Bing, Bing, Bing!

Bing, Bing, Bing!

ASIN: B000005GZ9

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Bluenose jazz loyalists doubtless hate him, but the Bay Area's Charlie Hunter is one of the music's saviors for the '90s. With his customized eight-stringed guitar in hand, Hunter essays the greasy glories of early '60s jazz funk, serving as guitarist, bassist, and de facto organist in these groove-driven gems abetted by Dave Ellis' ripe tenor saxophone and Jay Lane's concise, funky drumming. Acid jazz has understandably adopted Hunter as a leading light, but this music has more chops, heart, and reach--earning him the right to stand alongside better-known jazz and funk masters as a confident, compelling original. Infectious grooves prevail, and even Kurt Cobain gets funked up on a breezy and inventive deconstruction of "Come As You Are." --Sam Sutherland

Tracks:

The Gulag Orkestar
Prenzlauerberg
Brandenburg
Postcards from Italy
Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)
Rhineland (Heartland)
Scenic World
Bratislava
The Bunker
The Canals of Our City
After the Curtain

Album Description

While it may sound like an entire Balkan gypsy orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, Beirut's first album, Gulag Orkestar, is largely the work of one 19-year-old Albuquerque native, Zach Condon, with assistance by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw). Horns, violins, cellos, ukuleles, mandolins, glockenspiels, drums, tambourines, congas, organs, pianos, clarinets and accordions (no guitars on this album!) all build and break the melodies under Condon's deep-voiced crooner vocals, swaying to the Eastern European beats like a drunken 12-member ensemble that has fallen in love with The Magnetic Fields, Talking Heads and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Customer Reviews:

INDIE HIT.......2007-06-10

indie melodies with gypsy european folk instruments! these guys push the envelope to the edge... very very refreshing and lovely.

the music makes you want to spin around in 3/4 time like the dervishes... it makes brass band music sound good! and even the accordion sounds great in the album.

the tunes are very catchy and melancholic and you won't be trying to tune it out of your head when you catch yourself singing it over and over again.

there is just one song which is a little strange because it has a casiotone (70s toy electronic keyboard)thingy going throughout the song, but i think they put it in to get that cheesy feeling which in a way is pretty daring but well spiced in an album that is completely filled with folk instruments.

If you're an indie fan and like innovation and great tunes, this is a MUST BUY.

LOVELY!

Simply beautifull.......2007-05-22

This is definitely one of the most influential albums i've heard recently and maybe ever. It combines a bit of Balkan sounds, a bit of Tiersen (yes you've definitely heard of him!) and a bit (just a little bit) of indie and maybe post rock - at least, this is what my ears tell me :).

The most interesting thing maybe, is that the whole album is mostly the work of a single person (Zach Condon) whose age is about 20. When i first listened the album i thought that this was composed either from a Balkan band / orchestra or from some mature musicians. Well, i was wrong! Most of the recordings were made by him in his own house! This is his third personal album but the first under the "Beirut" name.

It is difficult to say which tracks are worthing from this album since most of them do! Few exceptions exist of course, but they are the exceptions and not the rule ;)

So, five stars from me and highly suggested to anyone who's looking for something fresh, inspiring and different. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed

A Debut Album To Be Remembered.......2007-05-15

Gulag Orkestar, the debut album of Albuquerque native and then nineteen year old Zach Condon, is a memorable and beautiful musical journey through the beer halls and streets of Eastern Europe. Condon, whose production of the album was helped by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw), was heavily influenced by the alluring, folk sounds of violins, cellos, ukuleles, mandolins, glockenspiels, drums, tambourines, clarinets, pianos and the accordion. These instruments, brought together in the style of Balkan folk music, play host to Condon's voice. His crooning, dusty voice rides over every melody.

The result of the collaboration of the above is a haunting collection of mournful ballads and pulsating beats that touch the human spirit. Like the tide, this music ebbs and flows and washes over you again and again. The bohemian wonder that has simply poured from the previously unknown artist is simply extraordinary. This musical achievement heralds Condon as one of our most promising new arrivals yet.

An amazing debut album!.......2007-04-23

Finding out about Beirut was one of the best things to happen to me (musically) in 2007. When I first heard their EP "Lon Gisland", I quickly proceeded to dig back in the past works by this fascinating act.

Beirut blends a lo-fi sound not unlike a group of East European gipsies with a folk feel like Sufjan Stevens with leader Zach Condon's voice coming across much like David Byrne. The result is an exquisite and upbeat album that makes your heart pound with excitement making you want to jump, clap and laugh, with "Postcards From Italy" being one of the highlights.

Thinking that this was Beirut's debut album just blows me away. If you like it, by all means pick up "Lon Gisland".

