Overview
After a highly successful career as a recording artist with Columbia Records from 1956 to 1963, Johnny Mathis changed affiliations and moved to Mercury Records for which he recorded exclusively from 1963 to 1967, releasing 10 studio albums and 13 singles. The change was motivated by a desire for greater control over his recordings including owning the masters. This album was the first to be recorded and released by the singer for Mercury.
As with Mathis' final studio albums for Columbia, Don Costa provided the album's musical direction. The album works well as a sequel to his previous Christmas collection, Merry Christmas, as it also seamlessly blends traditional Christmas carols ("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen") with classical musical ("Hallelujah Chorus") and popular Christmas songs ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer").
In 1971, Columbia Records reissued the album as Christmas with Johnny Mathis on their budget Harmony Records imprint, with different cover art and omitting two songs ("The Little Drummer Boy" and "Have Reindeer, Will Travel") from the original lineup. This incarnation of the album was later reissued on compact disc.
Read more about this topic: Sounds Of Christmas