Sometimes a cover really attracts my attention, but then there are records like this one, where the cover is so bad I have to stop and wonder. What were they thinking? I've seen plenty of budget albums that skimped on cover photos or fonts or even colors, but this one is just blah. There's got to be a story here, but I'm sure we'll never get to hear it. I just want to keep picking it apart. The logo for the record company is the same size as the clip-art they've assembled to decorate the cover. The typeface and arrangement makes me think it's an advertisement for some sort of minstrel show or a vaudeville revival at The Palladium. The monochromatic color scheme is pretty cheap, too.
Robert Merrill & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-
Christmas Favorites (Melody Records (UK) ME-1001, Stereo, 1974). The scan is not very good and I did a poor job of color-correcting it back to the proper shades of white and green, so that part is on me. Maybe i can get a better scanner in the new year. Hard to find large flatbed scanner anymore.
1. Winter Wonderland
2. White Christmas
3. Joy To The World
4. An Old Fashion Christmas
5. Silent Night
6. Ave Maria
7. Holiday
8. Christmas Song
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. Birthday Party
11. I'll Be Home
12. Oh! Holy Night
MEGA
Well, it sounds way better than the cover would lead you to believe. Thanks
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad.
DeleteGiven the singer and orchestra, I assume that it was recorded around the same time as Merrill's recording for (American) London/[English] Decca of Verdi opera arias. You will probably come across it in a better-looking jacket one of these days.
DeleteHow spoiled we were for baritones in those days. Warren, Merrill, Bastianini, Taddei, Gobbi. They seemed to die out entirely, although the vocal category seems to be making a comeback. Sadly, I never heard Merrill in person, but I am reliably assured that his voice was not only mellifluous but also enormous, easily filling the Old Met.
Just seems odd that such an esteemed artist would show up on a budget recording like this.
DeleteThis is an odd one. Merrill was a well-known singer, but here he is with a London orchestra and no (named) conductor on an unknown label in 1974.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a budget thing. Probably a story here...
DeleteThe vaudeville shows at the Palladium have been such a disappointment lately.
ReplyDeleteVaudeville died a long time ago...
DeleteRadio killed the vaudeville star...
DeleteWell Ernie for me I really enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteDown with the remaining Christmas door displays.
Up with the beginning of the Valentine Day door displays. More work to do on this.
(soon it will be Easter door displays.)
So, this album, for whatever reason, hit my senses just right.
I have heard his name, but I am too lazy right now to look him up :-(.
I'm guessing you don't celebrate MLK Day there in Germany. ;)
Delete