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Audio Readings of Tolkien and Christopher published by Caedmon
17 May
2026-5-17 3:23:30 PM UTC
2026-5-17 3:23:30 PM UTC
This article/thread is looking at the items I have which feature various audio recordings by JRR and Christopher Tolkien which were first published on the series of Vinyl LPs produced by Caedmon audio. It is not including any other audio recordings Tolkien did i.e. interviews etc.
There is a very good article by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull about Tolkiens use of Tape Recorders which features some of the recordings on these LPs.
https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/tolkien-and-the-tape-recorder/
The back of the LPs covers also gives some interesting details on the recordings.
This first post looks at the LP’s, I will then look at the cassette and CD puduced.
Poems and Songs of Middle-Earth
1967
UK: TC1231, US: 91231, Canada: TC1231, Australia & New Zealand: TC1231
This first LP in the series, Poems and Songs of Middle Earth album is in 2 parts, the first part features Tolkien reading from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (on side a.) and a poem in Elvish, Elizabeth Gilthoniel (the first track on side b.). Tolkien recorded these specifically for the album on 15th June 1967 at his own home Sandfield Road, Oxford, a producer and engineer from the Caedmon company came to his house to do the recording. The second part of the album is a performance of Donald Swann's The Road Goes Ever On, which sets some of Tolkien's verse to music. Singer William Elvin sings to Swann's piano accompaniment. The release of the album coincided with the publication of The Road Goes Ever On as a book of sheet music.
The album cover features the classic Pauline Baynes artwork which was used on the back cover of the first single volume publication of the Lord of the Rings.
J R R Tolkien reads and sings The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring
1975
UK: TC1477, US: TC1477, Canada: TC1477
The second LP in the series, The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, features recordings which were made in August 1952 informally whilst Tolkien was visiting friends George and Moira Sayer, interestingly before the Lord of the Rings books were published. The back cover of the album includes an introduction by George Sayer.
The album cover features Tolkiens own “Conversation with Smaug” artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads and sings his The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers/Return of the King
1975
UK: TC1478, US: TC1478, Canada: TC1478
The third LP in the series, The Two Towers and Return of the King, also features recordings from the George Sayer visit.
The album cover features a photo of Tolkien taken by Billet Potter.
J R R Tolkien The Silmarillion Of Beren and Luthien read by Christopher Tolkien
1977
US: TC1567, Canada: TC1567
This Beren and Luthien album has recordings by Christopher Tolkien which were specifically recorded for the album and features the greater part of the story read from chapter 19 from the Silmarillion publication.
The album cover features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
J R R Tolkien Of the Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor from The Silmarillion read by Christopher Tolkien
1978
US: TC1579
The Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor album has recordings by Christopher Tolkien which were specifically recorded for the album and features chapters 8 and 9 from the Silmarillion publication.
The album cover features Tolkiens own “Taniquentil” artwork.
J R R Tolkien Soundbook
1977
US: SBR101
This boxed set includes 4 of LPs above and a Promotional Poster.
The Lp’s included are The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien and Poems and Songs.
The poster is a Promotional poster for the Beren and Luthien LP, with and features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
The box cover features Tolkiens own “Tol Sirion” artwork coloured by H E Riddett.
Advert
This is an advert from the initial release of the Silmarillion Beren and Luthien LP and the Soundbook.
Caedmon Speaking of the Best for 25 years
1977
US: SP25
This LP is not Tolkien specific but contains snippets of recordings by various artists which Caedmon had produced LPs of.
It features Tolkien, and has snippets from the Tolkien reads and sings The Lord of the Rings LP.
It also includes a 12 booklet of “rare” photographs, which features Tolkien.
There is a very good article by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull about Tolkiens use of Tape Recorders which features some of the recordings on these LPs.
https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/tolkien-and-the-tape-recorder/
The back of the LPs covers also gives some interesting details on the recordings.
This first post looks at the LP’s, I will then look at the cassette and CD puduced.
