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Title: Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
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joliom
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(Date Posted:03/17/2012 21:34)

Can anyone tell me when the Robert Shaw Chorale's "A Festival of Carols" album was originally released?
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/17/2012 23:42)


This release, A Festival Of Carols, is not an original album, but rather a compilation that was released by RCA in 1987.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/18/2012 07:47)

Thanks, Chip.  I had no idea that it wasn't an original album.  I'll have to see if I can figure out the release dates of all the songs so I can catalog it in my database.



(Message edited by joliom On 03/18/2012 07:48)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/18/2012 12:00)


The songs on the 1987 compilation CD are from two LPs: the 1957 stereo re-recording LP of Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 and the 1963 LP The Many Moods Of Christmas.

From the 1957 LP are selections
2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14; and from the 1963 LP are selections 1, 6, 10 and 15.


 



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/18/2012 21:21)

Thanks once again for the astute info, Chip.  Just curious, but when was "Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 1" originally released (in mono)?

(Message edited by joliom On 03/18/2012 21:25)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/19/2012 01:26)


Robert Shaw's first Christmas album, Christmas Hymns And Carols, has a long history. The tracks for the original Mono release were recorded in late 1945 and mid 1946. They were recorded on lacquer discs, as professional quality analog magnetic tape systems were not in production in this country at that time. The recordings were issued to the public in 1946 as a 78-rpm 4-disc set entitled Christmas Hymns And Carols (catalog #M-1077). Three years later, in 1949, RCA also released the recordings as a 45-rpm 4-disc set with the same artwork (catalog #WMO-1077). Then, in 1950, the original 1946 lacquer disc masters were transferred to analog magnetic tape. This transfer enabled RCA to then release the recordings on a 12" LP (catalog #LM-1112). By the way, this 1950 LP release had the same artwork as the previously released 78-rpm and 45-rpm disc sets. Then, two years later, in 1952, Mr. Shaw recorded a second volume of carols and it was entitled, Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2 (catalog #LM-1711). And as a result of this second volume of carols, two years later, in 1954, RCA re-released the first album with a "Volume 1" designation, hence Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1. Along with a different title, the 1954 LP reissue also sported a different cover than the original 1946, 1949 and 1950 releases. Finally, in 1957, Mr. Shaw re-recorded the first volume of carols in Stereo and it was released by RCA with the same title but yet another different cover (catalog #LSC-2139) (see picture in my previous post). One last thing: as was common practice in those years, RCA also offered a Mono version of the Stereo recording for the folks that didn't yet have Stereophonic equipment; and that catalog number was #LM-2139.

The first picture posted below is the original cover artwork that was used for the 1946 78-rpm release, the 1949 45-rpm release and the 1950 12" LP release. The second picture posted below is the artwork that was used for the 1954 12" LP reissue, which was the very first to sport the "Volume 1" designation (it's in very small blue letters underneath the main title).








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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/19/2012 02:52)

Seriously, Chip, how do you know all this stuff?  You're like a Christmas music savant.

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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/19/2012 13:30)


Thanks Joliom. My knowledge essentially comes from 40 years of collecting
and an abiding love and passion for Christmas music.

By the way, since I have pretty much laid down the complete history of Robert Shaw's RCA Christmas album releases in my last two posts, I think it only proper to complete the cycle for anyone who might have questions about these recordings in the future. So here goes...

Subsequent to the release of the re-recorded Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 in 1957, RCA reissued the original Mono version of the album on its budget Camden label in 1958 with the title Joy To The World (catalog #CAL-448). They also began to offer it
with electronically enhanced/re-channeled (simulated) Stereo (catalog #CAS-448). Then, in 1964, RCA reissued the album again with the same title but a different cover (same catalog numbers). Finally, in 1977, RCA leased the rights for the album to Pickwick Records and it was released with the same title but yet another different cover (only the simulated Stereo version was offered and it had same catalog number). Posted below are the album covers for the 1958, 1964 and 1977 reissues.


   


And lastly, just for the record (no pun intended), is the album cover for the Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2 LP that was released in 1952.






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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/21/2012 21:17)

Wow, totally amazing the information that Chip has on these recordings.

So let me see if I got this right:

If you want The Robert Shaw Chorale – “Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1” which is listed at number 26 on Chip's Top 300 Christmas Album Hit Parade, then you should purchase the 1957 stereo release.  That is easy enough.

