Kenneth McKellar - The Decca Years (1955-1975) [BOX SET] [Box set]

Many music lovers under forty may be unfamiliar with the art of Mr. McKellar as he was at the height of his popularity more than a quarter of a century ago. Therefore this pair of compact discs may be the first introduction many have to the singing of Scotland's finest tenor. And a fine introduction they make, for they include excellent samples from nearly all of McKellar's fine Decca albums. We will likely never hear better versions of "She Moved Thro' The Fair" and "Down By The Sally Gardens". And the Hebridean and Highland songs are sung with the vocal and artistic perfection these fine copositions deserve. There are also several selections from McKellar's later Decca period that were very difficult for us "Yanks" to obtain and may be new to even some of his greatest overseas fans.

I am pleased by the popularity of the late Frank Patterson and The Three Irish Tenors, as they have done much to keep the repertoire and style of singing popularized by McCormack and McKellar alive and well. So all you fans of Frank Patterson, Louis Browne, Finbar Wright, Ronan Tynan and Anthony Kearns, take heed. You will not find a more beautiful vocal instrument in the annals of recorded sound than that of McKellar in his prime, so grab this collection while you can.

And Mr. McKellar, should you happen to read this sometime, here's thanks to you for the nearly half a century of joy you have brought to the music lovers of the world. May God bless you and not put you in His heavenly choir for many years to come!

Kenneth McKellar, who is still pleasant to listen to for his wit, artistry and excellent diction was at his peak in his Decca years. He was best known for his Scottish songs in a classical "John Mccormack Style" but he crossed over very successfully into popular music, light classics and operatic arias. He sang in Italian, German, French and Welsh as well as Scots and English. Until recently these recordings from 1955-1975 have been unavailable(when his voice was at its peak of power and charm). Fiddler on the Roof SUNRISE SUNSET is superb and West Side Story's MARIA is the best and most tasteful recording I have ever heard. Of course, the majority of the recordings are traditional Scottish songs of the lowlands and Highlands (with a good number of Kennedy-Fraser , Kenneth MacLeod adaptations). My only disappointment really is that some of his best Irish recordings are not here nor his foray into Welsh.

McKellar of course came from another generation when Scots tried to out English the English so his Gaelic is very small. Late in her career he sang a few Gaelic choruses but mostly he sang late 19th century and early 20th century translations of the Big Songs.

But as an interpreter of the Songs of Burns and the Scots Musical Museum (the Lowland Scots tradition) McKellar was without peer. If you can get his KISMET recording. It is just great. I don't think he ever made a bad album although SOMETIMES his pop material is thin. His classical performances are ALWAYS first class. I just wish he had made more classical recordings in his prime.

I hope this is just the beginning of the reissuing the great recordings of one of the great tenors that 20th century Britain has produced. Any lover of the art songs or the "big songs" of the Celtic Fringe will find a movable feast in the artistry of Kenneth McKellar the man known for many years as "Scotland's First tenor" .

Listen and swoon.