Poems and Songs of Middle-Earth
1967
UK: TC1231, US: 91231, Canada: TC1231, Australia & New Zealand: TC1231
This first LP in the series, Poems and Songs of Middle Earth album is in 2 parts, the first part features Tolkien reading from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (on side a.) and a poem in Elvish, Elizabeth Gilthoniel (the first track on side b.). Tolkien recorded these specifically for the album on 15th June 1967 at his own home Sandfield Road, Oxford, a producer and engineer from the Caedmon company came to his house to do the recording. The second part of the album is a performance of Donald Swann's The Road Goes Ever On, which sets some of Tolkien's verse to music. Singer William Elvin sings to Swann's piano accompaniment. The release of the album coincided with the publication of The Road Goes Ever On as a book of sheet music.
The album cover features the classic Pauline Baynes artwork which was used on the back cover of the first single volume publication of the Lord of the Rings.
J R R Tolkien reads and sings The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring
1975
UK: TC1477, US: TC1477, Canada: TC1477
The second LP in the series, The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, features recordings which were made in August 1952 informally whilst Tolkien was visiting friends George and Moira Sayer, interestingly before the Lord of the Rings books were published. The back cover of the album includes an introduction by George Sayer.
The album cover features Tolkiens own “Conversation with Smaug” artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads and sings his The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers/Return of the King
1975
UK: TC1478, US: TC1478, Canada: TC1478
The third LP in the series, The Two Towers and Return of the King, also features recordings from the George Sayer visit.
The album cover features a photo of Tolkien taken by Billet Potter.
J R R Tolkien The Silmarillion Of Beren and Luthien read by Christopher Tolkien
1977
US: TC1567, Canada: TC1567
This Beren and Luthien album has recordings by Christopher Tolkien which were specifically recorded for the album and features the greater part of the story read from chapter 19 from the Silmarillion publication.
The album cover features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
J R R Tolkien Of the Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor from The Silmarillion read by Christopher Tolkien
1978
US: TC1579
The Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor album has recordings by Christopher Tolkien which were specifically recorded for the album and features chapters 8 and 9 from the Silmarillion publication.
The album cover features Tolkiens own “Taniquentil” artwork.
J R R Tolkien Soundbook
1977
US: SBR101
This boxed set includes 4 of LPs above and a Promotional Poster.
The Lp’s included are The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien and Poems and Songs.
The poster is a Promotional poster for the Beren and Luthien LP, with and features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
The box cover features Tolkiens own “Tol Sirion” artwork coloured by H E Riddett.
Advert
This is an advert from the initial release of the Silmarillion Beren and Luthien LP and the Soundbook.
Caedmon Speaking of the Best for 25 years
1977
US: SP25
This LP is not Tolkien specific but contains snippets of recordings by various artists which Caedmon had produced LPs of.
It features Tolkien, and has snippets from the Tolkien reads and sings The Lord of the Rings LP.
It also includes a 12 booklet of “rare” photographs, which features Tolkien.
As well as the LP’s above, I also have some cassettes releases of th3 same audio recordings.
J R R Tolkien Soundbook
1977
US: SBC101
This boxed set is a direct cassette version of the LP Soundbook and includes 4 tapes, a Program Booklet and a Promotional Poster.
The Cassettes included are tape versions of the same 4 LPs in the LP Soundbook above, The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien and Poems and Songs.
As with the LP version, the poster is a Promotional poster for the Beren and Luthien LP, and features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
The box cover features Tolkiens own “Tol Sirion” artwork coloured by H E Riddett.
I also have a set of cassettes released with the same audio recording which have cover artwork by Roger Garland.
These come in big boxes with covers illustrated by the artist Roger Garland. Each box contains a single cassette in a plastic clamshell case which has the same image as on the box.
Poems and Songs
ISBN: 0001042246 (9780001042247)
1995
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Luthien in the Woods” artwork.
The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring
ISBN: 000104222X (9780001042223)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Middle-earth” artwork.
The Lord of the Rings Two Towers and Return of the King
ISBN: 0001042238 (9780001042230)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Baradur” artwork.
The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien
ISBN: 0001042262 (9780001042261)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Valinor” artwork.
The Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor
ISBN: 001042254 (9780001042254)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Luthien and Beren” artwork.
J R R Tolkien Collection
ISBN: 9780001042735
4 tapes
This comes in a large plastic case which features Garland’s “Middle-earth” artwork.
It includes recordings from the 4 individual tapes, The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien, Poems and Songs.
J R R Tolkien Soundbook
1977
US: SBC101
This boxed set is a direct cassette version of the LP Soundbook and includes 4 tapes, a Program Booklet and a Promotional Poster.
