Super Salvation Saturday-Bonus 3

This is the third new addition to the Army of Stars series that I shared out with you over a full Saturday a few weeks ago. And this is also the only new one that I sort of doubled up on. When I found this one in the boxes at Bananas in St. Pete, there were two copies. I pulled this record out of it's sleeve and the label matched the sleeve as expected. I opened the other one up and the label did not match the sleeve, it had vinyl from a different year inside of it. I still bought it thinking the vinyl had the music for another year that I needed, and it was better to have the music and no sleeve than to have the sleeve and no music. But when I got it home, I discovered that the vinyl I had bought was a duplicate of something I already had, I just didn't recognize it because I didn't have the sleeve to look at. Anyhow, I still came home with this new addition to the collection. This is Special Christmas Program (Salvation Army, Army Of Stars, Western Territorial Headquarters, Public Relations Department, CPM-122589, Mono, 1967). Speaking of not being correct, the track list on the back on the sleeve did not appear to match what was on the vinyl. The listing from the labels was a closer match, so if you're looking closely at the scans I've included in the downloads, you might find a few discrepancies. I did my best to match everything up.

Before we jump to the track list and download link, I'd like to welcome back my buddy Buster from Big 10-Inch Record with his stellar commentary about this record. As I keep saying, you need to be visiting his place all year long, not just at Christmas. He's always got something interesting to share, and the commentary is pretty amazing. That's why I asked him to have a go at these records, you'll get an education along with the music. So here he is, let's listen in:

The Army of Stars for 1967 were again mainly associated with the San Francisco Opera, including one repeat performer from the year before. Instead of Bing as the guest star, the Salvation Army called upon Eddie Albert, then riding high on the hog, so to speak, as the star of television's rural hit, Green Acres.

Eddie Albert

Albert was a good choice; a personable, public spirited fellow then in the midst of a long, distinguished career. The wonder is that they didn't ask him to sing - he had been in several hit musicals and had even made a few records.

What he does do is recite "What Do You See in Christmas," earnest thoughts of uncertain origin about the holiday. Albert did like these sentimental pieces; he once recorded an entire LP of the poems of Edgar Guest.

Note that the back cover had him providing "Christmas Greetings" at the end of side one; instead he appears near the end of side two. In fact, the order of pieces on the cover is in several ways different from the sequence on the LP.

Rex Koury

Before we get to the singers on the program, let me tell you a bit about Rex Koury, who was the music director for many of these Army of Stars productions. He actually started out as a boy theater organist, only switching to the piano, conducting and writing music when that profession went downhill (the talkies, you know). Eventually he became an ABC and then NBC staff conductor, which he was while making these records. Koury wrote both the "Army of Stars Theme" and "A Child's Christmas" heard on this program.

Dorothy Warenskjold

Dorothy Warenskjold is the first vocal star we hear from. This excellent soprano was a protege of Gaetano Merola, who once headed the San Francisco Opera, and was a member of the ensemble throughout his tenure. At the same time, she was popular on the radio, often appearing in such shows as The Railroad Hour with Gordon MacRae. (Their Capitol recording of selections from Romberg's The Student Prince can be found on my blog.) Here, she presents Franck's setting of the "Panis Angelicus."

Next, bass Joshua Hecht makes a return appearance on the program, this time with "The Quest" (usually called "The Impossible Dream") from the then Off-Broadway show The Man of La Mancha.

Carol Kirkpatrick

Soprano Carol Kirkpatrick had won first prize in the San Francisco Opera's audition program then appeared with the company for several years before teaching. She sings the "Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night)."

Adib Fazah

Baritone Adib Fazah was mainly associated with the New York City Opera, where he appeared for 25 years in many leading roles. For this record he presents "But who may abide" from Handel's Messiah.

Also on the program, as usual during these years, is the Azusa Pacific College Choir, who sing "What Child Is This (Greensleeves)."

Thanks, Buster. I own the record but I still learn stuff from reading your commentary that I didn't know. Now, on with the show!

1. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Army Of Stars Theme
2. Dorothy Warenskjold-Panis Angelicus
3. Joshua Hecht-The Quest From The Man Of La Mancha
4. Azusa Pacific College Choir-Earle Anderson, Director-What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
5. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-A Child's Christmas
6. Carol Kirkpatrick & Azusa Pacific College Choir-Earle Anderson, Director-Cantique De Noel
7. Adib Fazah-But Who May Abide--Messiah
8. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Christmas Medley
9. Eddie Albert-What Do You See In Christmas
10. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Army Of Stars Closing Theme

MEGA