John McCormack - Anniversary

Subject: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Fiolar
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 08:48 AM

Can't let today pass without raising a glass to the memory of the great singer John McCormack the 57th anniversary of whose death occurs today September 16th. Born in Athlone on June 14th 1884, he soon made his mark on the world of song and won a gold medal in the Tenor Competition in Dublin in 1902. He made his operatic debut in 1907 at Covent Garden and in 1919 appeared in New York at the Manhattan Opera House. During his life he made over five hundred recordings and was regarded as the greatest tenor of his day. He was made a Papal Count in 1928 and did more than any other singer before or since to popularise Irish songs. His recordings are still played regularly on radio. His fame as a singer was world wide and I even met a doctor from Sri Lanka who was an avid fan and had many of his recordings. To a great singer and a fellow Irishman - Slainte.

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Mr Happy
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 09:08 AM

fiolar,

thanks for raising this topic, 'count'john McCormack did some wonderful songs. in my repertoire i sometimes do 'the lass with the delicate air'.

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 11:44 AM

Richard Dyer-Bennett did many songs from the superlative John M.s song list. "Oft In The Stilly Night", "Molly Brannigan", "Mary Of Argyle", and several others. "The Song Of The Seals" that Jean Redpath did so well at the first University Of Chicago Folk Festival in 1961, was a personal favorite of mine as originally done by John McCormack. Those old records are among the most sublime in our collection. Carol, my wifw of many years, is the one who first bought his records in our family and then folksingers Bruce U. Utah Phillips with Rosalie Sorrells taught me over several of their visits to Chicago just how perfectly John McCormack's music went with Laphraoig scotch. Now, alas, the whisky is a thing of my past, but the music is as vital in our lives as ever. Now when I listen to any one of our 18 LP albums of his music that we've amassed over the years, I toast the best tenor voice I have ever heard with a mellow swig of prune juice----but the thrill of his voice cuts through the sad result that will ultimately come from imbibing that cloying drink. The voice is all I need for me to revert, in my mind, to those other incandescent and heady times. Now we have no turntable machine but my intention is to someday have those old albums transferred to compact discs. Until then the few cassettes I have made will be good----but not good enough. The man's music transcends and renders inaudible all of the clicks and pops on any old worn 78 rpm record. When those are audible though they are simply indications of the passing of time and enhance the music further for us.

Noting the birthday of the great man is a grand thing to do. Thanks for starting the thread.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Geordie
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 12:56 PM

My Father new all of MacCormacks songs and sang them often. I still listen to those old records and take great comfort in them. Thank you for reminding us all what a great voice he was.

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Tiger
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 02:34 PM

I have several LP reissues and some old 78's.

He was one of a kind, if you ask me.

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 03:44 PM

I didn't know the McCormack recordings were available on LP or CD. My late father had a collection of McCormack's 78s that he used to play when I was very young. I think they were lost at some point because I don't remember seeing them when my mother moved to a senior community.

Now I'll have to go hunt down some recordings. Thanks.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 06:20 PM

I believe there is only one CD of his music available. It was year or two ago I learned about that one, but I've never seen it.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 09:32 PM

Actually, there are a BUNCH of his recordings available. I may actually have more than the 18 you have, Art, but it would be close. One of my all time favorites, top five for certain. My first record was a one sided 78 Victor Red Seal of "Keep The Home Fires Burning" back about 8th grade. It's still magic.

You'll find a wealth of information at THE JOHN McCORMACK HOME PAGE We had a pretty good discussion of this a few years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 09:47 PM

John McCormack at CDNOW with many sound samples. Notice that there are two great samplers (Vol 1 and Voice of Ireland) that can be had for very little money.

A small complaint. WHY BS?? If John McCormack is not about music, very little in this world is.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 10:45 PM

Dale-----

It is extremely hard to believe how misinformed I was about John McCormack on CD. Thanks so much !!! I know one lady who will be extremely happy come our anniversary.

All the best,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: The Pooka
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 11:07 PM

Thanks for ALL of this. Ah, fond memories. Fiolar, you have done a great service. He was a great one indeed./ My parents had McCormick records. I have 'em somewhere...I think...where's the ol' turntable...

There's a spot in my heart that no colleen may own,
There's a depth in my soul never sounded or known...

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: The Pooka
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 11:36 PM

McCormack. Sorry.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: leprechaun
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 01:26 AM

McCormick - McCormack...in a few select places they are interchangeable. Where would I go to find out more about his ancestors?

