Customer Reviews

The Little Drummer Boy

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I haven't been able to find this CD reissue anywhere other than amazon.com. It is the classic 1959 "Sing We Now of Christmas" album, which was repackaged with new art work and retitled "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1963 on 20th Century Fox Records. The album was reissued by budget Mistletoe Records in the early 1970's and remained in print up until the 1980's. The Harry Simeone Chorale released other albums titled "The Little Drummer Boy," but they were nowhere near as good as this one. Anybody who bought this as an LP in the 1960's can now have the music preserved on this CD. And everytime I hear it, it brings back a floodtide of memories of different Christmases when this was played. I would give this a 5 star rating but the packaging is terrible. It is colorless and cheerless, a line drawing of a boy playing a drum, and drab coloring and printing. The CD disc itself indicates the "Harry Simeone Choral," not "Chorale", a careless error. Until the CD is rereleased with improved packaging duplicating the original "Little Drummer Boy" artwork (or even the lesser "Sing We Now of Christmas" artwork), and the printed lyrics of the original packaging, part of the enjoyment of listening to the CD will be missing for me. It would be nice to see a picture of Harry Simeone (has anyone ever seen one?) and have some liner notes about the recording of the album, recording dates, persons in the Chorale, etc. And it's not complete something you can hold in your hands and not need a magnifying glass to see or read, and look at as you enjoy the music. It's rare when CD packaging can duplicate that experience

It is sad that this classic traditional Christmas album is harder and harder to find each year. It is on a label rarely-used anymore (Casablanca, originally 20th Century Fox,) features no liner notes or lyrics for sing-a-long caroling. (The cheapo Mistletoe reissue of this album does, however.) No matter; this album remains one of the most reverent, well-sung Christmas programs ever, taking in traditional carols and spirituals (from the hit title song to the beautiful "O Holy Night" and a "Go Tell It On The Mountain" that swings!) and weaving them into a near-operatic retelling of the Christmas story. The carolers who come to your door (if they still do) should sound half this good. Where you can find this CD, buy it.

We grew up with this on vinyl and listened to it so often we would even hiccup where the record skipped. This recording defined the mood of joy and reverence in our home, filling in the traditional and liturgical gaps left by the many popular "Rudolph"-type albums. The subtle symphonic accompaniment emphasizes the sweeping range of voices in the chorale, but there's certainly no lack of grandeur in the horns or sweetness in the harp and oboe. The arrangements and medleys are so well put together that hearing a single carol on another recording will have you anticipating the next song. The spirituals are intense and full of emotion, as are the spoken transition pieces between medleys. I'm not an expert on recording quality, but I believe the CD to retain the same warmth and depth as 1960-something album. There are newer versions of this album, but the selections are a bit different; some of the lyrics in the original songs have been changed; and the accompanying music is anemic and poorly recorded. Stick with this original, and you're guaranteed satisfying, meaningful, and somewhat nostalgic Christmas music that even your boy band-listening kids will love!

This record was done by my Mother, Frances Wyatt, and a group of her musical buddies from the old "Voice of Firestone" days. She is the one singing the soprano solo's on the album and can be heard above the others in the choral works. Mom was one of the lyric sopranos soloists on the "Voice of Firestone" ABC-TV program who became easily recognized here on the streets of NYC in the late 1950's and early 1960's. She also toured with Fred Warings Pennsylvanians extensively. Pretty cool!

I am proud that so many people have enjoyed this album over the years!

We, her family and children, grew up listening to this album along with her many Fred Waring recordings.

This one simple album, through years of continued sales, rocketed off the charts eclipsing all sales of LP's by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and every Pop musical group from L.A. to London. It made it into the Guinness Book of World Records! : A distinction it held for over 20 years!

When The Guiness people called us at home, we of course though it was some kind of prank. It wasn't.

I hope you truly enjoy this album and pass it on to your kids.

My mother died October 30, 2006. I will never forget her voice.

John Wyatt

What wonderful, beautiful Christmas music. The Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I only take away one star because the remastering is not very good and I can hear a buzz. On my home system I can clearly hear it, but I find it unbearable over headphones. It's too bad, because this is such fabulous classic recording. Even so, I recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys choral music.

Ever since I was old enough to operate the stereo turntable in my parents' livingroom, I have loved listening to this collection of Christmas music. When it was available, I got the cassette, which I eventually lost, and now I have found the CD (after many unsuccessful trips to the music stores and suffering the strange looks I got from clerks).

This is truly the sound of the season, and the rich choral arrangements - as well as solo performances - are timeless. The mood goes seemlessly from joyous (Sing We Now of Christmas) to reverent (O Holy Night) to soulful (Rise Up Shepherds and Follow), but always beautiful. Keep your CD player setting on "Repeat" because you'll never tire of this holiday presentation.

As a little girl I remember lying under the tree looking at the back of this album and reading the lyrics, singing along. The songs are traditional and spiritual. No goofy Christmas songs! I learned the songs from this album and it may have been instrumental in my learning how to read too! There is brief narration between the songs...telling the story of Christmas. It is a great album for kids to learn the meaning of Christmas and learn the songs we all grew up with.

You won't go wrong with this very special CD - from the original 1960's release. The album we all grew up with on our parents' turntable has come to life free of ticks and clicks on polished CD! Rich vocals and superb arrangements, not to mention the definitive version of the Little Drummer Boy, are all here. Brings back memories of Christmases gone by. Bought two copies, one for me and one for my grandmother who loved/loves this timeless treasure. Only regret is the cover art, inserts are not of the original lp and rather plain. But the same music is all here and that's what counts. Five stars and beyond - a CD that can not be matched at the yuletide season. Thank you, Amazon!

I don't remember a Christmas without this marvellous record. For many of us who were born in the late 50s/early 60s, this album defines Christmas. Our original mid-1960s LP wore out so we bought another in the late 70s, now we're on to the CD. I still use the versions of the songs on this album as the benchmark for all other renditions. Acquire this album and play it for your children.

My family has listened to this album on cassette every Christmas since my girls were little. Now they are 23 and 24, and the cassette is a little worse for the wear. And the stereo in our new home has no cassette player. I told my daughter, We have to find it on CD. Everytime we thought we found it, it didnt have the same songs. I am so glad we found this cd so our traditions can continue!!