Great stuff.......2007-04-12

I love Balcanian music, and I also appreciate this album so much because it is a creation of a very young person.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Music To Live By
Best of 2007: Just as good as Gulag Orkestar
Lon, lon gisland

Lon Gisland
Beirut
Manufacturer: Ba Da Bing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Gulag Orkestar
Yellow House
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The Good, the Bad & the Queen
The Reminder

ASIN: B000KQF70M
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Elephant Gun
My Family's Role In The World Revolution
Scenic World
The Long Island Sound
Carousels

Album Description

The sleeper hit of 2006, Beirut's Gulag Orkestar came out of nowhere to sell tens of thousands of copies in a matter of months and wound up on countless critics' year-end lists. As a stopgap before recording a new full-length in Fall 2007 -- and as a way to capture some current songs being performed at shows -- the eight-member band checked into Sea Side Studios in Brooklyn to record Lon Gisland.

These are the first studio recordings made by the entire group, and a sampling of the most recent songs by orkestar leader Zach Condon. Lon Gisland features four new tunes and a full band reworking of Gulag's "Scenic World."

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-06-25

Beirut always puts me in a good mood; this is beautiful music. I'm relocated to a better place when I hear this EP.

Music To Live By.......2007-05-13

If you are one that loves to be surrounded by beauty, this it the album for you. It is the perfect mix of melodic vocals and fanciful instrumentals. The first listen is chaotic. The second listen is enlightening. The third unravels one's socks.

Best of 2007: Just as good as Gulag Orkestar.......2007-04-12

Finding out about Beirut was one of the best things to happen to me (musically) in 2007. And it was through "Lon Gisland" that I found out about this fascinating act. Beirut blends a lo-fi sound not unlike a group of East European gipsies with a folk feel like Sufjan Stevens with Zach Condon's voice coming across much like David Byrne. The result is an exquisite and upbeat, though short EP, that makes your heart pound with excitement making you want to jump, clap and laugh.

After "Lon Gisland", I went back to Beirut's "The Gulag Orkestar" and confirmed their quality. For the time being, this EP easily landed a spot among 2007's best releases. Here's hoping that Beirut continues to produce more music... soon. :)

Lon, lon gisland.......2007-01-31

Beirut dazzled listeners with its shimmering debut "Gulag Orkestar," an enchanting mixture of pop, folk and bittersweet Balkan music.

And now to keep fans' attention, frontman Zach Condon is releasing the "Lon Gisland" EP, which continues the slightly angsty gypsy pop and colourful marches. It doesn't really take Beirut's music anywhere, but it's a glorious piece of work on its own.

It opens with a ukelele being strummed, before Condon begins singing mournfully that if he were young, "'I'd flee this town/I'd bury my dreams underground." An accordion and a dramatic blare of trumpets join in as he sings of wanting to escape and "take the big king down."

Things get cheerier with the next song, a colourful march full of sprightly brass and lots of drums. And then it's the middle ground with the more intimate, stripped-down flavour of "Scenic World," which sounds like gypsies on a laundry day.

"Long Island Sound" is kind of a disappointment, since it's basically just a sprawling trumpet tune with a few other instruments by the sidelines. Quite short, too. But it's more than made up for by the finale, the energetic and meditative "Carousels."

Beirut has a unique sound in its music -- warm and celebratory, yet melancholy and mellow. It's hard to believe that a musician as young as Condon could put such depth and passion into his music -- but there it is.

As with the full-length album, "Lon Gisland" overflows with smooth accordion, blares of well-worn brass, and rat-a-tat percussion, with the occasional flourish from tambourine or ukelele. It all melds together into a smooth summery sound.

Condon's lyrics are not as accomplished as the music itself, but they blend into the music very well. His smooth, strong vocals make up a great deal of the appeal, with a little wobble that adds vulnerability to his singing.

"Lon Gisland" is pretty short, but it will have to tide the fans over until the next full-length. Beautiful, bittersweet and utterly enchanting.

Average customer rating:

Definitive Collection
Bing Crosby, the crooner!

The Definitive Collection
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Top O' the Morning: His Irish Collection
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ASIN: B000BYR9ZO
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day) - Bing Crosby,
Stardust - Bing Crosby
Blue Hawaii - Bing Crosby,
Pennies from Heaven - Bing Crosby, Georgie Stoll & His Orchestra
Sweet Leilani - Bing Crosby,
You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby - Bing Crosby,
Home on the Range - Bing Crosby, Victor Young & His Orchestra
White Christmas - Bing Crosby, , John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra
Sunday, Monday or Always - Bing Crosby, Ken Darby Singers
Swinging on a Star - Bing Crosby, , John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby) - Bing Crosby, , John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra
Don't Fence Me In - The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Vic Schoen & His Orchestra
Road to Morocco - Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Vic Schoen & His Orchestra
It's Been a Long, Long Time - Bing Crosby, Les Paul
MacNamara's Band - Bing Crosby, Bob Haggart
Alexander's Ragtime Band - Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra
Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) - Bing Crosby, Ken Darby Choir & Instrumental Group
Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Perry Botkin's String Band, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires, Bing Crosby
Play a Simple Melody - Bing Crosby, Matty Matlock's All Stars
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening - Bing Crosby, Four Hits & A Miss, Matty Matlock's All Stars, Jane Wyman
Ol' Man River - Buddy & His Trio Cole, Bing Crosby
Around the World (In Eighty Days) - Buddy Cole & His Orchestra, Bing Crosby

Customer Reviews:

Definitive Collection.......2007-01-20

I bought this for my husband, who is a Bing Crosby fan, and Not being a fan, I actually enjoy it and listen to it more than he does.....

