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Reviewer: microcosme - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 27, 2015

Subject: Al Jolson recommended him In the short film, A Plantation Act, Al Jolson mentioned "John McCormack, the famous radio singer....and folks, he ain't bad!" - October 27, 2015Al Jolson recommended him

Reviewer: flemingd - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 7, 2012

Subject: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling??? Having these classic and historical recordings available is an incredible thing. Thank you to those of you who have taken on this daunting work. I was wondering why there is not a John McCormack recording of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" or if I missed it somewhere in the archive. I do have a copy of the RCA-Victor 78 of his 1916 recording of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" with the 1912 recording of "Wearing of the Green" on the other side. If this somehow helps with completing the John McCormack collection I would be glad to help. - August 7, 2012When Irish Eyes Are Smiling???

Reviewer: mtas grandad - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 9, 2010

Subject: Track 16 I believe that track 16 is Questa O Quella from Rigolotto by Verdi.



But what a superb voice, even through these old recordings it shines through... - December 9, 2010Track 16

Reviewer: O'DBOL - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 13, 2009

Subject: Improved track list? Ooooh. Music to die for.



As far as I checked, the items with same or similar titles are in fact from the same original recording.



Someone could do a great service by entering a proper track list, and comparing the different renderings.



"Audio Track 17" is "Il mio tesoro." "Audio Track 20" is Handel's "Oh sleep, why dost thou leave me?" I didn't recognize "Audio Track 16." All the rest seemed to have essentially correct titles, but I would still treasure an authoritative list of sources.



Back to the music: the beautiful ease across the whole range is delightful. There seems to be less dynamic range than he probably put into a live performance. Does anyone know enough about the technical details of the recordings to illuminate? I suspect that he deliberately flattened the dynamics in the performance to match the limits of the equipment. Even if it were done out of technical necessity, there's a special beauty to hearing such an even dynamic across the whole range, while all the feeling that we need is carried by timbre and phrasing. O'DBOL -- November 13, 2009Improved track list?

Reviewer: Didier75 - favorite favorite favorite - January 26, 2009

Subject: AudioTrack20 It seems to be

HAENDEL-O sleep, why do'st thou leave me? - January 26, 2009AudioTrack20

Reviewer: uttini1813 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 24, 2008

Subject: Audio Track 17 This track is the aria "Il Mio Tesoro" from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. For grace, flexibility, clarity of text, and musical exactness it may be the greatest performance of the aria ever captured. It certainly is the peak of McCormack's art.

What a fortunate era: the dawn of recording and the coexistance of Enrico Caruso and John McCormack and their decision to base their performing careers in the US and be a source of pride to the Itlain and Irish immigrants who were building this country. (And McCormack outlived Caruso so was able to add much to his recorded legacy) - August 24, 2008Audio Track 17

Reviewer: surfvh - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 15, 2007

Subject: The Classic Irish Tenor His rendition of 'Down By The Sally Garden' is a rare treat. You might remember this song from the movie 'Babe' as the song the farmer danced to to revive his pet. No wonder Babe cheered up. I never knew John McCormack existed until I happened to find his collection on archives.org . Thank you archive.org staff for yet another great job in bringing another talent of the past to light to be enjoyed by all of the generations to come. Keep up the good work and don't the nay-sayers of the world stop your important task! - October 15, 2007The Classic Irish Tenor

Reviewer: Hibernia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 12, 2007

Subject: One Of The Best McCormack had no peer as an allround singer. Unlike the vast majority of classically trained artists he was the complete master of "crossover".Whether singing opera,lieder,art song or popular songs his technique shone through.His superb breath control,immaculate phrasing and faultless diction made him unique. Hibernia -- June 12, 2007One Of The Best

Reviewer: ERD. - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 17, 2007

Subject: John McCormack stands the test of time John McCormack was one of the greatest tenors.

His voice,technique,sensitivity,and interpretation are brilliant.His recordings are a testament to his greatness. - March 17, 2007John McCormack stands the test of time

Reviewer: Hay Machine (e) - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 7, 2006

Subject: Macushla Macushla



___________________________



He came as soon as he could

His uneasy manner in the hall gestured

That it might be best to make haste for the patient





The air in the front room was cold and filled with piano gases

The polish of half a century

Its musty unvarnished innards leaking their smells out into the house





He sat himself onto the stool

His ear listening politely to the story so far

His eye sweeping the patient for vital signs





A bag of tools rattled when he reached to let them down

The polished veneer panel creaked and squeaked

As he prised it from its dowelled clamps





Allison London and Nordell Crane Dublin

He scanned the ornamental gold and silver font

He played a ten finger cord and listened

The Air vibrating to the short tin-can overture





He faded into a more intimate laying-on of hands

His bedside manner had filled the cold room with purpose

The warming radiator clicking and ticking like a broken metronome





A sudden deep horn blew five times and twice again then once

The right pedal creaking downwards to sustain the jagged note

Throwing uneven pyramids of sound up into the mid-morning air





The repeating Morse was beginning to sound like a proper staircase

A fitted carpet of melody was hammered softly into all the corners

Followed not long after by a sweet rhyme of running footsteps slowly up and then down





He put back the breastplate

Turning the dark hidden hooks around and down and into their patient clamps





He dipped into the replenished well of the old upright

And pulled on its heartstrings

The finest love song softly first and then

Macushla Macushla your sweet voice is calling

Calling me softly again and again





Hay Machine (e) - November 7, 2006Macushla

Reviewer: Hibernia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 28, 2006

Subject: Perfection What a glorious voice. What a selection of material,from opera to art song,Irish ditties and popular song.It is easy to see why he was the most popular artist of the first three decades of the 20th century,selling more records than the great Caruso. Hibernia -- October 28, 2006Perfection

Reviewer: Hibernia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 28, 2006

Subject: Perfection What a glorious voice. What a selection of material,from opera to art song,Irish ditties and popular song.It is easy to see why he was the most popular artist of the first three decades of the 20th century,selling more records than the great Caruso. Hibernia -- October 28, 2006Perfection

Reviewer: Hibernia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 28, 2006

Subject: John McCormack What a glorious voice. what a wide selection of material,from opera to art song to popular melodies.It is easy to see why he was the most popular artist of the first three decades of the 20th century,selling more records than Caruso. Hibernia -- October 28, 2006John McCormack

Reviewer: Hibernia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 28, 2006

Subject: John McCormack What a glorious voice. what a wide selection of material,from opera to art song to popular melodies.It is easy to see why he was the most popular artist of the first three decades of the 20th century,selling more records than Caruso. Hibernia -- October 28, 2006John McCormack