Chip,

If my explanation isn't correct or accurate, please correct it for me as I am not the expert.  Thank you.

Well, as most of you know, I prefer Vinyl instead of CD's, but for those who are anxiously awaiting for these CD's,  Chip is entirely correct that the 1959 Stereo release of "Music of Christmas" is far superior to the 1954 MONO release.

Not just because it is in Stereo, but Mr. Faith actually went back to the recording studio, hall or whatever they called it with his orchestra and re-recorded every single song and there are subtle changes to the arrangements of the songs.

If you listen to the MONO album alone and then listen to the Stereo album alone, you probably wouldn't notice anything other than it being in Stereo, but if you were to play them simultaneously, you would hear the changes and a few songs are several seconds longer on the Stereo recordings.

I do believe that Chip had mentioned several times that Mr. Faith actually re-recorded the 1959 album but I don't remember if he mentioned that some of the songs are longer or not.

Though I love the artwork on the 1954 MONO release, I prefer the 1959 Stereo release for listening purposes.

Chip,

Thanks for your kind words...   I sometimes say things, but part turns out to be factual and other's are part of something else I remembered and I combine the two unintentionally.  Glad I got this one right for a change.

I just wish my knowledge was as vast as yours, but we grew up in different circumstances and different paths lead to different results, but our devition to the music and the appreciation we get from listening to it is something special,  A gift if you will, and not too many people have that these days and wouldn't notice the changes in tempo and timing, not just with Percy Faith, but in other music too.

Kudus to you too Chip for your devotion to keeping The Yule Log and it's music alive and all that you do in helping to get a lot of this music released on CD for those who prefer CD's.

Wow, what a 'good news / bad news' situation. I've pestered Gordon for years for "Music of Christmas" to be remastered, but forgot to mention we'd like the STEREO 1959 version; well, at least we're half way there and that's very very good.

As far as 2 other bonus songs to add, I would suggest the instrumental song that would eventually morph into "Christmas Is" and the other song that is also an insturmental version of "When A Child Is Born".

To say that I am extremely disappointed is an understatement.  Who in their right mind would want a 1954 mono recording when something better exists?!  Why even bother?!  I am fortunate to already have Music of Christmas Volume 2 on CD, which I bought soon after it went out of print for under $5.  I was so desperately looking forward to a remaster of the stereo recording, which has been all but ruined by moronic engineering.  I'm sure Gordon Anderson did the best he could, but I'm in shock at the gall of Columbia Records to toss out such a pathetic bone.  And what makes it even more insulting is that they sit on the 1959 classic like a bratty child who is to ornery to do something with it, but too selfish to let somebody else have it who would.

I still pester them with e-mails about the need to remaster this classic, and never have I ever received even the courtesy of a reply from this ill-bred bunch.  Amazon basically lists the Columbia version as not currently being printed, however Sony pulls this every year only to release it again.

Sorry, folks.  I'm getting madder as I type.  I best get off here.

TommyEvergreen

Wow Chip,

I didn't realize you lived in NJ since 1972.  So you were most likely able to view the 1972 broadcast of The WPIX Yule Log, I would imagine.  I don't believe it was available in Cleveland at the time and I don't think Cable TV companies were offering WGN yet.  But as I've mentioned before, I was able to watch it from 1966 on, being our Cable TV company gave us WPIX even though in 1966 I was living in VT.

As you know, I was living in Mt. Kisco, NY from 1970-1975 so I was actually able to listen to The WPIX Yule Log in Stereo on WPIX FM which made it all that more special.  Also, we didn't have Cable TV there but were able to pick up WPIX over the air with a set of rabbit ear antenna.  They finally got Cable TV in late 1974 but we really didn't need it being the signals from NY and NJ were so strong we could pick up almost all the stations except for some UHF ones.

I never missed a broadcast until WGN America didn't broadcast it and then the next year when I had Dish Network, we lost satellite signal so I missed it then and also in 2011 being we didn't get Antenna TV until the first week of January 2012.

Chip,

I vaguely remember now that you've refreshed my memory, but I was up all night until 6:30 this morning with computer work and I was also trying to catch up on some things I have DVR'd and really wanted to go to bed, but I had to finish the computer work so I wasn't thinking clearly, and I had a flash of memory fragments when I read your post.

I don't know if you have seen any clips, if they exist, of the 1966 Original broadcast or not, but I do remember watching it myself on Christmas Eve., and it was the most beautigul thing I had seen for being an 8 year old.

I do realize that the soundtrack was much different than it is now, and that there were more songs from the more famous artists and actually fewer artists than there are now.  I can't remember any specific music or order of the songs, but remember that I had family who had a lot of the music from then and a few albums, in later years, I acquired.  Then when I really got into record collecting, I acquired many more, but nowhere near what you have.