If you want the original mono version that was recorded in 1945 and 1946 that comes in at number 135 on Chip's Top 300, then you can purchase the 1946 78 set, the 1949 45 set or the 1950 LP, all sans "Volume 1."  Of course, if you want the phrase "Volume 1" on your mono set, you can purchase the 1954 LP.  Having trouble finding any of those records?  More interested in the music rather than how the album was labeled?  How about getting the "Joy to the World" LP in the 1958 version?  No?  How about the 1964 version?  No again?  Well, there is also the 1977 version too.  Just make sure that you get the mono versions of the 1958, 1964 and 1977 LPs and not the stereo LP issues because these particular stereo LP issues were never actually recorded in stereo even though they were released in stereo.  You did want the mono ones, right?  So why were you even looking at the stereo ones?  Gee wiz, people!

Oh, I forgot to mention that you do not want to get the 1957 version in mono because that is the version that was actually recorded in stereo.  Even though the songs are the same as the 1946, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1964 and 1977 releases, it is a different recording altogether.  To keep things simple, just remember that mono is always mono even if it is actually stereo released in mono and stereo is most certainly always stereo unless it is mono released in stereo in which case it is simulated or re-channeled stereo (though it won't be listed as that on the album cover.)  Understand?

Of course, if you want the "Christmas Hymns and Carols, Volume 2" LP that comes in at number 251 on Chip's Top 300, there is only the 1952 LP that was issued in mono, so no need to get confused about this one.

I really don't think that this could be any easier and I surely don't know why anyone would get confused pouring over these LPs in a record shop.  It is all so obvious and quite intuative, even to the most casual observer.  Heck, I'm not even sure why Chip felt the need to explain any of this.

If you happen to discover that you are a bit thick headed (as I find myself to be from time to time,) then you just have to memorize all five of the album covers associated with the actual mono releases of the mono recordings and not even get involved with the mono release of the stereo recordings that you shouldn't be purchasing or even looking at because you want the stereo issue of the strero recordings and the mono releases of the mono recordings.  Easy as pie and Bob's your Uncle!



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/22/2012 02:18)


I was reticent to add this because I didn't want to confuse folks out there any more than they might be already, but there are actually three distinct differences between the original 1945/1946 Mono recording of Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 and the later 1957 Stereo re-recording.

First of all, the performances of the carols on the 1957 Stereo re-recording frequently contain more verses than were present on the original 1945/1946 Mono recording. And as a result, the second difference is that there are two fewer carols on the 1957 Stereo re-recording
: Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming and I Sing Of A Maiden. The third and final difference is that the order of songs in several of the medleys is different on the Stereo re-recording.

After having said all this, the bottom line is that the 1957 Stereo re-recording is not only superior technologically to the 1945/1946 recordings because of the Stereo, it is also by far artistically superior as well. In fact, the reason why Bob Shaw decided to re-record the album to begin with is because in his opinion the original 1945/1946 recordings were "primitively done."

Truly I tell you that the result of the 1957 re-recording is a sheer masterpiece of a choral Christmas music.


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/22/2012 13:20)

Wow Chip  this is fantastic.

As a kid I grew up listening to the "Joy to the World" version of the Robert Shaw Chorale (the red cover with the nativity set ) so this was late 50s early 60s.   It was the LP that really opened my eyes to all the great Christmas music out there other than Jingle Bells   etc.    With  Pat a Pan,  Lo How a Rose,  etc.   My sister and I wore the grooves out of that LP.

I have since collected a bunch of the Robert Shaw LPs from the 78 version on and figured they were all from the same Master Recording in 1945 but I am pleased to see that the 1957 is really a new master of the Robert Shaw Chorale.   I am not sure if I ever kept that version or just sluffed it off as just more of the same,   but now I have a mission to find that one again.

Just to add a little confusion to the issue here is what my
Christmas Hymns and Carols Vol 2  LP cover looks like



Strangley a lot like the 1945 78 rpm version and the fist un volume labeled version  which is below
And yes my 78 rpm cover looks like it is taken thru all the coal fired furnace smoke shown in the picture.





(Message edited by Steve_OGO On 03/22/2012 14:52)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/22/2012 22:02)


Thanks for posting that Volume 2 image, Steve. That was a revelation to me and pretty much completes the history of Robert Shaw's RCA Christmas releases.

From the image you posted, it's clear that when RCA first released Volume 2 in 1952, they did so with the same cover artwork as the first album and just added a "Volume 2" designation. Then, in 1954, when RCA changed the cover artwork for Volume 1, they also changed the cover artwork for Volume 2. Hence, the copy of Volume 2 that you have was only manufactured for 2 years. Thanks again; it's always nice to learn something new.

