Full Versions of Classics

[drock89]

Why is it that very few artists record the whole song?? I'm really wanting to hear full versions of "O Holy Night" and "What Child Is This" but I can't find any!!

>:(

[giovannina]

I feel the same way, ShaniaGG. There are some full versions around, though. Josh Groban's version of O Holy Night has all 3 verses, and you can hear it a lot on AC stations. Dan Fogelberg has a beautiful full version of What Child Is This? on his album tiltled "First Christmas Morning." He also has a full version of "In The Bleak Midwinter" on that album. Clay Aiken sings 3 verses of The First Noel on the American Idol Holiday Classics album and all the verses of Joy To The World on his album "Merry Christmas With Love." I believe Anne Murray has a complete version of several Christmas songs, e.g., O Come, All Ye Faithful and Joy To The World, on her first Christmas album. Some of the other country artists also include 3 or verses of carols on their christmas albums.
I think it's mainly radio program directors who choose to play shortened versions or verions that just repeat the first verse. Some of this may be because the other verses of some Christmas carols get too specifically religious in their texts (e.g., lines about the cross, Jesus being born to die for our sins, etc.). The general public may prefer to just sing about angels, shepherds, the star, and the baby lying in the manger. Country music is less likely to shy away from the religious content.

Oh, and try some Gospel artists for full versions of carols too.

[drock89]

Wow. Celine Dion's and Josh Grobin's versions of "O Holy Night" are BEAUTIFUL!!

Thanks for your help! :)