – 4:04
- "White ChristmasWhite ChristmasA white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere...
" – 3:32 - "O Holy NightO Holy Night"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau , a wine merchant and poet, who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem...
" – 4:35 - "What Child Is This?What Child Is This?"What Child Is This?" is a popular Christmas carol written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression...
(GreensleevesGreensleeves"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song and tune, a ground of the form called a romanesca.A broadside ballad by this name was registered at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580 as "A New Northern Dittye of the Lady Greene Sleeves". It then appears in the surviving A Handful of...
)" – 3:58 - "The First NoelThe First NoëlThe First Nowell is a traditional classical English carol, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier...
" – 3:49 - "Silver Bells" – 3:34
- "It Came Upon A Midnight ClearIt Came upon a Midnight Clear"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" is a poem and Christmas carol written by Edmund Sears, pastor of the Unitarian Church in Lancaster, Massachusetts...
" – 3:08 - "Silent Night, Holy Night" – 3:51
Billboard Album Chart
Continuing his run of highly successful albums, this album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album sales chart in 1959, the year following its release, and peaked again at number 10 in 1960 and at number 12 in 1962. The album also spawned a hit single, "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
", that peaked at number 17 on the UK singles charts in 1958.
Johnny Mathis Christmas Albums
Bette MidlerBette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
describes Mathis as "the king of Christmas" in the banter at the outset of the Mathis/Midler duet "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (from Midler's 2006 holiday album Cool Yule
Cool Yule
Cool Yule is a holiday album by Bette Midler released on October 10, 2006. The album features many Christmas tunes as well as a reworking of her Grammy-winning hit "From a Distance"....
), a fitting tribute given his many best-selling holiday albums. He has recorded five holiday albums to date:
| Album Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Merry Christmas | 1958 |
| Sounds of Christmas Sounds of Christmas Sounds of Christmas is the twenty first album released by vocalist Johnny Mathis. It was his seventeenth original studio album with four compilations of hit singles having been released by the singer to this point... |
1963 |
| Give Me Your Love For Christmas Give Me Your Love for Christmas Give Me Your Love for Christmas is the thirty first original studio album released by vocalist Johnny Mathis and his third album devoted to holiday music.-Overview:... |
1969 |
| Christmas Eve With Johnny Mathis | 1986 |
| The Christmas Album | 2002 |
External links
- [ All Music Review]