The sound of Nat King Cole's The Magic of Christmas & The Christmas Song ALBUMS

Thanks Mluut. You could be 100% right about the lathes, but I'd go a step farther...I'd bet the 1965 Rainbow Swirl version was cut on a tube lathe, and the 1980s Blue label on a solid state lathe. They both have those respective sounds. I'm sure W.B. would know exactly, he's amazing.

Honestly, you cant go wrong with either, but boy do I love that classic, warm 1960s Rainbow Swirl Capitol sound.

 

All "Rainbow Swirls," regardless of artist or record, were mastered on tube-based Scully lathes, with (as of '65) a method of mastering dating back to 1962 (i.e. cut off certain frequencies to avoid groove skipping) which Our Host has complained about in many ways over the years. The first solid-state (in this case, Neumann VMS-66) lathe was first placed into service in 1969 in time to cut the first lacquers of The Beatles' Abbey Road album and "Something" / "Come Together" single. By then, also, both Neumanns and Scullys in Hollywood would have had Neumann SX-68 cutterheads.

 

Thanks WB. Actually, I had suspected as much over the years, as I play all my LPs on a 1959 Restored EICO Tube amp, and just about EVERY Capitol Rainbow swirl LP I have sounds magical, with that wonderful, warm Capitol Sound. Thanks for confirming that!

 

Looks like we are getting a vinyl reissue of The Christmas Song from UMe on September 30. Hopefully it's not cut from the Norberg remastering.

http://www.analogplanet.com/content...lease-schedule-plunges-full-speed-ahead-vinyl

 

The fact that they're apparently re-releasing "The Christmas Song" LP rather than the original "Magic Of Christmas" LP is a potential disappointment. I'd have rather seen the original album, with it's track line up and cover art, than the later, reconfigured and re-titled version. But who knows? Maybe this new LP will include all the stereo Christmas recordings.

All that said, I agree that what we most desperately need to see is a new mixing and mastering of this material from the original three-track session tapes.

 

Although I haven't found it listed anywhere else just yet, CD Universe has a listing for the 2014 LP reissue of The Christmas Song. If this description on their site is to be believed, the usual version of The Christmas Song will be replaced by two other versions. And I don't want to believe that they will be using the Bob Norberg mastering.

Product Description

First issued in the early 1960s, this collection of musical Christmas cheer is packed full of the smoothly sung, sentimental favorites associated as much with Nat "King" Cole himself as with the season. The singer's performance of "The Christmas Song" is an unforgettable classic reprised here twice, once in an updated version that includes a contemporary vocal from his daughter, Natalie, and also in Cole's original 1946 recording. Other traditional religious favorites like "I Saw Three Ships" and "Away in a Manger" are also featured, in a setting that, with its well-arranged orchestral accompaniment, manages to sound both sophisticated and folksy. Includes liner notes by Dick LaPalm. Digitally remastered by Bob Norberg (Capitol Mastering). Reissue producer: Brad Benedict. Personnel includes: Nat "King" Cole (vocals, piano); Natalie Cole (vocals); Ralph Carmichael (conductor). Producer: Lee Gillette.

Product Details

CD Universe Part number9353868
LabelCapitol
Orig Year2003
Catalog number002136601
Discs1
Release DateSep 30, 2014
Studio/LiveStudio
Mono/StereoStereo
PersonnelNat "King" Cole - vocals, piano
Natalie Cole - vocals
Ralph Carmichael - conductor


This is the cover shown on the Universe site:

 

On the other hand, I find the Elusive Disc site says it is going to be a "faithful" reissue of the 1963 disc.

This faithful vinyl reissue of Nat King Cole's holiday album features beautifully restored cover art.

Features:
• Vinyl LP

Selections:
1. The Christmas Song
2. Deck the Halls
3. Adeste Fideles
4. O Tannenbaum
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. O Holy Night
8. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
9. Away In A Manger
10. Joy to the World
11. The First Noel
12. Caroling, Caroling
13. Silent Night ​

 

Just got confirmation that this is going to use an old mix.

 

Is this a bad thing? If we get a nice mastering of it, wouldn't that count for something?

 

Crap! This is insane. Nat Cole's best-selling album is constantly being reissued, repackaged and recycled but Capitol can't be bothered to do a decent remix. Infuriating.

 

Not really. The available mixes are all seriously flawed. I don't think mastering is the culprit. They need to go back to the multi-track session tapes and start from scratch.

 

Was the Norberg release a remix or simply a new master drowned in bad EQ and NR?

 

I got home from work too late last night to listen, but I did take it out of the shrink wrap. I think the front and back covers were reproduced well, but with the added barcode and UMe logo on the rear. So, not an exact replica. The inner jacket is plain white with a center hole. The disc itself was dusty, with little paper bits all over it. And it's somewhat flimsy, standard weight vinyl. I noticed some "cloudy" areas on both sides, and it's ever so slightly warped. First impression: this must have been pressed at Rainbo.

If this is representative of UMe's current approach to packaging and pressings, then, for the upcoming Sinatra titles, we should expect something a little less than the Capitol "From The Vault" series from 2009.

 

Understood. The perils of judging a book by its cover, I suppose. Although there's something to be gleaned about the level of priority a record company places on a reissue when you take all aspects into account, including cosmetic touches and concerns about the pressing.

I was able to give the LP a spin this morning, but a casual listen at best while I chased my daughter around with her breakfast cereal. (We like to listen to music over breakfast, and she often requests "Atra" for Frank, or Beatles or Elvis. I'm a proud papa!)

I can't say I'm very familiar with this album-- actually, I'm not at all-- but what I heard sounded lovely to me. Great music to play while force-feeding Cheerios to my daughter!

Matt, I can provide samples, if you'd like. PM me if interested...

 

Actually, it was the Hoffman SACD series that first turned me on to NKC, so consider me a newbie. That Dell box I picked up is pretty much a blind buy since I wanted to delve deeper into his catalog. And I'm liking what I've heard so far!

 

I might digitize the album this weekend because my tonearm was bobbing up and down like a small craft at sea, and I don't like the visual reminder of that slight warping. It didn't seem to affect sound quality, though...

 

I think most who love Frank would at the least like Nat, and vice-versa. It would be hard not to, IMO. Amazing talent.