Bing Crosby, the crooner!.......2006-11-06

A very good disk, but you have to be a certain age to really appreiate it. Bing was the best for many years and this is a pleasant way to remember the old boy. It's well worth the money to bring back the memories. Some of you younguns could benefit by listening to the King. In Prescott, AZ have a good day.

Top O' the Morning: His Irish Collection

Average customer rating:

A grand CD
top o the morning
Pure pleasure
My favorite Bing CD!
Excellent sound quality!

Top O' the Morning: His Irish Collection
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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My Favorite Irish Songs
Ireland's Greatest Hits
Best of Bing Crosby
The Definitive Collection
Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 to 1957

ASIN: B000002OZL
Release Date: 1996-02-27

Tracks:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Macnamara's Band
Galway Bay
Top O' The Morning
Rosaleen
How Can You Buy Killarney?
It'sThe Same Old Shillelagh
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby) (First Version)
The Rose Of Tralee
Dear Old Donegal
Danny Boy
St. Patrick's Day Parade
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
The Donovans
Where The River Shannon Flows
Eileen
With My Shillelagh Under My Arm
My Girl's An Irish Girl
That Tumbledown Shack In Athlone
Two Shillelagh O'Sullivan
The Isle Of Innisfree
Who Threw The Overalls On Mrs. Murphy's Chowder?
Did You Mother Come From Ireland?
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby)

Customer Reviews:

A grand CD.......2007-03-26

This is a " Must Have " for any Irish party or collection. Excelent reproduction and great selection of songs.

top o the morning .......2005-08-30

Great CD
If you love Irish Folk Songs then this is the cd for you

Pure pleasure.......2005-03-24

Listening to Bing Crosby sing His Irish Collection, is sooo relaxing. Great songs!

My favorite Bing CD!.......2005-02-04

I bought this CD on an impulse quite a few years ago being a big Bing fan (and I now have a LOT of his CD's). If I had to have only one, this one would be it. Wonderful sound. I never thought I'd like Irish tunes so much coming out of Bing.

Buy it. You won't be sorry.

Excellent sound quality!.......2003-07-26

Most Bing fans will have all of these songs already on other CD collections, but this set has truly outstanding sound quality. These are remastered takes and the difference clearly shows. When Bing hits the final high note (singing the word "lullaby") on Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral, it's never sounded more crisp, clear and beautiful. There is absolutely no superfluous background noise or hiss on any of these wonderful recordings. My favorite is Bing's version of Danny Boy, which is darn near definitive. Many people prefer a tenor's version to this song, ala Dennis Day, but Bing's baritone owns this song. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is another gem and the phrasing on this quiet song is exquisite.

Tracks:

Silent Night
Adeste Fideles
White Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Faith Of Our Fathers
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Jingle Bells
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Silver Bells
It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas
Christmas In Killarney
Mele Kalikimaka

Amazon.com

Try to forget the fact that Bing Crosby probably never had to record another song in his life after he immortalized "White Christmas." If you can do that, you'll find plenty more to like in this crooning Christmas collection. There's the Romantic Bing, charming the tinsel right off the tree with "The Christmas Song," and that cure for cabin fever, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" There's the Reverent Bing, solemnly singing "Adeste Fideles." And of course, there's Bing the Showman, belting out "Good King Wenceslas" with a bit of that ole vaudeville shine. But no matter what you're told, "White Christmas" will be the number one reason for sticking this one in your stocking. And who can blame you? It's as timeless now as it was way back when. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

A Classic........2007-07-06

This may be the most classic Christmas CD of all time. If you aren't familiar with it, you must have been under a rock for the last 50 years. If you don't like it, you should probably go crawl under a rock for the next 50 years.

Nostalgic and Timeless..........2007-03-02

I bought this for my mom, who grew up listening to my grandmother's vinyl White Christmas album... This is wonderful Christmas music that is warm, and fun, and timeless.

Same Old, Same Old.......2007-01-18

This is just a reissue of the old MERRY CHRISTMAS album that was available since the mid-50s. The title's been changed, but the playing order is the same and the incorrect versions of two of Bing's Christmas hits are the same. "Silent Night" was a hit in 1935, yet its a much later recording that appears here. "White Christmas" first charted in 1942, yet the version here is the 1947 re-recording. "Faith of Our Fathers" isn't even a Christmas song! There's a better, 44-track collection of Bing's Christmas recordings for Decca that includes the correct versions of the hits as well as the remakes and excludes "Faith of Our Fathers." It's called THE VOICE OF CHRISTMAS and is available here: [...]

Who doesn't love Bing!.......2007-01-16

Typical Bing class and style. Had it on cassette for years and it is gone. Happy to be able to replace it with this CD. Great listening.

