A "Royale" Christmas Album

This is a reissue of one of the first Christmas albums, 12" LP records, which Oberstein put out on Royale Records. In years past [speaking from the year 2024 revising this 2013 blog post], I thought Eli had some Church group taped for cheap. Still, after collecting for several years, it appears these recordings originated from the Sonora Records catalog, released on 78 rpm records, of which Oberstein had acquired the rights a few years before the initial release of this album in 1951 (this copy being a ~1955 reissue). This album features a small but talented choir and a collection of anonymous organ and chime selections on the second side. The album concludes with an okay organ and chimes recording of "White Christmas."

The recordings are high quality on the first side, the arrangements are varied, and several depart from traditional choral recordings contemporary to it. Sadly, the organ selections on the other side of the record sounded distant in places. However, given it was a 1940s recording, likely done with a single microphone placed inside a large chapel at a certain point in the middle of the room, which the recording engineer thought was the best spot- it is okay. The first selection was damaged and caused the needle to skip quite frequently; the rest of the album is much better. That being the case, if you want to avoid the jumpy first track, just start listening at 1:39. A better copy will come my way, or someone will upload a better-quality copy in the future. For now, we must make do with what we have here.

Side 1- The Caroleers

1. Silent Night (0:04)
2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing (1:39)
3. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem (4:20)
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (6:47)
5. Away In A Manger (8:13)
6. Joy To The World (9:34)
7. The First Noel (10:39)
8. Good King Wenceslas (12:18)
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (15:14)
10. Rejoice (17:12)
11. Adeste Fideles (18:32)

Side 2- Organ and Chimes 

1. Silent Night (20:21)
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Adeste Fideles (23:09)
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (25:59)
4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing- Away In A Manger (28:19)
5. The First Noel- Holy Night (30:55)
6. Little Town Of Bethlehem (33:40)
7. Jingle Bells (36:10)
8. White Christmas (38:34)