And yes, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of the 1957 Stereo re-recording of Volume 1; you will not be disappointed. In his previous post, Perry referred to where these albums stand in my
Top 300, but just to recap, I'll post it for everyone below.

Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 (1957 stereo re-recording): 1st Tier (album #26)

Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 (original mono recording): 2nd Tier (album #135)

The Many Moods Of Christmas: 2nd Tier (album #136)
Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2: 3rd Tier (album #251)


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/23/2012 05:57)

I do not know why I did not notice it before but I was just going back and looking at the two covers I posted,  the old cover from the 1945 or so  78 RPM   Album  and then the one for Vol II.

Lots of small differences in the pictures  mostly due to cropping and the changing of all the little words around the LP   but one caught my eye,   the name of the group performing.

On Volume II in the title block it is the Robert Shaw Chorale.   On the 78 the credits are different  its the
 Victor Chorale   with Robert Shaw Directing.       Not earth shattering but interesting.


Edited later:    While looking down the list at the 45rpm version of Christmas Hymns and Carols   (volume 1 but not called that on the LP)  it has the same graphics as my version of Vol 2 and the 78rpm album,  but in the title box they are not called the RCA Victor Chorale .    Very Interesting.   I thought what I read in the Wiki and other bios of Robert Shaw that they were called the Robert Shaw Chorale almost from the beginning .    I guess RCA did not think so.


(Message edited by Steve_OGO On 03/23/2012 13:23)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/23/2012 21:13)


Steve,

This is yet another subject that I was reticent to get into because I didn't want to confuse the situation with Robert Shaw's early Christmas album releases any further, but since you have brought it up, it is now necessary to explain this anomaly.

The reason why the original cover artwork was billed as the RCA Victor Chorale is because the songs for the album were recorded in late 1945 and early 1946, and Mr. Shaw did not formally organize the Robert Shaw Chorale until 1948. So the reason why the original billing on the first album was the RCA Victor Chorale is simple, but to explain it properly I have to start at the beginning. Here we go...

In 1937, the great bandleader Fred Waring discovered Robert Shaw while he was still a student at Pomona College in California. Mr. Waring and his group, The Pennsylvanians, were at the college at the time filming the 1937 Warner Bros. motion picture, Varsity Show. Mr. Waring was quite taken with the work the young Robert Shaw was doing as director of the school's glee club. So upon graduating in 1938, Robert Shaw was hired by Mr. Waring to organize and train a new spinoff of the Pennsylvanians: a men's glee club. In 1941, while he was still a member of the Pennsylvanians, Robert Shaw organized the amateur group The Collegiate Chorale (this was a forerunner of the later Robert Shaw Chorale). Then, in 1945, upon leaving Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, Mr. Shaw signed a contract with RCA Records. Among his first recordings for RCA were a collection of Christmas songs that were recorded in late 1945 and early 1946. These 1945 and 1946 recordings collectively were formally issued to the public for purchase in late 1946 as Christmas Hymns And Carols. The initial billing was the RCA Victor Chorale. However, because of his increasing success and popularity with the public, Mr. Shaw formally organized The Robert Shaw Chorale here in New York in 1948. Subsequent to its formal founding, and out of respect to Robert Shaw, RCA later changed the billing on Mr. Shaw's album releases to The Robert Shaw Chorale.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/24/2012 13:18)

Thanks again Chip   I am again in awe of the knowledge and the explanation.

That is great info,  particularly the Fred Waring tie in.

There is still one detail that may mean nothing but the 78 rpm version of this music which I assume was the 1946 release,    that I showed the album cover for,    they are called the Victor Chorale,    on the later LP releases they are called the RCA Victor Chorale.     Is there any logic or explanation to that or was it just a way to get the RCA  logo more in front of the customer? The 78 RPM version that I have has the RCA logo all over it so they were touting the RCA  name in 1946.   Or is that just one of those anomalies of the art department?


(Message edited by Steve_OGO On 03/24/2012 13:21)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/24/2012 14:26)


Steve,

I didn't think it was necessary to explain this because I thought it was self-evident, but Victor Chorale and  RCA Victor Chorale are one and the same. RCA initially used the name Victor Chorale for the billing on the 1946 78-rpm release; then, in 1949, with the release of the 45-rpm set, they added the "RCA" prefix to the billing, hence RCA Victor Chorale. Also, in case you're wondering, the 1950 12" LP release of the album also used the billing RCA Victor Chorale. And yes, it was just an additional way for RCA to brand their name. The first time RCA used the billing of "The Robert Shaw Chorale" was in 1952, with the release of Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2. Then, in 1954, when RCA repackaged and reissued Volume 1 with the new cover, they changed the billing name from RCA Victor Chorale to The Robert Shaw Chorale.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/25/2012 18:45)

Thanks again  for the hierarchy of their  (Robert Shaw Chorale)  name in early years 

(Message edited by Steve_OGO On 03/25/2012 18:46)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/26/2012 01:14)


My pleasure Steve, I'm always happy to help.