The Cassettes included are tape versions of the same 4 LPs in the LP Soundbook above, The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien and Poems and Songs.
As with the LP version, the poster is a Promotional poster for the Beren and Luthien LP, and features Tolkiens map of Beleriand coloured by H E Riddett.
The box cover features Tolkiens own “Tol Sirion” artwork coloured by H E Riddett.
I also have a set of cassettes released with the same audio recording which have cover artwork by Roger Garland.
These come in big boxes with covers illustrated by the artist Roger Garland. Each box contains a single cassette in a plastic clamshell case which has the same image as on the box.
Poems and Songs
ISBN: 0001042246 (9780001042247)
1995
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Luthien in the Woods” artwork.
The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring
ISBN: 000104222X (9780001042223)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Middle-earth” artwork.
The Lord of the Rings Two Towers and Return of the King
ISBN: 0001042238 (9780001042230)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Baradur” artwork.
The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien
ISBN: 0001042262 (9780001042261)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Valinor” artwork.
The Silmarillion: Of the Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor
ISBN: 001042254 (9780001042254)
1988
Single tape
This features the same recordings as on the LP of the same name.
The box and cassette case feature Garland’s “Luthien and Beren” artwork.
J R R Tolkien Collection
ISBN: 9780001042735
4 tapes
This comes in a large plastic case which features Garland’s “Middle-earth” artwork.
It includes recordings from the 4 individual tapes, The Hobbit and the Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion: Of Beren and Luthien, Poems and Songs.
Continuing with the cassette publications.
The first thing to say is that there are quite a few other big box versions similar to the previous post. A lot of these are US versions, there are some Tolkien art cover artwork, there are some with photos of Tolkien covers.
I don’t have many of these so I not going detail them.
So the next cassettes I am covering were published by Harper Collins Audio, which, as Trotter pointed out, was created when Harper Collins purchased Caedmon.
J R R Tolkien Collection
1988
ISBN: 001042734 (9780001042735)
HCA 81
4 cassettes
This consists of 2 large clamshell cases, each containing 2 cassettes, 4 in total.
They feature the Silmarillion Beren and Luthien , Hobbit and Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and Poem and Songs recordings.
Both cases covers feature the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
1999
ISBN: 0001056263 (9780001056268)
HCA 675
2 cassettes
This is a single large clamshell case, contains 2 cassette.
They feature the Hobbit and Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and Poem and Songs recordings.
The case cover features the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
There are then 3 single cassettes which are the same but with different packaging, they have no ISBN anywhere and no date details. I am unsure if they were all released at the same time.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features the classic Alan Lee Bag End artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features Tolkiens own artwork of the Ring with Eye of Sauron in the middle which is a variation on the cover of the original Lord of the Rings books.
The next post will be about CD publications.
The first thing to say is that there are quite a few other big box versions similar to the previous post. A lot of these are US versions, there are some Tolkien art cover artwork, there are some with photos of Tolkien covers.
I don’t have many of these so I not going detail them.
So the next cassettes I am covering were published by Harper Collins Audio, which, as Trotter pointed out, was created when Harper Collins purchased Caedmon.
J R R Tolkien Collection
1988
ISBN: 001042734 (9780001042735)
HCA 81
4 cassettes
This consists of 2 large clamshell cases, each containing 2 cassettes, 4 in total.
They feature the Silmarillion Beren and Luthien , Hobbit and Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and Poem and Songs recordings.
Both cases covers feature the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
1999
ISBN: 0001056263 (9780001056268)
HCA 675
2 cassettes
This is a single large clamshell case, contains 2 cassette.
They feature the Hobbit and Fellowship, Two Towers and Return of the King and Poem and Songs recordings.
The case cover features the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
There are then 3 single cassettes which are the same but with different packaging, they have no ISBN anywhere and no date details. I am unsure if they were all released at the same time.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features the classic John Howe Gandalf artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features the classic Alan Lee Bag End artwork.
J R R Tolkien reads excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
1 cassette
2001?
This is a standard clamshell case containing 1 cassette.
It features only the Fellowship recordings.
The case cover features Tolkiens own artwork of the Ring with Eye of Sauron in the middle which is a variation on the cover of the original Lord of the Rings books.
The next post will be about CD publications.
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