Record Reviews

SINGERS UNLIMITED ~ CHRISTMAS MPS 4029759116004 (Barcode: 4029759116004) ~ USA ~ Xmas Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the 3rd album by American vocal quartet The Singers UnlimitedFind albums by this artist, led by vocalist / composer / arranger Gene PuerlingFind albums by this artist, which included also Don SheltonFind albums by this artist, Len DresslarFind albums by this artist and Bonnie HermanFind albums by this artist. They perform a cappella seventeen Christmas songs, most of which are traditional Carrols arranged by Puerling and six are original compositions by American Jazz trumpeter Alfred S. BurtFind albums by this artist, which in time entered the list of Christmas favorites. Although not strictly a Jazz album per se, this album demonstrates the exquisite vocal harmonies used also by Jazz singers and the Jazzy "nature" of Puerling´s arrangements, which BTW influenced generations of American singers of all genres, including The Beach BoysFind albums by this artist. He was an absolute maverick of the vocal quartet and a great pioneer of that idiom. These a cappella performances are breathtaking and timeless, and regardless of the Christmas material, can and should be listened to at any time of the year. Such perfection and harmony, although tried by many, has been rarely achieved by other vocal quartets and this album is an absolute classic of the genre. It is great to have this timeless classic back in circulation and anybody who loves the angelic harmony of the human voice must have a copy of this album in their collection! Side Note The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet. In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker. Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace. In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically. Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.

Updated: 21/01/2025Posted: 19/12/2016

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