DESCRIPTION:
As a King's Singers fan, I long awaited the release in digital of some of their earlier albums. Most of such albums were re-released in CD but in a few cases I'm rather sure this never has occured. Various tracks are downloadable in compressed format, but I didn't find the listening experience up to CD standards and the vinyl sounds snappier, more open.

Tracks of the KS's first LPs have been randomly put in the various CD compilations released since the early Nineties; others were or are performed live by the KS. Some music from the KS's repertoire, however, seems to have been dropped for ever by them (physiological after all) and only survives in the grooves of vinyls - and in EMI's vaults. Besides, not only there are songs and arrangements hardly ever performed or recorded by anybody, but I often found that the KS's versions remain outstanding, possibly superior to anything available.

This is why I digitized some of my LPs, alas never in mint condition - I hope you'll appreciate anyway.

As to technicalities, I used a Thorens TD160S MkV turntable, with a Roksan cartridge. For A/D conversion, I fed the phono signal from my hifi amplifier into a Focusrite Saffire PRO14. VinylStudio is the SW I handled the digital audio with. I didn't want to fiddle too much with it, but I did brush away clicks and pops to some extent - unfortunately, VinylStudio was unable to get rid of "swishes". So what you hear is basically flat from the disc. The YT video your're listening to embeds an MP3 - VinylStudio seems well equipped for audio files downsizing.

I'm uploading here tracks from the LP THE KING'S SINGERS SING FLANDERS & SWANN AND NOEL COWARD, released in 1977 - great arrangements by the first and finest KS arrangers and great fun to listen to. Get ready for crafty music, actually beautiful melodies, old English humor and references to people or facts of the past. It's all completely a cappella.
The LP catalogue no. is EMC 3196, was produced by Nick Ingman and the engineer was John Kurlander. Tracks 1-8 are by Flanders & Swann, with arrangements by Gordon Langford; while tracks on the B-side (9-15) are by Noël Coward, arranged by Daryl Runswick. They were recorded at Abbey Road Studios and A.I.R. London Studios.
The ambience of the recording environment does change from side A to B - the latter has a wider stereo spread - but which studio was used for which side is not said.

Here the King's Singers are:

Nigel Perrin and Alastair Hume, countertenors
Alastair Thompson, tenor
Anthony Holt and Simon Carrington, baritones
Brian Kay, bass.

I'm gradually publishing on YT stuff from A FRENCH COLLECTION (1973), CONCERT COLLECTION (1976) and
VICTORIAN COLLECTION (1980), and maybe some bits and pieces from other LPs. I'm putting out the tracks one at the time, with not too long an interval between one another.

I'd be glad of feedbacks from other fans.

Here are the lyrics of THE SLOTH:

A Bradypus, or Sloth, am I,
I live a life of ease
Contented not to do or die,
But idle as I please
I have three toes on either foot,
Or half a doz. on both
With leaves and fruits, and shoots to eat,
How sweet to be a Sloth

The world is such a cheerful place
When viewed from upside-down;
It makes a rise of every fall,
A smile of every frown;
I watch the fleeting flutter by
Of butterfly or moth
And think of all the things I'd try
If I were not a Sloth.

I could climb the very highest Himalayas,
Be among the greatest ever tennis players,
Always win at chess or marry a Princess or
Study hard and be an eminent professor.
I could be a millionaire, play the clarinet,
Travel everywhere,
Learn to cook, catch a crook,
Win a war and write a book about it.

I could paint a Mona Lisa,
I could be another Caesar.
Compose an oratorio that was sublime.
The door's not shut on my genius but
I just don't have the time!

For days and days among the trees
I sleep and dream and doze
Just gently swaying in the breeze
Suspended by my toes
While eager beavers overhead
Rush through the undergrowth
I watch the clouds beneath my feet;
How sweet to be a Sloth.