Search - Gordon Macrae :: Songs of Praise

A Reissue That lets Gordon MacRae Down Sonically

Enda Bracken | BRIGHTON, QLD Australia | 09/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a re-issue of the 1960 Capitol LP "Hallowed Be Thy Name".
As a showcase for Gordon MacRae's voice it was excellent. However the production values - organ and percussion only and a harshly-recorded backing choir - let Gordon MacRae down, particularly as he was one of Capitol's prestige artists.
The original LP was recorded in fairly well-defined stereo (for the times). This recording has either been lifted from a mono tape and given an "electronic stereo" (Capitol's version of artificial stereo was "Duophonic" )or the stereo version has been lost, because the stereo definition on this recording is almost non-existent. The selection of songs are traditional hymns with one "Christmas carol" - "Birthday Of A King". They are meant to have the ambience of songs sung in a little rural church and this may explain the parsimony of the production.Largely throughout Gordon uses his "Formal Classical" baritone voice (he had several singing voices including one that went well into the tenor range - on several reviews he is wrongly described as a tenor even though he could "croon", sing falsetto and "swing" as well as reach true bass notes). This voice serves both the songs and himself rather well here.Capitol's recording standards in the late 50's and early 60's could be infuriating - superb in one instance and severe in the next - and this recording could have used some "spaciousness" or ambience.Nevertheless we have a comparatively noiseless re-issue and for that we can be thankful.
As well, the voice of perhaps America's greatest baritone remains undiminished and for that reason we should be grateful for this re-issue."

GORDON MACRAE SINGS PRAISES BEAUTIFULLY!

Barbara Owen | Bremerton, Washington United States | 03/04/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I LIKE THIS CD GORDON SINGS WELL ON IT BUT LACKS BACKGROUND MUSIC. THERE IS A CHORUS BUT MISS THE BACKGROUND MUSIC ON IT. HE SINGS BEAUTIFULLY ON IT AND DOES THE HYMNS EVERYONE GREW UP WITH. ONE OF THEM IS "JESUS LOVES ME" AND ALL OF THE CLASSICS. PLAY IT OFTEN. I GAVE IT 3 STARS. I WOULD BUY THIS ONE AGAIN!"