Sales and Leasing Listings
Music Recordings on CD
Feature Series
 The Sentimental Journey album consists of material recorded in 1949 and 1950 when the Pennsylvanians were at their peak of musical competency. Besides the nationally famous Glee Club and orchestra, the CD also features soloists Joanne Wheatley, Joe Marine, Jane Wilson, Gordon Goodman, Stuart Churchill and Daisy and the Dandylions.
Always a sincere "flag waver," Fred Waring featured songs of patriotism and inspiration on his radio and television broadcasts and in his stage shows. By popular demand, we produced this album of songs taken from recordings radio and television broadcasts as well as stage presentations, including such standards as "The Stars and Stripes Forever," "Give Me Your Tired Your Poor," "Stars of Glory," "Battle Hymn," "This Is My Country," Waring's own "My America," and seven other favorites.
 The original ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ album was recorded in 1942 for Decca records and released on 78 rpm records. Then, a 10” LP version was released in 1950. In 1954 the contents were all re-recorded and expanded to a 12” LP. This is the album that had the Norman Rockwell painting on the cover.
In 1964, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians again re-recorded “Twas The Night Before Christmas” as was part of an album for Capitol Records called “The Meaning of Christmas” This album is now part of a double CD called “Christmas Magic” available from Good Music Record Co. (1-800-538-4200.
We have re-created the original ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ Decca album using material from the Waring archives. Our sources are original recordings from radio and television broadcasts and some special events. The arrangements are exactly as on the Decca records with, in most cases, the same personnel.
The original Norman Rockwell album cover is copyrighted by Hallmark Cards so we couldn't use it; but upon request we can include a copy of their Christmas card with the scene on it.
A compilation of 21 Christmas carols and holiday songs as performed by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians on their many radio and television broadcasts.
Specialty Series
God’s Trombones $12.00
 Roy Ringwald’s thrilling settings of three James Weldon Johnson’s poems; The Creation, Go Down Death, and Judgment Day. This recording is taken from a 1952 television performance featuring Frank Davis as the preacher.
Now also available on DVD for $24.95.
Grandma’s Thanksgiving $12.00
 This is a happy collaboration between two members of the Waring organization - Harry Simeone, arranger and Frank Cunkle of the program research department. The basis of the song is Lydia Maria Child’s Thanksgiving poem sung for generations to the tune of a familiar childhood melody. Simeone and Cunkle extended the words and music many times beyond their original length and have provided us with classic song and story that has become a tradition at Thanksgiving time. This performance was a special recording made in 1947.
The Nutcracker Suite $15.00
 One of the most favored presentations by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians with special lyrics written by the Waring staff. This is a performance from a radio broadcast of August 19, 1948.
The Song of America $12.00
 Roy Ringwald’s monumental composition depicting the history of the United States from Columbus’ discovery through the presidency of Abraham Lincoln using texts from America’s most famous writers and poets. This is a recording made in 1975 in the CBS Studios in New York City with Mr. Waring conducting 60 singers and instrumentalists. Narration is by Fred Waring.
Old Time Radio Series (OTR 1-13)
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians began performing on radio in 1933 and continued until 1949. They were the premiere radio band during this ‘golden age’ of radio, and it was through radio that they became a household name.
Fred Waring’s America® is happy to offer a 12 CD set of programs for each of the sponsors of the Fred Waring radio shows. The shows are listed below.
Individual CD’s may be purchased for $12.00 each (plus handling) or the entire set can be purchased for $105 post-paid. If you purchase the whole set, we will include a free bonus CD of a Waring radio program celebrating what was playing on Broadway on February 17, 1949.
(click to see track listings and listen to samples)
Archive Series
These are special CDs from the material in the Fred Waring's America® archives that we consider to be musically and historically significant.
All CDs, unless otherwise stated, are $12.00 each.
 Recordings from the legendary Fred Waring Chesterfield Pleasure Radio show live broadcasts between 1939-1941. Produced by Fred Waring's America in cooperation with Cambria Master Recordings
$15.00 plus postage/handling
A vocal ensemble consisting of Stella Friend, Paul Gibbons, Paul Leitch and Roy Ringwald, who also wrote their arrangements. They appeared on Waring's broadcasts for the Ford Motor Company 1934-1936. They were one of the first small vocal ensembles.
