Customer Reviews

Best Of Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire: A Couple Of Song And Dance Men

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I thought this was great!Bing and Fred teamed one last time, and obviously having a ball. The songs bring a smile to my face, and their voices warm the soul. Most of the songs are upbeat, and are great while driving around. I own many recordings by both these artists, and this is one of my favorites.

First let me say that I'm a big fan of Bing and Fred. That's why it pains me to say that this album should probably never have been made.

The album was recorded in London in 1975, just two years before Bing's death. His once golden voice has faded, the silver tones tarnished, leaving only a dull bronze sound for the ears. It reminds me more than anything of the recent album Andy Griffith released. Another entertainer's voice tragically past it's shelf life.

Likewise, Fred's voice has weakened, but his big thing was dance anyway. Here, we are treated to only a couple of taps in one number.

The background music is pure 70's brass, a la "Watching Scotty Grow". It gives the duo an out-of-place feel. What was called for here was some good, old-fashioned big band sound. On top of that, some of the songs don't feel right either. They do a cover of a Carpenter's song, "Sing (Sing a Song)" that is actually painful to listen to.

The only reason to bother with this album is the friendly banter between the two stars, which is on almost every cut. Even at that, it seems a little scripted and forced at times.

The two best cuts are "Top Billing", and (oddly enough), a version of "Mr. Keyboard Man" from "The Entertainer".

More than anything, by the end of this CD, I was left feeling sad for the stars.

This one's really just a curiosity, meant for those who would like to complete their collection of Bing and/or Fred's work.

Otherwise, if you want a Bing and Fred tour-de-force team-up, I'd recommend "Holiday Inn", or "Blue Skies", both far better than this album.

Nothing wrong with the performances here, Bing and Fred not at their 1930's "best", but exhibiting the savvy and know-how that is delightful to hear. yes, the arrangements are a little dated in a "70's" sort of way, but it was recorded in 1975, so what do you expect? My biggest complaint is simply that I hate these hatchet-job re-issues of complete works. If you want ALL the songs from the 1975 Crosby-Astaire sessions, you're better off getting Bing's box-set "The Complete United Artists Sessions", containing not only this complete album but all of Bing's 1975-76 work for the label. Truly, a beautiful "last hurrah" for one of the geniuses of the 20th century.