Bing Crosby all the way!.......2007-01-16

I listened to a lot of the songs during Christmas time. When I finally bought the product I was suprised and very happy at how great the songs still were. My favorite is "Mele Kalikimaka" with the Andrew Sisters.

Average customer rating:

BUYER BEWARE Don't be fooled, these ARE NOT originals!
The Best of Bing Crosby [2 CDs]
Good sampling of the mature Bing
Bing-O!
One of Bing's Best Collections -- Ever!

Best of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Very Best of Perry Como
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ASIN: B0000088LQ
Release Date: 1998-02-18

Tracks:

Straight Down the Middle
Try a Little Tenderness
Love Is the Sweetest Thing
When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
Unchained Melody
Lady Is a Tramp
Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland
Ain't Misbehavin'
Isle of Capri
Heartaches by the Number
So Rare
They Didn't Believe Me
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
Don't Blame Me
You Turned the Tables on Me
I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan
I Wish You Love
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Old Cape Cod
Yours
Margie
Nice Work If You Can Get It
At Sundown
Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)
Love's Old Sweet Song

Tracks:

True Love
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Manhattan
Misty
This Can't Be Love
We'll Be Together Again
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now
Moonglow/Theme from "Picnic"
We're in the Money
All Through the Night
Papa Loves Mambo
You'll Never Know
Anything Goes
You're the Top
My Baby Just Cares for Me
I See Your Face Before Me
At the Jazz Band Ball
You're in Kentucky Sure as You're Born
I've Got a Crush on You
How Long Has This Been Going On?
My Funny Valentine
Banjo's Back in Town
You're Sensational
Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day
Let's Put Out the Lights (And Go to Sleep)

Album Details

Tracks Include: Straight Down the Middle, Love is the Sweetest Thing, Unchained Melody, Ain't Misbehavin', the Lady is a Tramp, Don't Blame Me, Papa Loves Mambo, True Love, I've Got a Crush on You, You're Sensational and More.

Customer Reviews:

BUYER BEWARE Don't be fooled, these ARE NOT originals!.......2006-02-28

I looked at the glowing reviews for this CD set and failed to read them carefully -- one reviewer said "Brits Ken Barnes and Pete Moore selected a large number [of Bing's songs] and added full stereo orchestral and choral accompaniment. This gives us Bing in prime voice, but with more modern arrangement." Therefore, if you want REAL Bing, as HE recorded the songs, this CD is not for you. The songs have now been Nat King Cole-ified or smooth jazz-ified with 80s/90s straight tone a capella style singers. There's nothing wrong with these styles of jazz, but they're just not Bing! Absolutely no vibrato from the backup singers, horrors!

The Best of Bing Crosby [2 CDs].......2005-09-04

The "Best of Crosby" title does not match the content, as too many songs seem to be just filling space. Nobody would ever rank the opening song about golf, for example, as one of Crosby's best. On the other hand, his command of so many pieces, both jazz and pop, help one recall just good he was/is.

Good sampling of the mature Bing.......2003-09-24

I would quibble that this CD represents "the best" of Bing Crosby, even though the material covered here is pretty darn good. All of these standards were recorded long past Crosby's vocal heyday, which would have been the 1932-45 era, but if you're a fan of the mature Bing, then this is right up your alley. This is a pleasing introduction for those who don't have other Crosby CD's in your collection or who are weak in the post-1950 period of his career. It contains his standard hits like "True Love" which have been recycled time and again on other anthologies, but it also contains some little-known gems.

Another reviewer complained about the sound quality on this set. I am puzzled at this criticism. I have most of these songs on casette, vinyl and some even on their original 78 and 45 issues. The sound quality here is quite acceptable and good on most tracks. Hopefully this collection will convince you that Bing's vocal mastery was unparalled, even when he was in his 50's, as he was when these songs were recorded. Then you can sample his earlier, jazz-influenced work during his Columbia years in the early 30's and branch off into his 20's work with the Rhythm Boys. But for the beginning Crosby listener, this set will give you many hours of enjoyable listening and help you branch off into other Crosby CD's which includes his early, stellar work. I highly recommend this set. Enjoy!

Bing-O!.......2003-08-26

I ordered this album based on the glowing reviews of it from this site. I concur. Buy this CD if you want to hear great arrangements and performances by Bing at his mature stage when his voice was much deeper and resonant. Rarely do quality and quantity (50 songs)come together this well. You will find this a very satisfying listening experience.

One of Bing's Best Collections -- Ever!.......2000-05-28

This is one of the best Bing Crosby collections you are going to find -- and at this price, it's even more unbelievable. Bing recorded 225 songs from 1954-60 with the Buddy Cole Trio for his radio show. After Bing's death in 1977, Brits Ken Barnes and Pete Moore selected a large number and added full stereo orchestral and choral accompaniment. This gives us Bing in prime voice, but with more modern arrangement. This 2-CD set contains 50 of these songs. The fidelity is great. Top quality, from the great work Barnes and Moore did in their painstaking labor of love, to the great-sounding disc remastering, to the fantastic price for the 2-CD set. What I also like is that these selections are fresh, and not the same old songs that are standard to Bing that every other collection includes. If you buy this, you are getting something new and different. You can't beat this great set!

