If there was ever a story meant to be read aloud, it’s J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Tolkien intended the tale to be delivered orally, and inserted an authorial voice into the text which imbues it with a lively, conversational quality. He himself read The Hobbit aloud for the Inklings, and countless parents have read it to their children.

If you could name someone perfectly suited to read The Hobbit, who would it be? Boomed by the deep-throated Orson Welles, perhaps, or intoned by the inimitable Christopher Lee? Narrated by the smoky-voiced John Huston, he of Gandalf fame from the Rankin/Bass animated film of The Hobbit? Sung by Hansi Kürsch of German power metal band Blind Guardian?

While all of the above are great choices, arguably the perfect-sounding version already exists, delivered by veteran stage and screen actor Nicol Williamson. Originally released as a four LP vinyl record set by Argo Records in 1974 (now rare and expensive to obtain), you can listen to the entire recording courtesy of Youtube. It’s split up into 23 parts and is obviously a direct recording from the vinyl. There’s crackly record static, but that only adds to its wonderful atmosphere.

Here’s a link to the first part. I’ve also since found a link to all the parts on Williamson’s Web site, here. Note that the recording is abridged, and some of the cuts are rather cruel (removing Thorin’s deathbed speech was a poor decision), but it’s definitely well worth listening to.

As much as I loved Ian McKellen’s performance of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings—I thought he absolutely owned the part, and the only other actor who came close was Sean Bean as Boromir—his performance is not the best depiction of a wizard committed to the silver screen, at least in my book. That belongs to Williamson, who played Merlin in the 1981 John Boorman film Excalibur.

Williamson is stunning in the film. He manages to be simultaneously funny and mysterious, playing the role with an eccentric flair that is unique and magical. Likewise, his voice in The Hobbit exudes wonder and sorcery and deep time. It’s positively Middle-Earth-ien. I could listen to Williamson read a grocery list and be a happy man.

If you don’t feel like listening to the whole clip, do yourself a favor and at least fast forward to 9:03 of part one . Here he reads the dwarves’ song of the coming of Smaug and the ruin of Dale. The sound of Thorin’s harp adds a nice touch.

I’d also recommend clicking through to part 14, here, and fast-forwarding to 8:55. His reading of the description of Smaug and his horde is incomparable. Williamsom imbues the great wyrm himself with a deep and menacing voice, starting here at 3:13.

It’s awesome stuff, great to play at a New Year’s Eve party and preferably while imbibing vast tankards of ale. A tip o’ the helm to Deuce Richardson for bringing this to my attention.