If you got the chance to listen to the World Record Club's 1960 recording of "A Christmas Carol" featuring Bernard Miles, I'm sure you'll agree that it's an interesting listen.
When I first listened to it, I was kind of surprised at the amount of choral music it contains, with the story often stopping for a whole number.
The whole thing runs about 37 minutes, so the story really needs to be condensed, especially as time is needed for the music.
As a result, there are chunks of the story that are missing. For example, we don't have Fred at all.
But there are parts of the original text that aren't often included, such as a lot of details leading up to the entrance of Marley's ghost and quite a bit about Mrs. Cratchit's pudding.
In thinking about it and looking at the back of the LP jacket with all of the songs listed, I started to appreciate this as something of an aural tapestry, with the story and the music kind of weaving in and out.
I don't think there's enough of the actual story present to follow it if you're not already familiar with it. Too many gaps.
So we have a different listening experience and, as I often say, I like when a version does something a little different!
Next: Which story elements made the cut?
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