Average customer rating:

Simply Wonderful

The Vintage Years
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Jsp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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A Musical Autobiography

ASIN: B000O591CY
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

Please
Here Lies Love
Some Of These Days
With All My Heart
One, Two Button Your Shoe
And So Do I
Let's Call A Heart A Heart
On The Beach At Waikiki
Smiles
Remember Me
Smarty
Can I Forget You
Where Or When
Have You Got Any Castles Baby
Sweet Little You
The Moon Got In My Eyes
Whispers In The Dark
Josephine
Marie
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
When You Wore A Tulip
If It's The Last Thing I Do
The Moon Got In My Eyes
I Don't Want To Get Well
There's A Girl In The Heart Of Maryland
Can I Forget You
I Still Love To Kiss You Goodnight
When You Dream About Hawaii

Tracks:

If It's The Last Thing I Do
Once In Awhile
The Lonesome Road
Sweet Stranger
Swingin' Down The Lane
She's Tall, She's Tan, She's Terrific
Once In Awhile
That Old Feeling
Rosalie
Remember Me
You're A Sweetheart
Birth Of The Blues
This Is My Night To Dream
On The Sentimental Side
Pale Venetian Moon
You're A Sweetheart
Show Me The Way To Go Home
You Took The Words Right Out Of My Heart
Rosalie
The Dipsy Doodle
On The Sentimental Side
Moonlight Bay
I See Your Face Before Me
Gypsy Love Song
Thanks For The Memory
Gypsy In My Soul
You're A Sweetheart
My Heart Stood Still
Side By Side
An Old Flame Never Dies
Sympathy

Tracks:

Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie
Liza
Old Buttermilk Sky
Gotta Get Me Somebody To Love
Connecticut
Huggin' And Chalkin'
I've Got You Under My Skin
Tearbucket Jim
And So To Bed
Over The Rainbow
Love Somebody
Rambling Rose
For Me And My Gal
Who
Embraceable You
Confess
The Donovans
Katrina
I Don't Care
Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me
Maybe It's Because
Sam's Song
Get Happy
I Cross My Fingers
Mona Lisa
Goodnight Irene
All My Love
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena
Friendly Star
High On The List
Pretty Baby

Tracks:

Start Off Each Day With A Song
Medley: I Surrender Dear/I'm Crosby The Well Dressed Man/Blue Skies
Medley: Start Off Each Day With A Song/I'm The Guy Who Found The Lost Chord/The Song's Gotta Come From The Heart/Parlez-Moi D'Amour/The Song's Gotta Come From The Heart
Medley: Start Off Each Day With A Song/Where The Blue Of The Night
Crosby & Durante's Campaign Song (Come On Out)
Medley: Mr. Gallagher And Mr. Shean/Whatever Happened To Vaudeville?/While Strolling Through The Park/The Autolite Song/Rexall Drugs Song
Chicabee-Ch-Ch (Yah-Yah-Yah)
Medley: Start Off Each Day With A Song/It's Not His Mind, It's His Music
Bing Thanks Gertrude Niesen And Jimmy Durante
Medley: Where The Blue Of The Night/A Gal In Calico
And The It's Heaven
Uncle Remus Said
How Are Things In Clocca Morra
Feudin' And Fightin'
I'll Dance At Your Wedding
As Long As I'm Dreaming

Customer Reviews:

Simply Wonderful.......2007-06-05

Taken from radio shows commencing with Disk A, between 1932-37, this 4 disk set offers a tuneful delight of Crosby renditions of songs of the era. Some of the songs on these disks are not generally available on other Crosby collections, and are a treasure for those who appreciate the artistry of Bing Crosby. It contains jazz, ballads and duets, and features such bands as Jimmy Dorsey, John Scott Trotter and others.

Average customer rating:

* BING SWINGS *
The Jazz Side Of Bing!
Great Fun
Great Fun
Bing outclasses them all

Bing Crosby and Some Jazz Friends
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Vocalists | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fun with Bing & Louis (1949-1951)
Bix 'N' Bing
Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings
The Essential Bing Crosby
Fancy Meeting You Here

ASIN: B000003N38
Release Date: 1991-10-08

Tracks:

Your Socks Dont Match - Louis Jordan
My Baby Said Yes - Louis Jordan
Basin Street Blues - Connie Boswell
Yes, Indeed! - Connie Boswell
Someday, Sweetheart - Joe Sullivan/Bobby Sherwood
Moonburn - Joe Sullivan/Bobby Sherwood
Pennies From Heaven - Jimmy Dorsey
The Waiter And The Porter And The Upstairs Maid - Jack Teagarden
The Birth Of The Blues - Jack Teagarden
Blue (And Broken Hearted) - Eddie Condon
After You've Gone (Unissued) - Eddie Condon
After You've Gone - Eddie Condon
Personailty - Eddie Condon
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie - Lionel Hampton
On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Lionel Hampton
I Still Suits Me - Lee Wiley
I Ain't Got Nobody - Woody Herman
Deep In The Heart Of Texas - Woody Herman
When My Dreamboat Comes - Bob Crosby
Gone Fishin' - Louis Armstrong

