TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : COMPACT DISCS

“16 Most Requested Songs.” Johnny Mathis. Columbia. AAD. This collection of dreamy love songs, available only on CD, is strictly for Mathis fans. With that shimmering upper register, he’s arguably the best romantic balladeer of them all. Selections include “Chances Are,” “Misty” and “Small World.” Some schmaltzy movie themes, like “Where Do I Begin” from “Love Story,” clutter up the collection. Also, there’s one unfortunate omission--his great rendition of “As Time Goes By.” Because of the CD technology, these oldies have remarkable clarity. Mathis’ voice is unusually sharp, particularly on “Misty.”