Woohoo, Christmas 2009 is fast approaching! Well, it's about three months away. But I can't wait, because I've recorded a handful of albums this summer that I need to share. NOW.First up is The Christmas Voices of Walter Schumann, the Pickwick Records re-issue and electronic stereo-ification of 1951's Christmas In The Air.
The contents of this album have been shared out a few times on some great Christmas music-themed blogs, but the date of the recording, coupled with some cheap pressings has meant the sound was less-than-stellar.
This LP recording was a multi-step process that took several tries to get right. The first attempt was fraught with hazard. The stereo was phasing in and out. I tried recording it again, only to encounter the same problem. I then came back a few weeks later, tried once more, and miraculously, I scored a clean recording. There was some small stereo phasing, but it was manageable.
I then passed it through declick and denoise software (ClickRepair, still the best). However the left channel randomly cutting out began to knaw at me. So I mixed the stereo track ("electronically processed stereo" mind you) into a mono file. I then mixed it back to stereo and applied some light VST stereo effects using Bias Peak Pro. The results, I hope, are the best you'll hear this album (until someone remasters it and reissues it on CD).
The album was also sequenced as two long tracks, Side A and Side B. I decided to cut the selections into their own tracks. The album still plays straight through, only now you can cut right to all reprises of "Christmas In The Air" and satisfying your strange cravings for that superb tune.
Sorry I've had so much to say about the technical aspect of the album, with little on the performance. Just take my word for it: it's good. Take a listen, and post your thoughts on the music and the sound quality. The count down to Christmas begins!
Please enjoy: The Christmas Voices of Walter Schumann Link Updated 11/16/12!
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Wonderful! The Christmas season for 2009 has officially begun!
ReplyDeleteYay! Welcome back. Looking forward to wonderful posts from you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I've heard another that wasn't nearly as clear as this one. Nice work. To your comment regarding a new "handful of albums" - I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have ever left a comment, but I want to make it clear how much your work is appreciated. Your shares are terrific, but I especially love the quality of your rips.
ReplyDeleteI will be checking frequently for these most wonderful gifts. It's going to be a great season.
Click Repair has moved to www.clickrepair.net.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for your tireless efforts. I have made this one of my first stops every year as the Holiday season approaches and always enjoy your selections. You are part of the family holiday tradition!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you for introducing ClickRepair to me as a tool for cleaning up old recordings. Does such a great job. I use it along with Adobe's Audition 3 for my audio restoration projects. Makes for a great combo!
hey guys!
ReplyDeletehere is a free legal holiday album 11 bands from all over world http://www.xopublicity.com/xofortheholidays2.html great holiday music! Its my link so please do share with anyone!
album is called "xo for the holidays" volume II
xo-kaytea
www.xopublicity.com
http://xopublicity.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/xopublicity
Thanks for this Great Blog!! Looking forward to the season !!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your shares this year. With Ernie's computer crash as well as the Captain's involvement with a Christmas performance this year, your shares will be big hits I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteFine choices all, but for me,"white Christmas" by Bing Crosby is a must for any Christmas list. Here's a link to a bunch of good christmas classical music on
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ranker.com/list/classical-christmas-albums/christmas-music
oh man i love some walter. thanks
ReplyDeletejay
Cyber Monday
Thanks everyone for the nice comments! jbintenn, ClickRepair is my not-so-secret weapon. It's totally what brings these recordings back to what they sounded like as new. Wholly recommended to all.
ReplyDeleteI have found the original record called 'Christmas In the Air' on other blogs but the quality was poor. This is by far the best of this recording but there is a problem on track 6 - Patapan. I've attempted 2 downloads on 2 different computers and operating systems and have experienced the same problem. At 1:08 through 1:13 there is an intermittent drop-out of the higher frequency range and then again from 1:20 trhough 1:30. Am I doing something wrong or is this the way it is? It almost sounds like there is a partial disconnect somewhere. I've never experienced this before at your blog which is consistently outstanding. Thank you for posting so much good music to share. This one takes me way back with many fond and happy memories!
ReplyDeleteHi - thanks checking out the album. It's not the download, it's the actual recording itself. I might try to re-record "Patapan" as indeed there are problems. The album was electronically processed stereo, which I recorded as stereo, mixed to mono and then re-stereo-ized to try to punch it up. What likely happened was one of the stereo channels phased in and out. Please stay tuned and if I can I will re-post just the single track and update the full album ZIP.
ReplyDeleteWe listened to this a million times while growing up. Listening to it now, it truly is ridiculous, with the shrill singing. My wife and I laugh now, but it is great to have a copy again.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog today and can't say enough "thank you"s for sharing such great music. I grew up on Walter Schumann's The Voices of Christmas (1955), which was just released on CD last year by Walter's son. As for this 1951 album, I'd only heard badly scratched versions of this album before. Your cleaned-up version is vibrant and absolutely stellar. I can't wait to play this for my 80-year-old mother this weekend -- she's going to love it. Walter and his group put out some of the best holiday music ever, and your work toward preserving and presenting it is greatly appreciated! Thanks again, and Happy New Year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteSheepdog69
Cape Cod, MA
A fantastic cool-ection. I have the 45's of this (yes it was issued on 45) in my 1956 Seeburg Jukebox.
ReplyDeleteIt is time-travel at Christmas time baby. Ain't got much else going on this year here in the present, so let's .......go b----a-------c----------k.
Thanks so much for this great Christmas classic! It brings back wonderful memories when I was a senior in 1953. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for allowing this treasured album to be available in a digital format for everyone! This is the favorite album of my husband and his mother. While she has terrible dementia, the album is a healing journey into her past, allowing a tiny bit of her old personality to shine through. In those moments, she re-experiences her past. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to the CD that was release back in 2007 for that one year then went out of print enjoy !!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www54.zippyshare.com/v/34420717/file.html