Help me locate this version of God rest ye merry gentlemen” / “Tidings of comfort and joy”

[Crules]

Hello everyone I am new here Merry Christmas to all. I really need of your help I have been trying to locate a specific version of “God rest ye merry gentlemen” / “Tidings of comfort and joy” I can only provide bits of information but I am sure some one could help me. OK here it goes

1)This is a traditional version of the carol and it starts of with an instrumental ( no words) version of the chorus:
“ O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Then it starts with the song

2. what is really amazing about this version is that it is really fast paced almost aggressive not like a lot of the other softer calmer versions.

3. it sounded like a choir sang it

4. I know this version came out before 1995 since this is when I first heard it when I was a kid in school

Most importantly the lyrics of the song of this version are :
God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

or

it may be “God rest you merry, gentlemen…..” but everything else is the same

Can some one please help me locate this version I first heard it when I was a kid, then I actually heard it again on the radio in 2018 I tried to contact the radio company but no one responded to my emails. I tried looking on dozens of versions on youtube but no luck. If someone knows this version and tell me who sang it would mean a lot

Thank you

I suspect you’re thinking of track number 9 on here: www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Christmas-Ultimate-Collection-Classics/dp/B00005QVXY/ref=asc_df_B00005QVXY/?hvlocphy=9046392&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310879312513&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-414331169034&hvrand=13472150560351828014

It’s my favourite version, really dramatic. I’ve got the cd in my car right now. Hope this helps!

Just popping back to say - ignore that! The version I was thinking of is just instrumental, I could have sworn there was a choir! It’s a fabulous version nevertheless. I hope you find the one you’re looking for. Merry Christmas!

Could it be the version from home alone given the year?

Those are the normal hymn lyrics, so I don't think that narrows it down

(partly posting to see if anyone cones up with the answer, as I like carols to be vigorous!)

Have you tried looking on Spotify? There are probably loads of versions on there.

It's more recent than that, but Annie Lennox's version on 'A Christmas Cornucopia' is fast paced and vigorous like you're describing

Annoyingly, I can hear it in my head from your description, but cannot place it! But I don't think you are imagining it.

@PollyannaWhittier

It's more recent than that, but Annie Lennox's version on 'A Christmas Cornucopia' is fast paced and vigorous like you're describing

I love that version! I have several songs from Cornucopia on my Christmas playlist!

Beginning a carol with an instrumental rendition of the refrain, then singing slightly more quickly than we're used to, is something of a hallmark of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I'd even go so far as to say it sounds like a Mack Wilburg arrangement but he didn't join them until 1999.

Have you checked through their Youtube channel? Plenty of other Christmas gems there too - their 2016 version of Joy to the World is mind-blowing compared to the staid versions we get from church choirs here.

Won't be the one you're looking for OP, but try Pentatonix's version of this, I suspect you'd like it!

Thank you all for responding these are all great versions but not the one I was looking for. The home alone version is great but the choir is a children’s choir the one I am thinking of is sung by adults also the lyrics don’t match

The home alone version uses the line “remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day,

The version I need uses the line:
“For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,”

Annie Lennox is great but again the lyrics don’t match and it is too recent
Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a legendary Christmas choir but again the lyrics don’t match and it is too recent
Pentatonix is very recent but much like the others it is too recent and the lyrics are slightly off and the version I am thinking about came out when the pentatonix were children or even before they were born.

Thanks for your help if anyone can offer any more ideas of where I can find this legendary version I would appreciate it.

King's college Cambridge arrangement is very much like that?

I don't know, what your describing sounds like a lot of renditions of the song

This one..

The overview says it's this one on YouTube

I had no idea that Ronnie James Dio had recorded this - great memories of him fronting Black Sabbath (post Ozzy) and Rainbow.