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This four-CD set does a superb job of summing up Bing Crosby's years with Decca. After nine titles from 1931 (which were acquired by Decca later on), the program concentrates on the 1934-1957 period and, in addition to the expected hits, all aspects of his career are covered. Despite a few Dixieland-flavored selections, Crosby had largely abandoned jazz by the late '30s, but his phrasing (which was influenced by Louis Armstrong) and appealing voice should be of interest to jazz listeners. His ballads grew in stature in later years, while the up-tempo performances tended to be less memorable novelties. Although it should be augmented by collections that focus on his recordings of the '20s and early '30s, this is the definitive Bing Crosby set. (Scott Yanow)
Several duets are included, among them Dixie Lee, Jimmy Durante, Al Jolson, Louis Armstrong, Connie Boswell and others. For more of Crosby's jazz recordings, check out other postings on this site. Enjoy. + + + +
Tracks
Disc One
1. Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day) (1932 Single Version)
2. Out Of Nowhere
3. Just One More Chance
4. I'm Through With Love
5. I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)
6. At Your Command
7. I Apologize
8. Dancing In The Dark
9. Stardust
10. The Moon Was Yellow (And The Night Was Young)
11. Two Cigarettes In The Dark
12. With Every Breath I Take
13. June In January
14. Love Is Just Around The Corner
15. Soon
16. Down By The River
17. It's Easy To Remember
18. Red Sails In The Sunset
19. Silent Night, Holy Night
20. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
21. I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)
22. Pennies From Heaven
23. A Fine Romance
24. Sweet Leilani
Disc Two
1. Blue Hawaii
2. Too Marvelous For Words
3. It's The Natural Thing To Do
4. The Moon Got In My Eyes
5. Remember Me?
6. Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)
7. Don't Be That Way
8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
9. Small Fry
10. I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams
11. Mexicali Rose
12. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
13. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
14. Somebody Loves Me
15. What's New?
16. Sierra Sue
17. Trade Winds
18. Only Forever
19. New San Antonio Rose
20. Humpty Dumpty Heart
21. Deep In The Heart Of Texas
22. Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie
23. When My Dream Boat Comes Home
24. White Christmas
25. Easter Parade
Disc Three
1. Be Careful, It's My Heart
2. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
3. Moonlight Becomes You
4. Sunday, Monday Or Always
5. Mississippi Mud / I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain
6. Pistol Packin' Mama
7. I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. San Fernando Valley
9. Close The Door Joe, We're Making A Disc!
10. Swinging On A Star
11. I Love You
12. I'll Be Seeing You (Rehearsal Glimpse)
13. I'll Be Seeing You (1993 Box Set Version)
14. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe
15. Song Of The Fifth Marines
16. (There'll Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin (When The Yanks Go Marching In)
17. Don't Fence Me In
18. (Yip Yip De Hootie) My Baby Said Yes
19. Mine
20. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
21. The Road To Morocco
22. You Belong To My Heart
23. It's Been A Long, Long Time
24. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby)
25. I Can't Begin To Tell You
26. Day By Day
27. MacNamara's Band
28. South America, Take It Away
Disc Four
1. Alexander's Ragtime Band
2. The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
3. Whiffenpoof Song
4. Now Is The Hour (Maori Farewell Song)
5. But Beautiful
6. Galway Bay
7. Far Away Places
8. Sing Soft, Sing Sweet, Sing Gentle
9. Dear Hearts And Gentle People
10. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
11. Play A Simple Melody
12. Sam's Song (The Happy Tune)
13. Harbor Lights
14. Autumn Leaves
15. Silver Bells
16. Getting To Know You
17. Gone Fishin'
18. In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening
19. Watermelon Weather
20. Thanks For The Memory
21. Around The World (In Eighty Days)
22. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
23. Gigi
24. Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day) (1948 Single Version)
24 comments:
Chester Proudfoot I apreciate your patience and your work, thank you.
It's a little late in this part of the earth, I'll listen to all this music tomorrow.
Thanks so much
This is a splendid collection of Bing, just about the best I have seen.
Thank you very much for sharing.
A pity you not post scans to know at least the name of this collection.
Best
Bob
I don't have a scanner and I'm a lousy photographer. Unless I scanned the cover years ago I get what I can from the internet.
Titles of the collections are usually visible in the image posted, and are also the names of the folder you download.