Highlights from Fred Waring's radio show for the Ford Motor Company. Features the Glee Club, the V-8, the Lane Sisters, Johnny Davis, and an appearance by George Gershwin playing his own compositions with the Waring gang.
A companion disc to the one above. More highlights from the Ford Radio Shows of the 1930s featuring the Lane Sisters, Johnny "Scat" Davis, Ferne, Tom Waring and others.
The first all girls' choir ever featured on radio was presented by Fred Waring on the Ford radio show in 1935. This is a disc with many of their performances.
The first-ever pop vocal swing ensemble; one girl and seven guys. They were the predecessors tosuch groups as the Modernaires, Pied Pipers, Fifth Dimension, Manhattan Transfer and 'NSYNC.
Along with Stella and the Fellas, this group was one of the first small vocal ensembles featured on radio. They were also known as the Three Smoothies.
When Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians made the feature movie Varsity Show in 1937 in Pomona, California, these soundtrack recordings were made to be used in the filming of the production. They recently were found in the archives.
 In the late 1940s the Fred Waring Show was one of the most listened-to programs on the air. Each morning for a half hour, the public could hear the fine choral singing and presentation of the best in popular music. This CD has many of those favorite classic performances.
The half-hour broadcast of the Pennsylvanians on Christmas Day, 1946. This was the inspiration for the same titled Capitol Records Album years later.
(A Double CD $20)
In 1955 Fred Waring returned to Broadway with a fantastic revue which he later took on the road. This is a recording of a performance in his rehearsal hall in Delaware Water Gap, PA before the invited participants and guests of one of his golf tournaments. This shows the width and breadth of a typical Fred Waring stage show.
 In 1946 Fibber Magee and Molly had a radio program on Tuesday evening. When they decided to take a vacation they and their sponsor Johnson's Wax asked Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians to be their replacement for the six week period.
We offer a series of four CDs each containing two half-hour programs with a major theme, usually the music of a particular composer.
JW#1: Classical themes/Music of George Gershwin
JW#2: Music of Jerome Kern and Music of Irving Berlin
JW#3: Music of Cole Porter and Music of Harold Arlen
JW#4: Music of Richard Whiting and the All-Request Program
Reference Recordings for Music Educators
These recordings are offered to choral directors and their students to study the arrangements, techniques and philosophies of choral music entertainment from the legendary Fred Waring, known as “the man who taught America how to sing.”
Unless otherwise stated these reference recordings are $5.00 each.
Fred Waring Medleys
Recordings from "live" concert performances of the Pennsylvanians featuring some of the outstanding medleys and sequences Waring was so astute in putting together.
Highlights from "Live" Fred Waring Shows 1975-1984
Show-stopping performances by the Pennsylvanians, The Waring Blendors, Today's Pa's, and some of the outstanding soloists from the last decade of Fred Waring's concert tours around the country.
Fred Waring and the Music of Cole Porter
Fred Waring's interpretations of nineteen great Cole Porter songs for which arrangements are available for lease from Fred Waring's America Library.
Fred Waring and the Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein II
As with recording #3, Waring arrangements of Rodgers & Hammerstein songs that are available from Fred Waring's America Library.
Fred Waring and the Music of Christmas
Fred Waring and Christmas are practically synonymous; this tape is of some of the Christmas season songs that are available from the Waring Library.
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians Instrumental Music
Golden Oldies
Good solid arrangements of standard songs that are possibilities for the "pop" section of choral concerts.
Collegiate Songs
Arrangements, many TTBB, of college fight songs and alma maters.
Patriotic Songs
Fred Waring was a sincere "flag waver" and this is a reference recording of some of the patriotic arrangements in the Waring Music Library.
Hoagy Carmichael Songs
Fred Waring had wonderful relationships with American composers, and Hoagy Carmichael was one of them. This recording has 28 arrangements of Carmichael songs in the Waring Music Library.
DVDs
New – God’s Trombones on DVD! $24.95
Please note: This DVD will be available in January 2009 through Fred Waring's America or Shawnee Press, Inc. (www.ShawneePress.com)
Roy Ringwald took the prayer, “Listen, Lord,” and three of the sermon poems, “The Creation,” “Go Down Death,” and “Judgment Day” from the famous James Weldon Johnson poem for the composition of his remarkable score – a setting for orchestra, chorus, singing and speaking solo voice. The composition was first performed for television on the General Electric sponsored “Fred Waring Show,” January 6, 1952 and recorded for Decca Records June 17, 1952.”