Amazon.com

Bing Crosby, aside from his more obvious talents, was one versatile cat. This document of his work in the 1930s demonstrates both his adaptability and his taste. Within the space of these tracks, Bing trades hipster lingo with Louis Jordan, wisecracks with Connie Boswell, and backslaps with Louis Armstrong as if he'd been working with each artist for years, not hours. Through it all, Crosby is unflappable, self-effacing, and cool as the other side of the pillow. Crisp arrangements, good-to-excellent sound, and topnotch, gloriously carefree performances make this a crucial document to anyone even remotely interested in Bing, early pop music, or jazz vocals. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews:

* BING SWINGS *.......2002-04-10

Bing Crosby doesn't get a lot of acknowledgment for his achievements these days, and perhaps what is most forgotten is that he began his career as a jazz singer and innovator. The early evidence for this can be found on great discs such as Bix N' Bing and 1926-1932, however, Bing Crosby And Some Jazz Friends deals with Bing's jazz chops AFTER he's joined the Decca label. His swing is much more laid back and cool, and his confidence and humor are plentiful. The tracks are from 1934-1951, and feature some true jazz luminaries such as Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Connie Boswell, Joe Sullivan & Bobby Sherwood, Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Eddie Condon, Lionel Hampton, Lee Wiley, Woody Herman, and Bob Crosby's Bob Cats. Of course Bing's smooth voice, brilliant phrasing, and preternatural cool abound.

It's a real treat to hear Bing backed by some talented bands and soloists, and with some worthy material, rather than coasting along with the plodding studio orchestras and lackluster material he was often saddled with. The duets with greats such as Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and the woefully neglected Connie Boswell (check her out) are pure manna from heaven. The instrumental backings Bing receives on gloriously swinging numbers such as Moonburn and After You've Gone are fantastic, and the recordings themselves are showcases for how good jazz can be when one is hearing the perfect combination of singer, band, and tune.

Bing is truly inspired by the musicians he joins for these sessions, and he subsequently turns in some of his finest recordings ever. This disc is BY FAR the greatest collection to deal with Bing's jazz work in his Decca years, and is one of the finest collections of Bing out there, regardless of style or period. Anyone looking to get into Bing, classic jazz, or simply hear some joyous and refreshing music, should pick this one up without delay.

The Jazz Side Of Bing!.......2001-07-13

This masterpiece of a CD was issued by Decca/MCA in 1991, and I can not believe that it is taking me this long to review it. Unfortunately, sales of the CD was not what they expected, but I see no reason not to like it. Bing Crosby is often remembered only for "White Christmas" and pitching Minute Maid orange juice, and that is not the case. Bing could sing ANY type of song from country to jazz, and he also sang with the best of them. Actress Jane Wyman once said "if you can't sing with Bing, you can't sing!"

This CD is full of goodies. Included is Bing's two great duets with Louis Jordan, "Your Socks Don't Match" and (my favorite)"My Baby Said Yes". Louis was kind of the Fats Waller of the late 1940s, but Bing actually sounded great with him. There are also a few duets that Bing did with the underrated Connee Boswell. I think that Connee was the best white jazz singer of all-time. Other favorites on the disc include:"On The Sunny Side Of The Street" with Lionel Hampton,"I Still Suits Me" with Lee Wiley, and "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" with Bob Crosby.

The only track that I think was a poor choice for this collection was "Pennies From Heaven" with Louis Armstrong and Frances Langford. It's a good recording, but not really a jazz selection. Once again, I can not say enough about this CD. The sound is of high quality, and the selections are nearly perfect. Even if you are not a huge fan of Bing Crosby, if you are looking for some great jazz, then this is your CD...

Great Fun.......2001-03-16

OK, so you already know about this man of firsts and bests, right? First star of electronic media. First hip white person in America. Number one star of recordings, radio, movies and tv, with roots in vaudeville. Best-selling record of all time. Maybe you already have in your collection or your sights the Legendary Years boxed set. You are initiated. Do you need this recording in your collection? Report to the NAY-shun!

It's like this. These duets are all fun examples of the great playful, effortless COOLNESS of der Bingle, especially his great gift of playing off others. He can be the straight man musically as adeptly as he did on stage and screen with Bob Hope. And he can be the man. He shows both skills here. He was the master of rhythm and phrasing, as he shows on "Your Socks Don't Match" with that other master of rhythm and phrasing, the peerless Louis Jordan...con-tin-nue-Lou. Even on a "crooner" ballad like "Blue (And Broken Hearted), with Eddie Condon, he swings and bounces off the downbeat with that effortless confidence that was his trademark, like Louis Armstrong on Valium.