Names of the albums are also in the idtags of each file.
well, i have every recording that bing ever recorded, but i still want to thank you for making these tunes available to so many people who may not have them. it is much appreciated.
You're welcome!
Anonymous (May 21, 2009 8:10 PM),
I'll bet you don't. Do you, for example, have the studio recording (not the recording from the soundtrack of Road To Bali) of To See You Is To Love You (Decca, 1952 with the Axel Stordahl Orchestra)??
Chester,
For a long-time Crosby aficionado like me, this is like hitting the lottery.
Many thanks!
Jeff
You're welcome. I also have a Columbia 2-lp set called the Bing Crosby Story volume 1, 1928-1930 which has a couple of alternate takes and some other songs not on the cds I've posted. It's in the queue for ripping, but I'm working through another hundred or so other 78s first.
I've also got a 2-cd set called Going Hollywood but at least one of the discs is corrupted and I prefer to post only complete sets at this time. That said, it's in a soundtrack where I believe for the one and only time Bing sings "boo boo boo boo" in a recording.
You're right, mel, I don't have that particular recording, although it ought to be available on the next volume of 'Through The Years' on Sepia, which took up where the Jonzo chronological series left off. Vol. 3 has just been released and takes us into 1952, just a few sessions before the one at which 'To See You Was To Love You' was recorded.
Anonymous, I was hoping that the Sepia 'Through The Years' Vol. 3 would have included it so, from your information, I'm crossing my fingers that they'll be putting it into Vol. 4.
This is a great collection, I still have left 3 records to listen. I have listened Disc One lots of times.
Thank you for these delightful moments
Chester,
I just wanted to thank you for putting this Bing collection up, along with all the other great music you have shared. Your commentary is very interesting as well.
Stephen
Good god, man, you have just made a dream come true!!
I have recently slogged my way through the Giddens' "Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams-the Early Years, 1903-1940". Although I am disinclined to re-read it, this would have been an terrific accompaniment. As it is, I will gleefully explore what you have to offer in anticipation of future fireside reading.
No one sets my heart aflutter like Bing. Thank you! - d.
Good day Chester, I hope you're in fine form. I downloaded this collection some time ago and have been enjoying it ever since. Thanks so much for making it available.
I also wondered if you might be interested in a post I've just written about one of Bing's early film appearances...
http://fadedvideolabels.blogspot.com/2010/06/mississippi-1935.html
All the best,
Joe
Thanks, Joe. Nice site, I'll have to go through more of it. Mississippi is one of my favorites, but then so are all of W.C. Fields films. I thought Crosby was pretty good in this film (and who could not like Joan Bennett?), but Fields really did walk away with it. ... "with my bowie knife I carved a path through a wall of human flesh. ... and what happened to the goat? .... It was delicious with mustard!"
Haha! W.C. is a real hero - my favourite is It's A Gift but I think he and Bing make a fine double act. And as for Joan Bennett... words fail me. Amazing to think she went from that to playing nasty femme fatales!
Keep up the good work sir
Chester Proudfoot - I found your blog through our common friend, Harlan at VMIMC. I am thrilled to find many of the influences here at your blog of my western swing heros. Would it be possible for you to re-up this Bing Crosby set, as well as the Whispering Jack Smith and Al Jolson. (And) although I haven't fully explored your blog yet, if there is any Nick Lucas to be found here, I'd surely love to hear that as well! I love early jazz! I play music for a living (as much as possible) and just got offered a job in a real, honest to goodness jazz orchestra/big band. This is essential research and listening pleasure!
J
PS I would also welcome any advice on suggested listening for both an aspiring crooner and a guitarist - BTW would a George Van Eps early years collection be a possibility?
Hi J, friends of Harlan are always welcome here. The links for this post have been updated. I will get to the others as time permits.
I don't have any Nick Lucas compilations, however one track may be found on each of the two various artists The Crooners sets. One post is titled Learn To Croon, and the other Melody From The Sky. And now I'll have to re-up thosse! ;-)
I haven't seen any Van Eps compilations, though I'm sure some exist. I'm pretty sure he can be heard throughout the Goodman, Armstrong, Berigan et al tunes that have been posted here.
Correct, the cds are called The First Crooners.
Forgot - anything with Eddie Lang, Roy Smeck, Charlie Christian or Eddie Condon should be good for a budding guitarist.
Mant Thanks!
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