This television performance of God’s Trombones is from a January 6, 1952 and a June 22, 1952 “Fred Waring Show.” The prayer leader is Gertrude Jeanette and the preacher is Frank Davis. Mr. Davis was discovered by Fred Waring when he was recommended for an appearance on the “Varsity Showcase” portion of Waring’s television show. Upon graduation from Xavier University in New Orleans, Mr. Davis joined the Pennsylvanians and sang with them for many years.
Shawnee Press is the exclusive distributor of the God’s Trombones DVD. You can purchase the DVD from Fred Waring’s America or from Shawnee Press (www.shawneepress.com or call 800-962-8584).
Rentals
REUNION VIDEO - $35.00
On June 10, 2000, seventy-seven former Pennsylvanians gathered at Penn State to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fred Waring's birth. They paid tribute to America's Singing Master by re-creating the original Waring combo and then with a full orchestra performed 45 of his classic arrangements to a full audience at the Eisenhower Auditorium. The concert was videotaped and is available as two DVDs.
Movie Rentals
Fred Waring’s America has several films from the 1920s, 30s and 40s that star the Pennsylvanians and showcase their pioneering work in the motion picture industry. They are available to rent for 30 days for a fee of $15.00. See the policies and procedures section to print out the movie rental form.
Waring’s Pennsylvanians (1927 short) |
Syncopation (1928 feature) |
Alma Martyr (1932 short) |
Varsity Show (1937 feature) |
Chesterfield Pleasure Time (1940 short) |
Books
Fred Waring Biography Available in Paperback
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, written by his wife of thirty years Virginia Waring, is an intimate portrait of an American legend known as "the man who taught America how to sing" and is now available in Paperback. The biography is accompanied by a compact disc with twenty-eight selections recorded by the Pennsylvanians over a forty-year period.
The newly available paperback edition of the book (original publication 1997) is available from the University of Illinois Press and can be ordered by calling 800/621-2736 or by sending an email to orders@press.uchicago.edu. (Paper, ISBN: 978-0-252-07444-8 $29.95 464 pages).
Roy Ringwald’s Book of American Carols
Literally years in the making, this is a masterpiece of research and compilation. Roy Ringwald, arguably one of the finest choral arrangers ever, before his death, compiled this book of 154 carols either first created or first published in America. Arrangements vary for SATB, SSA, unison, etc., most by the master arranger himself. All are reproducible.
Ringwald also included accurate, historical notes about each carol. He spent almost 37 years before his death on this project and we are proud to be able to make it available.
The book is 400 pages, spiral bound and costs $45.00 plus shipping by UPS ground $8.00. Send a check for $53.00 payable to Penn State University, to Fred Waring’s America.
Fred Waring’s America® Collection
The Pennsylvania State University
313 Pattee Library
University Park, PA 16802
Fred Waring Recordings Available From Other Sources
In addition to the recordings Fred Waring’s America offers, here are some Waring albums available from other sources:
To You Forever / In Concert
A double CD combining two Reprise albums. "To You Forever" is a collection of songs with the word "you" in them. "In Concert" is a live performance of the Pennsylvanians in 1964 at Lake Charles, Louisiana. Available from Primaril A Cappella.
Primarily A Cappella
P.O. Box D
San Anselmo, CA 94970
www.singers.com
Fred Waring's Greatest Hits, Now Is the Caroling Season and a CD of twenty-four hit recordings from Waring’s Pennsylvanians in the 1920s and 1930s.
Available on CD from Collectors Choice Music:
Collectors Choice Music
Tel: 1-800-923-1122 or
www.collectorschoicemusic.com
Christmas Magic
A double CD set that consists of two former Capitol albums, "The Sounds of Christmas" and "The Meaning of Christmas" Available from Good Music Record Co.
Fred Waring, The Collegiate Years
More song hits from the '20s and '30s.
Good Music Record Company (a.k.a. Yestermusic)
Tel: (800) 538-4200 or
www.yestermusic.com
Little Orley Stories
Fred Waring's America® has licensed Red Hen in Grand Rapids, Michigan to produce and distribute the Little Orley Stories CDs. They currently offer three CDs. Please send orders for Little Orley Stories to Red Hen.
Red Hen Books & Toys
O-78 Leonard St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Toll Free number: 888-573-3436
Website: http://www.littleorley.com/
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