"Pinetop's Boogie Woogie," and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," with Lionel Hampton just swing. The duets with Connie Boswell on "Basin Street Blues" and "Yes, Indeed!" are Hope-and-Crosby-like banter set to music. Has you got it Sister Constance, tell me, has you got it? Ohhh yeah, Brother Bingstance, you know I got it.

Are these the greatest performances you have ever heard? Maybe not. But they're all good. The "Pennies From Heaven" and "Gone Fishin'" duets with Louis Armstrong are classics. There aren't any clinkers. And if you like (or would like to become acquainted with) Bing Crosby's unique way of riffing off whomever he was singing or joking or acting with, this is a sampler of him doing just that with a broad variety of jazz greats and pretty goods. Nobody did it like Bing.

Great Fun.......2001-03-16

OK, so you already know about this man of firsts and bests, right? First star of electronic media. First hip white person in America. Number one star of recordings, radio, movies and tv, with roots in vaudeville. Maybe you already have in your collection or your sights the Legendary Years boxed set. You are initiated. Do you need this recording in your collection? Report to the NAY-shun!

Bing outclasses them all.......2000-12-27

It grieves me to give a Crosby CD a paltry three stars, but Bing completely outclasses his duet mates in these recordings. One wishes all of these records would have made with just one voice, the superior voice, and make no mistake that is Bing Crosby's voice. The only exception is the classic "Gone Fishin'" with Satchmo- now there is a rousing blending of musical styles, phrasing and talents. The duets with Lionel Hampton are also interesting and exciting. But Woody Herman? Bob Crosby? Come on, these guys can't hold a candle to Bing and their contributions actually doom those tracks.

Tracks:

White Christmas (from The Frank Sinatra Show - 12/20/1957)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Winter Wonderland
What Child Is This? / The Holly And The Ivy
The Little Drummer Boy
O Holy Night
The Littlest Angel
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Frosty The Snowman
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
I Wish You A Merry Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Pat-A-Pan / While Shepherds Watched Their Flock
Christmas Dinner Country Style
Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy (Bing Crosby & David Bowie) [From 1977 TV Special "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas"]

Customer Reviews:

Favorite Bing Crosby carols.......2007-01-09

I searched all over for a recording of Bing and David Bowie's Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth. Not only does this recording have it, it's also packed with lots of other wonderful traditional carols.

Bing's Christmas from the 60s and 70s like we remember him.......2006-11-11

A very nice collection, with almost all the songs in stereo, less the two TV soundtrack selections and Rudolph. To me, the most amazing track is the heartwarming (some call it syrupy) track "The Littlest Angel" - in this song Bing is in fine voice and the recording is crystal clear without a lot of audio processing like you get nowadays. Do You Hear What I Hear? is one of the greatest songs of the 20th century, and Bing had the first and by far the best version of this song, here in all it's glory. Some of the two song carols are poorly arranged and feature too much choir and not enough Bing, but his solo tracks are quite good, in stereo and sound wonderful for a guy in his sixties and seventies. I'm still amazed that no other performer, David Bowie included, has ever recorded the duet "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" other than Bing & Bowie. It breaks my heart that Bing passed-away shortly after recording this great song, before he and David Bowie could go into a recording studio with an orchestra and make a high-quality stereo recording; but, for a 1977 TV soundtrack, the audio is quite good and captures the moment forever. Bing's baritone - a great part of Christmas. I enjoy this "album" and a release by Polydor/Polygram of Bing's 70's Christmas songs, as my two Crosby Christmas favorites. The only song missing here is a song Bing recorded for United Artists records, "When A Child Is Born". I highly suggest Bing's Christmas Classics if you were a fan of Bing's TV Christmas specials - I think that you'll enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone.

An Essential Christmas Album From The Voice Of Christmas!.......2006-10-08

Capitol Records has given us an early Christmas present by reissuing and expanding it's 1999 Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics CD compilation. This new version, now titled Bing Crosby Christmas Classics, was released Tuesday September 26th.

Gone is the dark cover photo of a piece of sheet music on a piano with a small b/w photo of Bing circa 1963 (which was first used when Capitol hastily reissued an abridged version of Bing's 1962 Warner Bros. Christmas album I Wish You A Merry Christmas in 1977 following Bing's passing). In it's place on this new CD is the original painting that was used on that 1962 Warner Bros. LP! Many people have asked me over the years if that album has ever been reissued on CD with the original artwork. Apart from a late 1980's Australian Axis label CD release of the album that's now virtually impossible to find, 2006's Capitol compilation marks that well-remembered cover painting's first widespread use in over 40 years!

Inside the booklet are full page photos of Bing, including a 1965 Hollywood Palace publicity photo in color, and a b/w photo of Bing & David Bowie. On the backside of the case is a nice photo in silhouette of Bing in tux and tails standing behind a mike onstage at the Academy Awards in 1955.

