1967 Poems and Songs of Middle Earth

Release Date: 1967.10.18
Reader: J.R.R. Tolkien
Language: English
Adaptor: Donald Swann
Organisation: Caedemon Records
Catalog: TC1231
Duration: 43 minutes
Unabridged: n/a
Country: UK
Licenced: Yes
Formats: Vinyl, CD, Digital

In 1965 the artist and pianist Donald Swann set a number of Tolkien’s poems to music, the sheet music of which was to be published as The Road Goes Ever On: A Song Cycle. Tolkien’s publisher, Allen & Unwin, wanted to simultaneously release a recording of the music performed. Swann was introduced to the singer William Elvin, whom it was felt had the ideal voice.

However, for this to be released as an LP there was a problem in that taken together, there was only enough material to occupy one side. Tolkien’s secretary, Joy Hill, proposed that the other side could contain recordings of Tolkien himself, narrating six poems from his Adventures of Tom Bombadil collection.

Houghton Mifflin (Allen & Unwin’s USA partner) approached Caedmon Records to prepare the LP and Caedmon sent the producer Howard Sackler and a sound engineer to Tolkien’s house on the 15th June 1967 to record the poetry readings. Tolkien was delighted when one of his former students W.H. Auden agreed to write the liner notes.

Tolkien provided specific phonetic notes for both Swann and Elvin and at a special performance on 14th March 1968, attended by the professor, they performed live at the Crosby Hall, in Chelsea, London. This also marked the official release of the book of the music. In the USA, the LP had been released in October 1967.