joys.net

Mark Andrew Lawrence "Theatre Reviewer" says:

A complete Christmas Concert In 1963 Reader’s Digest issued a Christmas album that blasted every other Christmas record out of the water. And I mean blasted. With spectacular arrangements by Charles Gerhardt, the 4 record set covered traditional carols, popular Christmas songs arranged into a sparkling orchestral suite, six carols arranged for Brass, organ and carillon, selections from Handel’s MESSIAH, and a selection of ten German carols beacked by ten French carols. Some editions in the U.S. replaced the German and French Carol programs with another record called Carols We All Know and Love featuring the Ambrosian Singers.Four (4) Lp records for $7.99 ($1 more if you wanted stereo.) The album was titled JOYOUS MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS TIME, and indeed it was.This album was available every year until 1973 and eventually sold over a million copies and can still be found for sale in used record stores and on E-bay – usually the copies are well worn from having been played so often.Sadly Reader’s Digest Music has not seen fit to transfer the entire program to CD.Instead collectors must track down the material scattered over several CD’s released by Reader’s Digest and some released by Sony Music Special Products. The German and French carols have never been released on CD.RECORD ONE, SIDE 1Joy to the WorldO Little Town of BethlehemDeck the HallsAway in a MangerGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenAngels We Have Heard on High-These tracks are all available on RECORD ONE, SIDE 2:O Come All Ye Faithful-available on **Be sure to get the 3-disc set. A later 2-CD reissue drops several tracksWe Three Kings-available on Joyous Christmas (see link above)The Twelve Days of ChristmasO Holy Night-available on The Joy of Christmas (see link above)It Came Upon a Midnight ClearHark! The Herald Angels Sing-available on RECORD TWO, Side OneChristmas Suite for Orchestra (Richard Benson)-available on RECORD TWO, Side TwoThe First Noel-available on Good King Wenceslas-available on The Joy of Christmas (see link above)Ave MariaO Come O Come EmanuelChristmas is Coming-available on Carol of the Bells-available on Joy to the World (See above with Christmas Suite)RECORD THREE – Highlights from Handel’s Messiah is available on RECORD FOUR, Side 1 German Carols & Side 2 French Carols have never been issued on CD. Possibly because many U.S. buyers objected to having carols that were not sung in English, RD substituted an alternate Record Four featuring 16 carols sung in English by the Ambrosian Singers.The record featuring French and German carols was only found in the U.S. editions with catalog number RD 45M. (It was part of the Canadian and U.K. releases.)In alternate versions of the set with catalog number RD 22K (featuring the same cover art but packaged as a slipcase inside an outer box) Record Four was Carols We All Know and Love. These tracks can be found on a few discs: 13 of the 16 tracks are on Christmas Splendor. The other 3 (if you really need them) can be found on other collectionsSilent Night-available on Hometown Christmas 1 (see above on Record 1)Here We Come A-Wassailing (The Wassail Song)What Child is This?-available on I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day-available on The Birthday of a KingGood Christian Men RejoiceAngels from the Realms of Glory-available on Christmas Splendor (see above)O Christmas Tree-available on Signature Series: Hometown Christmas 1 (see above under Record One)I Saw Three ShipsO Come Little ChildrenWhile Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By NightThe Holy and the IvyO SanctissimaBreak Forth O Beauteous Heav’nly LightOnce in Royal David’s CityWe Wish You a Merry Christmas-available on Christmas…