Christmas Records of the 1940s
Christmas music is some of the oldest music in the Knott’s record collection. These recordings from the forties and early fifties are among the newest.
Lyn Murray had a career in film and television music; here his chorale performs two familiar Christmas songs on a 1942 recording.
Several 78 RPM records were often sold together in a book, an ‘album’ of records. From 1952 The Canterbury Choir performs on an album of Christmas music consisting of two 78 RPM records. Here is one of the records for your listening enjoyment:
The Canterbury Choir was a creation of MGM with no connection to the cathedral other than to capitalize on the name. Macklin Marrow, the conductor, was billed as the ‘handsomest conductor in the country.’ There is an advert for these records on page 19 of The Billboard for November 19 1949:
On page 15 of this same issue of Billboard is an article that portends the demise of the 78 RPM format when it extols the increasing popularity of the 45 and LP.
Lyn Murray Singers (1942)
Joy to the World
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Canterbury Chorus (1949)
Good King Wenceslas
We Three Kings of Orient Are
