The Christmas Touch (1966)

About this title: More than a decade into his career, Johnny Tillotson's voice had improved noticeably, and this MGM Christmas LP -- it followed his final major hit, "Heartaches By the Number" -- is a surprisingly good effort of light MOR pop. The arrangements aren't revolutionary but clean and well-played, and Tillotson's voice is like crystal over these light shadings of guitar and female chorus. Highlights include an interesting place-dropping version of "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays," as well as a pair of his own compositions: "It's Not Christmas If You're Not Here" and "Christmas Is the ... read more

Tracks:

1. Winter Wonderland [Bernard/Smith]
2. It's Not Christmas If You're Not Here [Tillotson/Cosenza]
3. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays [Allen/Stillman]
4. Blue Christmas [Hayes/Johnson]
5. Jingle Bells [Pierpont]
6. Christmas Is the Best of All [Cosenza/Tillotson]
7. Christmas Country Style [Evans/Parnes]
8. I'll Be Home for Christmas [Gannon/Kent/Ram]
9. Mistletoe and Memories [Crane/Ross]
10. It's Christmas [Tannen]
11. Silver Bells [Livingston/Evans]
12. White Christmas [Berlin]
13. Pretty Paper [Nelson]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.