The First Christmas

~ ORIGINAL 1950 VERSION

 

The First Christmas as told and sung by Perry Como

with Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Mitchell Ayres

Produced by Henri René

 

The story "The First Christmas" was adapted by John A. Richards

first recorded in 1950 monaural and then again in 1959 within an expanded

version in RCA Victor's Living Stereo.

 

Musical arrangements by Mitchell Ayres with Christmas carols: O Little Town of Bethlehem;

Come, Come, Come to the Manger; The First Noël; O Come All Ye Faithful;

We Three Kings of Orient Are; Silent Night

Roncom Music

 

Released on a 12" 33-1/3 RPM Special DJ pressing pre-dating the LP format.

Recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City

Recording Time 8:08

Recorded Circa 1949/50  ~   Matrix No. E0 CC 1891

Flipside ~  Special Voice Track Intros - Matrix No. E0 CC 1892

Side One

 

The Story of the First Christmas:

Adapted by John A. Richards with musical arrangements by Mitchell Ayres

Narration by Perry Como with Christmas carols: O Little Town of Bethlehem; Come, Come, Come to the Manger;

The First Noël; O Come All Ye Faithful; We Three Kings of Orient Are; Silent Night

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Words and Music by Phillips Brooks and Lewis H. Redner

 

Come, Come, Come to the Manger

Traditional Christmas Music

Adapted by Mitchell Ayres

 

The First Noël

Traditional Christmas Music

 

O Come All Ye Faithful

Latin Hymn translated by Frederick Oakeley

 

We Three Kings of Orient Are

Adapted by Mitchell Ayres and Jack Andrews

 

Silent Night

Words and Music by Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber

 

Side Two

 

There is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas  Voice track Intro

Words and Music by Carl Sigman and Mickey J. Addy

With Orchestra and Chorus Conducted by Mitchell Ayres

 

The Christmas Symphony  Voice track Intro

Words and Music by Phil Perry, Joe Candullo  

and Charles Faso Reade

With Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Mitchell Ayres

 

 

 

 

| Lyrics | 1959 Version | Label A | Label B | Albums |

A Perry Como Discography 

& Digital Companion

| Site Links | All Albums |  All Songs | The Recording Sessions |

First Edition Summer 1992

Second Edition Christmas 1993

Web Page Edition Christmas 1997

25th Anniversary Revision November, 2017

Digital Upgrade August, 2018

Easter 2023 Revised Edition

 

 

George Townsend

HQV Selekt Group

3 Seaview Avenue

Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2G3

Canada

 

Telephone: (902) 698-9848

Friday, April 07, 2023

© 2023