The Great Years

The Great Years is a compilation album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released by Columbia Records in July 1964. Billboard magazine described the two-LP set, which included chart hits and album tracks, as "the best of Mathis".
The album made its first appearance on Billboard's Top LP's chart the following month, in the issue dated August 1, and peaked at number 88 over the course of 10 weeks.

Reception

Billboard opined that "Mathis fans should scream with delight upon discovering this 2-LP package."

"Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" – 3:54
*recorded on 4/6/56 for his debut album, Johnny Mathis
"Street of Dreams" – 2:17
*rec. 3/14/56 for Johnny Mathis
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" – 2:50
*rec. 9/20/56, released on 11/5/56; Most Played by Jockeys: #14
"It's Not for Me to Say" from Lizzie – 3:05
*rec. 9/20/56, rel. 2/25/57; Most Played by Jockeys: #5
"Chances Are" – 3:03
*rec. 6/16/57, rel. 8/12/57; Most Played by Jockeys: #1
"The Twelfth of Never" – 2:28
*rec. 6/16/57, rel. 8/12/57; B-side of "Chances Are"; Most Played by Jockeys: #9

;Personnel

George Avakian – producer
Al Ham – producer
Mitch Miller – producer
The labels on the singles of these tracks did not provide producer credits, but some CD compilations have. While all of these compilations acknowledge Mitch Miller as a producer on the tracks noted, the ones that credit Al Ham as an additional producer on certain songs disagree on which ones those are. The 2006 collection Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration only recognizes Ham as producer on "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "It's Not for Me to Say" but the 2004 collection The Essential Johnny Mathis also credits him in this capacity on "Chances Are" and "The Twelfth of Never".

"A Certain Smile" from A Certain Smile – 2:47
* rec. 5/12/58, rel. 6/2/58; Billboard Hot 100: #14
"Deep River" – 2:51
*rec. 1/3/58 for his album Good Night, Dear Lord
"Can't Get Out of This Mood" from Seven Days' Leave – 3:08
*rec. 5/15/58 for his album Swing Softly
"Misty" – 3:34
*rec. 4/21/59 for his album Heavenly; single rel. 9/59; Billboard Hot 100: #12
"Small World" from Gypsy – 3:18
* rec. 4/29/59, rel. 5/25/59; Billboard Hot 100: #20
"When I Fall in Love" – 4:31
*rec. 1958 for his 1959 album Open Fire, Two Guitars

;Personnel

"Maria" from West Side Story – 3:48
*rec. 11/6/59 for his album Faithfully; single rel. 5/60; Billboard Hot 100: #78; single rel. 11/61; Billboard Hot 100: #88
"Tonight" from West Side Story – 3:12
*rec. 11/6/59 for his album Faithfully
"How to Handle a Woman" from Camelot – 3:02
*rec. 10/27/60, rel. 11/7/60; Billboard Hot 100: #64
"Stairway to the Stars" – 4:51
*rec. 2/7/61 for his album I'll Buy You A Star
"Love Look Away" from Flower Drum Song – 3:28
*rec. 2/7/61 for his album I'll Buy You A Star
"Sweet Thursday" – 2:30
*rec. 10/9/61, rel. 12/29/61; Billboard Hot 100: #99

;Personnel

;Personnel