I know I've mentioned this before, but it would be nice if Kay Cooper has found a copy of the 1966 broadcast in Bill's things that she hasn't gone through yet.    I've also mentioned before that it would be nice if a former employee of WPIX might have a copy of the 1966 broadcast too.

It wouldn't compare in quality to the current program, but for nostalgia purposes, it would be nice to have a version of it.  Oh well, we can hope that it may exist in a vault somewhere such as a copy of the California reshoot in the film canister labeled "The Honeymooners A Dog's Life", did, which they had cleaned and color corrected and them came up with the special "A Logs Life"

I know on 1966 there weren't many Tribune Stations that broadcast The Yule Log, but it would also be nice if one of their affiliates that did broadcast it had a copy in their archives too.  But I guess it would be a difficult task to try and see which stations broadcasst it and who the station manager was and so on.

There's also a possibility that they didn't have it on tape, but did it via repeaters, or through phone lines so they were actually broadcasting from WPIX so to speak.  I don't think Satellites were used that much for TV broadcasting until the 1970's, but I am not an expert in this area.

Gordon's REAL GONE MUSIC is now in the bible of my generation!

You did it Master-Chip!

I know I've waited a while to tell you how proud I am of you bud, but hey. You know how busy I am, and I just HAD to see a release-date and cover-art before I could finally believe you had pulled this off! (I mean I knew you did it when you announced it a few months back, but it sounded SO good, I had wondered if the record labels at be, would get cold feet?! And would back out of the deal at the last minute!)

Thanks HEAVENS they didn’t!

So many thrillerbabies are SO proud of you Lawrence F. “Chip“ Arcuri.

And November 13th, 2012 … is a day for the history books.

I love when underdogs accept that miracles such as this … could never happen in their own lifetime, and then, they actually end up helping to PULL ONE OFF themselves … that defies and debunks their once half-empty thoughts.

YOU made our Christmas cup-of-cheer ... half-FULL again Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri … by having FAITH in FAITH. And it will NEVER be forgotten.

And thanks for doing something on Andy Williams.

I saw it on the news today, and almost cried.

We are so blessed to have so much of him for the season.

(I want that old '74 Christmas album, “Christmas Present” remastered and ready now! If the powers at be are smart, they’ll get to work, and FAST! I love his version of “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” on that one.)

Can't wait to get PERCY FAITH’s “Hallelujah” in the mail (with ORIGINAL ART!), and then rush to this board to see everyone's posts … AFTER I’ve spun it a few times to soak in the awe. (Sony? Release the giant now. You’ve held it unremastered long enough.)

It looks like THIS year, we'll all get your “Faith” Lawrence a little sooner than we were able to get your wonderful Mantovani milestone of “Christmas Carols.” (I want to buy more copies of this milestone, but its price is getting a bit steep these days. Glad to at least own ONE copy. I pray it doesn’t fall out of print, and that Gordon saves it from doing so! I have this same prayer for Perry Como’s 3-disc Complete Christmas Collection that not many of us had the chance to get before it was yanked! Looks like we’re finally getting it back from Gordon on October 30^th! SMART MOVE Gordon. VERY smart! Now don’t dare let Mantovani fall out of our grasp again. PLEASE! Not AGAIN!)

On behalf of my generation, and I speak for many Chip, HATS OFF TO YOU. Just because the Jedi-council seems small at times, doesn’t mean we’re not all still listening, watching, and waiting … with HOPE.

Some of our wait … is OVER.

Praise to all who listened to YOU … listening to US … listening to YOU!

One domino … can affect thousands, and alter the course of undetermined destiny.

BASK in this pride Master-Chip.

You SO deserve it.

And keep your updates coming. Just because I don’t reply on the blogs to them all, doesn’t mean I’m not reading them. I miss getting more OF them, and am so looking forward to Christmas approaching, just to see more of you in my inbox.

Gordon Anderson? If you’re watching, THANKS for believing in our “Christmas voice … of voices. KEEP believing in him. We’re counting on it. Thanks for having FAITH.”

Joshua,

Thank you so very much for your very kind, generous and heartfelt words. I am very touched.  It makes all the blood, sweat and tears that I expend in everything I do so worthwhile. I love your enthusiasm and passion for the website, the music, the upcoming Percy Faith CD and everything Christmas. I hope it's contagious to all those who read your post. You're a very special person and are truly blessed with the most precious gift of a pure, simple and burning love for the little things in life that mean the most. God bless you, my boy, and nice to see you back on the board. 

You're welcome my friend! And the feeling is mutual.
As Chris Reeve said at the end of Superman 2 to the President, "Sorry I've been away so long. I won't let you down again."
November 13th, can't believe it!!! Faith is MINE November 13th!

Keep the Faith!
AND HAVE A HAPPY!
 

