Search - Roger Wagner :: Joy to the World

A Classic Historic Christmas Album

Enda Bracken | BRIGHTON, QLD Australia | 03/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album despite the notes above was released by Capitol circa 1956. It either was recorded in very primitive stereo or "electronically reprocessed" by Capitol using its "duophonic process.
The instrumentation is spare with the focus being upon the vocal harmonies and tone.
It is a pioneer Christmas album in many senses:-
It is "believed" to have been one of Capitol's first stereo albums (Capitol had just been taken over by EMI)
It focused on carols that included European carols as well as the English and American favourites.
It is credited by many to have been the recording to thrust "O Holy Night" (Cantique de Noel) into the popular consciousness.
It also had two memorable soloists:-
Harve Presnell (a baritone who had an unusual "tenor" timbre) and who was to be thrust into prominence in the 60s in the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" and then in the last decade as a character actor in "Fargo" and "Saving Private Ryan" as well as being Lois' Dad in the TV show "Lois and Clark".
It is Harve who is the soloist who carries "O Holy Night"
Harve was to appear on several Roger Wagner Chorale albums as soloist in the 50s.The other Soloist is Salli Terri who within 2 years was to win a Grammy for her classical recording of Spanish music. She is a national treasure.
Her rendition of "Jesus Rest Your Head" is definitive. Her voice is distinctly American and has beautiful diction.Keeping in mind that this was recorded in the mid 50s, the sound is clear but without much ambience and is a bit "dry" (except in "O Holy Night" and "Jesus Rest Your Head" wherethere is an aural "spread").Nevertheless the Roger Wagner Chorale is most impressive. I have alway returned to their "Coventry Carol" as a definitive version that combines discipline with emotion.An essential recording!!"

Joy to the ears as well!

Dave Thome | Orlando, FL USA | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The choral arrangements in this collection of carols are unique in the lush simpliciy of their execution. Roger Wagner was probably at his best when he and his chorale originally recorded this album in the 1950's, and the settings and arrangements he creates have yet to be surpassed in their elegance and majesty. To my great joy I happened to find a CD of the original vinyl release quite by accident in 1991, but have found no other since. It's my deep wish that this CD, as it was originally recorded and arranged, will somehow be re-released next year."

A True Classic

J S | 12/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is easily the finest overall recording of Christmas music that I have heard. It has many great memories for me, from the late 1950s or early 1960s when my family first had a copy of it. The simplicity of execution of each carol, along with the unique harmonies of the Roger Wagner Chorale, are unforgettable. I was able to get my own record of it several years ago, which is still in very good condition. I just finished making a pretty good recording of it to cassette tape. Unfortunately, I missed getting a CD copy this season from Amazon."