The CD contains all of the tracks issued on the 1999 release, with a new opening track...White Christmas from the 1957 Frank Sinatra Christmas TV show. It credits this cut as being a "Nelson Riddle Arrangement", when in reality, this is the arrangement Paul Weston wrote for Bing's A Christmas Sing With Bing annual radio show in 1955. Now Reprise released the full length version of this song, complete with Frank taking the last chorus as a duet with Bing, as part of it's 2004 Frank Sinatra: The Christmas Collection CD compilation, but here Capitol re-edited the track to omit Frank's vocal! It makes for an oddly short track with a chopped ending, clocking at 1:34.

The other new track is a stunningly crisp 24-bit remastered version of Bing's 1950 Decca recording of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, an obvious choice to follow the '62 album cut of Frosty The Snowman with on the disc.

Do You Hear What I Hear and Christmas Dinner, Country Style are also here rounding out the disc with the full length dialogue version of Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth with David Bowie (recorded 9/11/77). Once again, however, as on it's 1999 release Capitol didn't create a separate cue point to the beginning of the music portion of the duet with Bowie. This would've been beneficial, giving the listener the option of cueing past the dialogue portion if they wished.

However, it's nice to see Capitol keeping this album in print and taking the time and effort to improve upon it.

Average customer rating:

Too filled with novelty songs
My favorite cd of all time!
Pure Joy!
Around The World With Bing and Rosie
Bing and Rosie are a tonic

Fancy Meeting You Here
Bing Crosby w/ Billy May & His Orchestra , and Rosemary Clooney
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

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Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings
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It's Easy to Remember
Fun with Bing & Louis (1949-1951)

ASIN: B00005O6KL
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Fancy Meeting You Here
(I'd Like To Be) On A Slow Boat To China
I Can't Get Started
Hindustan
It Happened In Monterey
You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
Love Won't Let You Get Away
How About You
Brazil
Isle Of Capri
Say 'Si Si' (Para Vigo Me Voy)
Calcutta
Love Won't Let You Get Away
Ain't A-Hankerin'
Protection
Love Won't Let You Get Away
Medley: Fancy Meeting You Here/(I'd Like To Be) On A Slow Boat To China/Hindustan
Ol' Man River
When It's Twilight On The Trail

Customer Reviews:

Too filled with novelty songs.......2006-04-01

I was a bit disappointed in this recording. While Bing and Rosemary are obviously having a great time, many of the songs are second rate. Comic numbers like "Hindustan" and "You've Come a Long Way from St.Louis" are fun in small numbers, but they make up the bulk of this CD. The few quality numbers they do, such as "I Can't Get Started" and "How About You" really stand out. I wish there had more like these.

My favorite cd of all time!.......2006-02-25

As others have mentioned this album is excellent. What is so appealing about it, though, is the conversational style of the songs. They are not exactly duets. You can tell they are having a lot of fun and you feel like you are in on a little secret as you listen. Someone please tell me where I can find more cds with this conversational style of singing. I recently stumbled upon a cd of Louis Armstrong and Bing doing the same kind of thing. Who else can you recommend? haochick@yahoo.com

Pure Joy!.......2004-02-28

This album, now on CD, cannot help by elicit a smile from a listener's face - the arrangements, the singing - pure joy! A must have!

Around The World With Bing and Rosie.......2003-11-17

Several years ago, I was tuned into a Music of Your Life station on my way to a car club meet. Bing & Rosie's recording of "You Came A Long Way From St. Louis" was played, and I enjoyed it so much that I began hunting for a copy to purchase. It took a while, but I finally tracked down the album. I was just about to buy the vinyl LP when I saw that it had been released on CD. Quick change of plans, and the CD was soon in my hand.

I can understand why Rosie said this was one of her favorite albums. It's clear that Crosby and Clooney had a wonderful time recording it. The comraderie and chemistry come through loud and clear. The concept of an around the world trip, in song, is a wonderful display of the talents of these two extraordinary vocalists. The highlights, most certainly, are the title track as well as "I Can't Get Started With You," "Hindustan," "Slow Boat To China" and, of course, "You Came A Long Way From St. Louis."

Bonus tracks from Bing's 1959 NBC Television Show, and a couple of duets featuring Rosie and Bob Hope, are also included.

The sound quality on the CD is incredible. The notes say the album was recorded in July 1958, but it sounds as if it was just yesterday. Since purchasing the CD, I've read that BMG did a 24-bit digital remastering for this release. The CD comes in a digipack sleeve, with an inserted booklet replicating the front and back covers of the original LP. A "History" behind the recording, along with Bing's original liner notes for the album, is included.

Fans of both Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney would most certainly want to have this CD in their collections. There's nothing better than spending an afternoon on a trip around the world with Bing & Rosie.

Bing and Rosie are a tonic.......2003-10-22

Bing Crosby is his most animated with this set he shares with Rosemary Clooney. This is a cd for anyone who loves fresh classic pop .Billy May really supports and brings the swing out on this set. It is fabulous to hear the two crooning like lovebirds with energy versatility and mutual respect!"It happened in MOnteray", and "On a slow Boat to China are chestnuts".
The 6 additional cuts make this cd a joy for the collector.
The addition of Bob Hope and Jo Stafford carry us right down memory lane in the best way!!!
I'd take this disc with me on a slow boat to china anytime.

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