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 02:55 AM

John McCormack was born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland on June 14, 1884. The family was at that time living in a small row house in "The Bawn," a neighborhood in Athlone, east of the Shannon River. The river divides Athlone into two parts, with the west side being County Roscommon. John was the fourth of eleven children born to Hannah and Andrew McCormack, and one of the five to survive childhood. Both his parents were born in Galashiels, Scotland. Andrew's father was Irish and had originally hailed from Sligo. Mrs. McCormack's family was Scottish Presbyterian. McCormack's father came to Athlone to work in the woolen mills, employment that eventually led to managing a division of the firm he worked for.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha.
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 05:25 AM

Included in an 1946 Capuchin Annual, in my possession, is a list of all of John McCormack`s recordings, I will check on it later and give some details. Art Thieme John`s CD`s are readily available anywhere in Ireland. McCormack like the great Paul Robeson was God`s gift to the World. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Hrothgar
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 07:36 AM

Is the difference between McCormick and McCormack simply that McCormack harvested songs?

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 08:29 AM

I am sorry I gave the wrong date for the Capuchin Annual the 1946-47 issue is a tribute to McCormack, the complete list of his recordings are in the 1949 edition.

He was still a boy Tenor without advanced vocal training when he made his first recordings, a series of eight cylinders for the Edison company, this was in 1904. At about the same time in 1904 he made his first disc records for the Gramaphone and Typewriting company of London. In 1910 the tenor appeared in the US, he sang at the Manhattan Opera House and enjoyed great acclaim. The Victor Record Company requested the artist to make test recordings and on the strength of these bought out his contract with the Odeon Company which still had two years to run. Victor signed him on a twenty eight year exclusive contract, giving him ten thousand Dollars down and a ten per cent royalty on each record sold. McCormack was adored by his millions of fans, his wide range across the musical spectrum, from grand opera to the humblest folk song was performed with sincerty and passion. I have yet an old disc of McCormack singing "I hear you calling me", I have treasured it down the years and of course numerous LP`s and CD`s. A truly great artist. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: Deda
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 07:15 PM

My late beloved mother was a big fan of John McCormack. I have one cherished LP of his, which includes "Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms", inter alia. I once found a 10-album set of his in a thrift store, years ago, and gave it to my mother. But by the time she died, a few years later, that set was missing. (We have a light-fingered relative, alas, a source of much grief.)

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: leprechaun
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 08:51 PM

What the heck are they doing all the way up there in Sligo? What about all the relatives in Tipperary?

Subject: Lyr Add: DEAR OLD PAL OF MINE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:26 AM

Sheet music can be found at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

The cover says, "Sung by Mr. John McCormack at all his engagements."

Sound files of three different recordings, including one by John McCormack, can be heard at The Virtual Gramophone.

DEAR OLD PAL OF MINE
(Words, Harold Robé. Music, Lt. Gitz Rice. 1918)

All my life is empty, since I went away.
Skies don't seem to be so clear.
May some angel sentry guard you while I stray
And fate be kind to join us some sweet day.

CHORUS: Oh, how I want you, dear old pal of mine.
Each night and day I pray you're always mine.
Sweetheart, may God bless you, angel hand caress you,
While sweet dreams rest you, dear old pal of mine.

Dearie, I'm so lonely. How I miss your smile
And your loving way.
I just want you only, want you all the while.
May God decree I have you back some day.

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: John Routledge
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 03:43 PM

Naxos have just issued a two volume compilation of McCormack's recordings from around 1910/11

The recordings have been restored by Ward Marston and the quality is amazing(to me)

I have bought Vol 2 and have Vol 1 on order. £5 each -22 tracks on Vol 2

Vol 2 includes Molly Bawn,She is far from the Land, Endearing Young Charms together with arias from Verdi Gounod Bizet and Rossini.

Vol 1 apparently has a much larger proportion of songs than arias but I will wait and see.

The emotion carried by McCormack's voice is awesome!!!

Subject: RE: John McCormack - Anniversary
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 04:04 PM

Since making the second post in this thread, we have given/sent Utah Phillips eight of our LP albums. We have picked up mostly the Irish and lighter songs on CDs that friends have made for us. Also, there are some good CDs available for purchase at the various on-line CD sellers. ------- Our son, Chris, has taken the rest of Carol's LPs of J. M., the ones she really loves, and he is making CDs for us from those. He is a self-taught computer guru (but with a college degree in English Lit.) who runs/fixes all the computers at a huge suburban high school complex outside of Chicago. We are looking forward to having those!

Art Thieme