The First Alfred Burt Christmas LP

My friend David F. shared his compilation of Alfred Burt's carols last year, but I thought some of you might want to have a transfer of and scans from the original 10-inch album that brought Burt's superb Christmas compositions to public notice.

Burt's best-known song is undoubtedly "Caroling, Caroling," but "Some Children See Him" and "The Star Carol" also are well-loved. All were first heard on this 1954 LP issued by Columbia after the composer's early death.

Alfred Burt and Anne Shortt Burt, 1945

Burt produced his carols for a circle of friends and family, one song each season from 1942 to 1954, when he succumbed to cancer at age 33. Writing carols was a family tradition begun by his father, the Rev. Bates Burt, rector of an Episcopal church in Pontiac, Mich. The two Burts wrote the lyrics to Alfred's earliest carols. After the Rev. Burt died in 1948, Alfred collaborated with Wihla Hutson, the organist at his father's church.

Alfred Burt attended the University of Michigan before and after Army service during World War II. After graduation, he become a professional musician, eventually working as a California-based trumpeter and arranger for Alvino Rey, Hal Richards and Horace Heidt.

Burt's carols had come to the attention of Columbia executive Jim Conkling, who was married to Donna King, one of the King Sisters who performed with Rey's orchestra. When Burt became sick in 1953, Conkling moved ahead with plans for a record. The first sessions took place late that year in Los Angeles area churches. Burt wrote one of his final carols for his Christmas card that year, "O Hearken Ye," followed by one of his most beloved works, "The Star Carol" early the next year. He died in February 1954.

The producer of this record was Buddy Cole, the well-known pianist. He was married at the time to another of the King Sisters, Yvonne. The performances are ascribed to the Columbia Choir, a group of studio singers. The conductor was Bud Linn, himself a well-known tenor who was a member of the King's Men and the Ken Darby Singers. The only other performer credited is soprano Norma Zimmer, even then a noted studio vocalist who appeared with the Ken Darby group, the Norman Luboff Choir, the Voices of Walter Schumann and the Pete King Chorale. She later had a long association with Lawrence Welk's television program.

My transfer is from the first issue (cover at top). The sound is excellent.

Reissue cover