11-02-12 @ 06:42 AM
Follow-up to above message:

Maybe if the sales are good one on this one,it will motivate Sony to Remaster a new CD version and possibly do a Columbia/Legacy "Expanded Edition" of the Stereo one,Perhaps? Sure hope so!



*Message edited by the Yule Log.com Message Board Administrator on 11/02/12 to combine two reply posts by the same member. Also, double-post was deleted.

I am glad that these 2 recordings are finally seeing the light of day. Like everyone else, I wish CBS/SONY would remaster the MofC stereo recording (maybe even with the 6 eye stereo fidelity label). As for myself, I've owned the stereo version of MofC on CD for a long time and it is one of the first CD's to get a spin at Christmas (along with Merry Christmas and Good Night, Dear Lord by Johnny Mathis-orchestra conducted by PERCY FAITH).

I have the following of Faith's Christmas music:  Original pressing mono (reddish/brown label), The Columbia Album of Christmas Music C2L-15 (2 LP set of MofC and Hallelujah-mono-6 eye label-if they'd waited a year they could have had a stereo package of these two albums. The new CD release kind of mirrors this package if they'd mixed one mono and one stereo album in the 2 record set, but Columbia just sold the stereo Halleujah separately and never paired it with the stereo MofC), MofC stereo re-recording (stereo fidelity 6 eye label),  and 1 replacement album jacket (no record) from later re-issue of MofC on Columbia Limited Edition series (brown label with fat white "C" at the top).

Have kept the MofC 2 in my sights on Amazon to see if it would ever come up at a decent price-HA! Am glad I was patient! Have already pre-ordered this set and can't wait to hear Halleujah in stereo for the first time!

Thank you for the warm welcome! The MofC sleeve I own is from the second reissue of that album on Columbia's Limited Edition label (The chocolate brown label with the fat white  "C" at the top). I was not aware of its first reissue on the Columbia Special Products record shown above in this post.(The CSP banner kind of ruins the cover design though. I'm glad that cover wasn't used on the CD reissue). The reissue of MofC Volume 2 was also issued as part of the same Limited Edition series.

As for why The Columbia Album of Christmas Music (TCAOCM) has the original mono recording of MofC is probably because Percy Faith hadn't rerecorded MofC in stereo until 1959. As I mentioned, if they'd just waited they could have had a mono/stereo  set with the new rerecordings of MofC, instead of TCAOCM just coming outwith the mix and match of the original 1954 mono verson (along with then current 1958 mono version of Hallelujah)  due to the fact that there was NO stereo version of MofC at the time of the release of TCAOCM in 1958. I've never seen a reissue of TCAOCM. Do you know when it came out? I got my copy of TCAOCM, from a used record store in fantastic condition about 20 or so years ago.(That was the first time I'd ever seen it). You might want to check Amazon , GEMM, or Dusty Groove online to locate a copy.

Now you're assuming Columbia Records (and successors Legacy/Sony) acutally use logic about music lovers and their stereo records!  We take it seriously, but I wish somebody at 51 52nd Street cared about music as much as we do and did their own proper remastering of Percy Faith's Music of Christmas from 1959 - Columbia DID remaster Andy Williams' first 2 Xmas LP's along with Johnny Mathis (w/Percy Faith)  & Barbra Streisand's early Columbia Christmas releases.   ....and...IF they don't want to remaster the '59 MofC, let somebody else do it right this time as noise reduction technology has evolved greatly since their hastily released CD in 1990.

I myself don't think that Music Of Christmas from 1959 needs remastering or remixing being Percy Faith totally re-recorded this album over in 1959 and it sounds just beautiful the way it is and I've mentioned this before, that if you listen the the 1954 album by itself and then listen to the 1959 album buy itself, you won't notice much of a difference other than it being in Stereo, but if you were to listen to both albums side by side, you would find a few subtle differences and also that there are some songs that are a few seconds longer on the 1959 recording.

Remastering it or remixing it would ruin an already perfect album, so they just need to take it from the master recording and not change a thing.  Don't mess with perfection and in this case, Percy Faith's music is perfect the way it is.

When they remaster music, they often add reverb or make certain tracks louder.  I don't know how many tracks the actual master was recorded in, but they had to mix them into two channels.

I don't think there is anything they could do to improve on Music Of Christmas from 1959.  It's absolutely perfect and beautiful the way it is.

{EDITED by Christmas Always to correct a typo and add a missing word to correct grammar in a sentence}

11-11-12 @ 01:17 AM
Follow-up to above message:

Chip, I just saw the 2 CDs as a pre-order in Amazon and it will be released on November 13? Disc 1 and Dis 2

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Music-Christmas-Percy-Faith/dp/tracks/B0098I7TOK/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2

Is it the fastest way yo order this? or there will be a faster one shipping to Australia?

*Message edited by the Yule Log.com Message Board Administrator on 11/11/12 to combine two consecutive reply posts by the same member. Also, double-post was deleted.