As you can see from my previous posts on this thread, the release history of Robert Shaw's Christmas recordings is very complex and confusing and can be quite difficult for most folks to comprehend
, as it is a crazy and complicated story with lots of twists and turns. That's why I'm usually reluctant to go into too much detail when asked about his releases and only provide the information that specifically pertains to the question that I'm being asked. But since you wanted to know, I gave you the whole kit and caboodle.

By the way, the confusing release history regarding Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 actually presented quite a challenge to me on my website's Yule Log discography page. This was because songs #20, #23 and #34 are from the 1957 Stereo re-recording of the LP. And since I always show the original Mono release year of a Stereo re-recording, I had to make a decision as to what year to show for the original Mono recording. In the end, I decided to show it as 1954, only because that was the first year that RCA actually released the Mono version with the "Volume 1" designation in the title and the proper billing name of "The Robert Shaw Chorale." It was simply that title for title match and proper billing name that made me come to that decision, but I've never been fully comfortable with it. However, to list it as 1946 when the 78-rpm set was released, or 1949 when the 45-rpm set was released, or even 1950 when the first 12" LP was released (all without the "Volume 1" designation and proper billing name of "The Robert Shaw Chorale") would in my opinion just create too much confusion.

One last thing: in my Christmas LP notes that I have compiled for my collection over these last 40 years, I found yet additional information about the 1945 and 1946 recording sessions for the original Mono version of the album. The exact recording dates in 1945 and 1946 were as follows: Thursday, December 6, 1945 (first session); Saturday, December 8, 1945 (second session); and Wednesday, June 5, 1946 (third session).



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/29/2012 18:58)

Yeowza Chip!

I know a few Music Librarians who would love to "Vulcan Mind Meld" with you.

As always, the most informative blog on the internet. You simply can not exit "The Yule Log.com" without learning something new.

Best Wishes,
Diane
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:03/30/2012 06:06)

Even though my original question was answered several posts ago, I've been following the rest of this discussion with great interest.  I had no idea Robert Shaw was discovered by Fred Waring - cool piece of trivia.
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:04/20/2012 14:34)

Just as a short note and follow up to this thread. 

Chip I just found the 1957  Christmas Hymns and Carols  by Robert Shaw Chorale at a local thrift store.
I am listening to it now,   it was 79 cents well spent.

Your  recommendation is right on,  it is nice,   different song order but still the same great sound and arrangements and technically much better.   Wow.  Thanks for the recommendation.
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:04/20/2012 17:30)


You're very welcome, Steve. Glad you picked the album up. I knew you wouldn't be disappointed.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:12/31/2012 05:19)

Are the mono or stereo versions of Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 1 or Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 2 available on CD anywhere?  I see that there's a 1994 Telarc CD in print called Songs of Angels: Christmas Hymns and Carols, but it says that it's with the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers not the Robert Shaw Chorale.

(Message edited by joliom On 12/31/2012 05:20)
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:12/31/2012 09:12)

The only remaining question (for me, anyway) is why Mr. Shaw and company never re-recorded Vol. 2 in stereo like they did for Vol. 1?


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:12/31/2012 14:18)


No; neither the original mono nor the later re-recorded stereo versions of Robert Shaw's Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 is in print on CD; although both were at one time.

As for Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2, it has never been released on CD before. As for the reason why Robert Shaw never re-recorded a stereo version of Volume 2, it's simply because it was not near as good a seller as Volume 1.

The rankings of the two albums in my
Top 300 pretty much says it all: Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 is in the 1st Tier of my Top 300, coming in at #26; and Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 2 is in the 3rd Tier of my Top 300, coming in at #251.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/11/2013 03:42)

Chip, in post #9 you mention that in addition to the medleys containing extra verses and being ordered differently on the 1959 re-recorded version of Christmas Hymns and Carols, Vol. 1, that two songs ("Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" and "I Sing of a Maiden") were dropped completely.  On the A Festival of Carols compilation CD "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" is included in stereo as track 13.  What album does that come from?  Was it recorded with the rest of the material for the 1959 stereo re-recording but left unreleased?  Or is that a re-recording from some other time?
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/11/2013 13:58)


Joliom,

The stereo re-recording of Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1 was done in 1957, not 1959 as you had mentioned in your previous post.

