The 1969 documentary LP entitled MAN ON THE MOON Narrated by Walter Cronkite (D 557)has a very plain red label that without a close examination is easily identified as theproduct of COLUMBIA (aka CBS) Records. The back cover has a quote from PresidentKennedy's famous speech where he put America on a course to land a man on the moonbefore the end of the 1960s. Above it is a b&w repro of Apollo commander Neil Armstrong'sphoto of "Buzz" Aldrin posing next to the U.S. flag that they've planted on the moon.There are at least two versions of this album. Mine, not currently listed at AMAZON, has afront cover color repro of the Apollo 11 mission seal and included a separate 7" 45 rpm discwith picture sleeve plus a signed portrait of the three astronauts. (Michael Collins was thecommand module pilot. His may have been the toughest job of all, staying alone in lunarorbit while Armstrong and Aldrin made history on the surface, less than 120 miles below.)It's a joy to again hear CBS news anchor Cronkite in his prime, describing one of the mostimportant events in history. Of course this program contains many sound clips of actualevents, from the moment of launch to its successful completion. Before getting there howevera synopsis of space history from Sputnik forward is presented. Along the way we hear thefamiliar and the less-so, such as the scientist who first determined that a separate andsmaller landing craft was the most practical way to reach the moon's surface. A Pt. 1 highlightis the complete recording of three Apollo 8 astronauts reading Genesis verses 1 through 10,also Frank Borman's sign-off well-wishes on Christmas Eve to "all of you on the good Earth."Side Two opens with Apollo 11's lunar orbit insertion and Neil Armstrong's description of theview outside command module Columbia. The landing sequence has the original CBS TV audiotrack with Cronkite and ex-astronaut Wally Schirra in shock at the moment of Eagle's landing.Buzz Aldrin gives a radio description of the lunar panorama at ground level, a prayer is offeredand way ahead of schedule Neil Armstrong's historic first step on the moon is recorded.We also hear the first words of the SECOND man on the moon, Lt. Buzz Aldrin. Upon touchingground he simply stated, "Magnificent desolation," not as fancy as Armstrong's "That's onesmall step for man," but perhaps that terse statement was far less thought out in advance.The two explorers stop for a phone call from Pres. Richard M. Nixon, then they go back towork collecting rock samples and setting up three scientific experiments. A subsequent radiotransmission has Armstrong describing the boulder field their LEM nearly landed in. The laterblast-off from the moon is nearly as heart-stopping as its setting down, yet the transcriptionseems matter-of-fact, or business as usual. The program skips Apollo 11's return voyage andsplashdown, but Cronkite mentions the paranoia that Aldrin and Armstrong had somehowbrought back more from the moon that rocks, perhaps the unknown, incurable virus of a sci-finovel. The astronauts speak in person to the country's president from inside a tin can isolationchamber after removing the Biological Isolation Garments given to them by Navy recovery diverswho made first contact with the three. In hindsight overprecaution, but men returning fromanother planet was a new experience on that occasion.This is a thoroughly fascinating aural document and is most highly recommended for all!SIDE ONE[21:12] Man on the Moon (Part 1)SIDE TWO[22:54] Man on the Moon (Part 2)TOTAL TIME: 44:06