First is an EP recorded in October 1954 and issued in late 1955. The first two songs ("Each Step of the Way" and "Lord, Keep Your Hand on Me") were written by Redd Harper for evangelist Billy Graham's first film, Mr. Texas, released in 1951. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" is a Ralph Carmichael song, and "It is Springtime" is from Ted Silva.
Stafford never sounded more at home than when singing gospel music, and this is quite a good record in excellent sound.
Despite recording these evangelical songs, both Stafford and her husband Paul Weston were Catholics. In the early 1960s they began a company called Corinthian Records, which began by issuing Catholic liturgical music. The second LP in the series was "We Sing at Benediction," which was designed to teach Catholics the music and prayers of this service. It was a strange idea - it's not as though Catholics would be unfamiliar with their own liturgy. Much of the album is devoted to a fellow named Joseph Rottura instructing us on how to pronounce the Latin of the prayers and songs. His approach is highly Italianate, with rolled R's and elided H's. This is distinctly not the way I was taught to pronounce Latin through years of instruction in the language, but Rottura is intent on his approach, telling us the proper pronunciation will be more pleasing to God. He must have been surprised two years hence, when the Church tossed out the Latin liturgy altogether.
Of course, the main attraction of the record is hearing Jo Stafford singing several hymns, and she does this quite well. However, unless I am misremembering events of 50 years ago, these hymns would then have been presented by the celebrant and congregation, not by a solo singer. Anyway, they are beautiful to hear as done by Stafford. The tracks where she performs are indicated as "sung". Good mono sound from this 1961 LP.
11 comments:
Link (Apple lossless format, plays in iTunes, the current release of Foobar and other programs):
http://www.mediafire.com/?9764iah4hxf6aai
By the way, that thing that looks like an old microphone on the cover of the Benediction LP is called a monstrance. It is for display of the Eucharist.
I love it when you make available music by Jo Stafford, especially since so much of it has not been released on CD.
Jim Orvis
Waterloo, Iowa
You're on a sharing roll since your move!
I didn't know anything on Corinthian was new, I thought it was all reissue stuff. Show's what I know.
Thanks Buster - gotta keep up with the "Jo's"!
My friend flyingfinger has pointed the flying finger of accusation at this transfer, claiming that it is deficient in one channel. I tried downloading the files and listening, and they sound OK to me. However, I wonder if anyone else has had the problem, so I have made an mp3 version, thinking it might be less troublesome for some listeners. Here is a link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?eid2547pfkzgzl5
I should add that Mr. Finger, as always, was quite the gentleman about it! I always appreciate it when people tell me about issues like this!
recorded in the left channel only. Thanks for JS.
Try this link if you have trouble with the Apple lossless version:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?4l6vj2zmf5i8a57
I think there may have been a Mediafire glitch when I uploaded the files - I ended up with two download links.
Many many thanks, Buster
Buster, I downloaded both of these LPs right after you'd posted the links in May 2012, and I never bothered to thank you. So, thank you for this music, however late in coming.
ps - I can never listen to Jo Stafford w/o hearing her screeching rendition of 'Carioca' in the back of my mind :)
Thanks again Buster!
Muito obrigado !!!
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