The Robert Shaw Chorale

The Robert Shaw Chorale's Christmas Hymns and Carols Vol. 1 got its first release in 1949, just one year after Shaw formed the Chorale.  It was re-released in 1957 and then re-recorded in stereo in 1958, which is the version Real Gone is presenting in expanded form.  Two tracks have been added from the original mono version (one actually in stereo) which were excluded from the re-recording.  The Chorale, while having an intermittent existence, finally disbanded permanently in 1965 when Shaw became the musical director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.