And yes, the stereo re-recording of Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming was done during the same 1957 recording sessions as the rest of the album but not used on the final released stereo LP.


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/11/2013 16:43)

I wonder why they dropped it?  I notice that those two songs are on the mono version of the 1957 album (LM 2139), so it doesn't seem like record space was the issue.
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/11/2013 23:05)


Joliom,

I was skeptical about what you said; so earlier today I went to my archives (which is kept offsite from my home) to retrieve and check my copy of LM-2139, and sure enough the 2 songs are there. In over 40 years of collecting I never noticed this anomaly.

There is only one plausible explanation that I can think of as to why RCA Records would have not included the 2 songs on the stereo disc: in 1957, when they acquired their first Westrex cutting head for the mass production of stereo LPs, they were probably limited by the number of minutes they could fit onto a stereo LP disc. There really could be no other possible explanation in my opinion. However, I will consult with a preeminent expert on Robert Shaw who is a friend of mine, Paul J. Weber, and see if he can offer any other possible explanation.

I'll report back on this thread.

Stand by...


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/15/2013 00:56)


To follow up on my previous post, I spoke with Paul and not only didn't he have a clue as to why RCA Records didn't include the two songs on LSC-2139, he, like me, wasn't even aware that the two songs had been included on LM-2139. In fact, everyone I know who is an authority on the Robert Shaw Chorale, including Susan Chance-Rainwater, was not aware of the anomaly of the discrepancy between the mono and stereo versions of the 1957 re-recording. And according to Paul, it had nothing to do with a limitation of space on the stereo disc. So there goes my only possible theory.

As a result, neither he, nor I, can offer any reasonable or rational explanation as to why the hell RCA Records did this -- it's very, very strange indeed. It's also very frustrating because there seems to be no justifiable reason why the entire LP couldn't have been offered in its entirety and full glorious splendor on the stereo disc LSC-2139.

Oy vey...



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/18/2013 06:31)

Chip, I was just looking at my 1994 RCA/BMG Direct CD copy of the 2 CD set, Christmas With The Robert Shaw Chorale, and it appears that they used the stereo re-recording of Christmas Hyms And Carols Volume 1 because, as you had said in youe earlier posts it is missing the 2 songs you had mentioned before. You said that the original mono version was released on CD but it is now long out of print. Was it an import or did RCA here in the U.S. release it? Would you have a link to Amazon (if there is one) to some one who might be selling a CD copy of the original mono version? Thanks.
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/18/2013 23:14)


Jerry,

Yes, for the 1994 2-CD set RCA used the 1957 stereo re-recording of Christmas Hymns And Carols, Volume 1.

As for the CD release of the original mono version of the album, it was released twice by RCA under its retitled Camden Records LP reissue name of Joy To The World.

The first CD release was in 1987 with the 1964 Camden LP artwork; and the second CD release was in 2000 with entirely new artwork. Both are now out-of-print; however, new and used copies of the latter CD are available on Amazon, but they're not cheap:
click here.


  


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/20/2013 09:30)

Well that's a surprise to me because I had purchased 2 different CD copies of Joy To The World (one with Robert Shaw on the cover and the other with an entirely different cover without Mr. Shaw) years ago when they were much cheaper to buy. Thanks for the information, Chip. How about that. I had the mono version all along.
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/20/2013 18:31)


You're welcome, Jerry. Glad to hear you already have the CDs in your collection. These CDs are among so many that I purchased so inexpensively over the years and are now going for big bucks on Amazon and eBay. If I ever were to sell them, I could make quite a handsome profit; but, of course, being the collector I am, that will never happen. I didn't buy them as an investment, but rather for the love of the music.



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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/27/2013 04:09)

Stupid question, but...the carols featured on Christmas Hymns and Carols were medley'ed together, right (8 individual medleys or "books")?  I ask because I just picked up a copy of the 1994 CD Christmas with The Robert Shaw Chorale and noticed that they are all presented as separate tracks (with breaks in between them).  Is that something they just did for the CD, or is it like that on the 1957 LP as well?
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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/27/2013 05:09)


The 1994 RCA CD is an exact replica of the original 1957 stereo LP.

The songs were all recorded individually, then just grouped together in 8 blocks, or as it's referred to on the LP album jacket, "bands." There is approximately 4 seconds between each song.


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RE:Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival of Carols
(Date Posted:01/27/2013 13:08)

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Chip.  I was confused why they would break up all the medleys like that; it seemed kind of sacrilegious to me.  Good to know nothing was messed with.
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