Customer Reviews

Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56)

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When Mosaic Records produced this exceptional limited edition of 20,000 sets many fans waited to see and hear what was waiting for us, and no that I know of has been disappointed. For only 119.00 Mosaic Records has worked with the Crosby family to put together 7 sides loaded with songs, many of which Bing never commercially recorded. His voice is perfect, relaxed more so than in any of his studio recordings, and Buddy Cole manages to assist Bing return to his jazz roots. The quality of every single cut is amazing and sound as if Bing is right in your living room! Of all the Crosby sets I have heard, this is by far the very best. There are about 12 songs recorded in Palm Springs that by themselves that Decca would have done well to release as an album by itself as they reveal Bing's affection for Dixieland Music with a nice addition to Cole and trio with likes of Matty Matlock, Abe Lincoln, and others. This is a must for any Crosby fan, but more importantly its a reminder of why Bing Crosby is the true King of Popular Music. Mosaic Records, along with the Crosby Estate, has created truly a materpiece here and I was lucky to get mine early on from a dear friend. These were produced directly from Bing's personal masters which were in the basement of his home and left there since the mid 1950's and they sound incredible and are worth their weight in gold, just like Bing's voice.

High-priced CD's that are worth every penny for the Bing Crosby fan. They have done a magnificent job cleaning these recordings up. Other than them being in mono, they could have been recorded five years ago instead of 50+. He sounds like he is in your living room.

The performances and audio are both spectacular. Bing's deceptively sophisticated way with rhythm is a revelation throughout, as are the many standout ballad performances. Given the sheer quantity of these tracks, done over several marathon sessions to supply material for Bing's daily radio shows of the mid-1950s, it's astonishing there are so few misfires. Gary Giddins' insightful liner notes provide the proverbial "icing on the cake." This meticulously produced Mosaic package jumps to the very forefront of essential Bing Crosby recordings.

I wrote a detailed review about this that was apparently lost by Amazon. Short story: It's great. Buy it.