Customer Reviews

Bing Crosby and Some Jazz Friends

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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.

Often we forget how great they really were. Bing Crosby performed with the best of his era. Here are a few of them.

When the recording industry and that new fangled microphone took hold of the music world in the mid-1920's, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong's incomparable free-and-easy style was tailor-made, as is Crosby teaming with saxman, Louis Jordan, shown here with "Your Socks Don't Match."

Satchmo influenced Crosby in jazz rhythms, and Bing went on to influence the crooners who came after him; some took jazz further, others sang so straight there was no sense of pontaneity. Similarly, other performers on this CD influenced upcoming singers. Connee Boswell, who has a lively give-and-take here with Crosby in, "Basin Street Blues," spiced her songs with strong jazz flavoring, as did Lee Wiley, here with "I Still Suits Me," and she still suits old and new fans long after her death. A fun tune came up with "The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid" by songwriter/singer, Johnny Mercer, and if you want to know what the good noise was all about, Lionel Hampton's "Pinetop's Boogie-Woogie" tells it all, Bing narrating.

This CD features the early jazz greats, smokin' and simmerin', Woody Herman and Bob Crosby, Jack Teagarden and Eddie Condon. All with cool Crosby tossing asides and floating over the energy.

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.

Bing was a jazz vocal pioneer and those who drool over Mel Torme's tortured scat singing need to listen to how Bing did it: he was first and he was infinitely superior to any other white jazz singer who followed him. This disc offers the novice convincing evidence of Crosby's genius and the fact Bing could really *swing,* effortlessly and innately. Those who want to delve further should pick up some of the tracks Bing did with Paul Whiteman and the Rhythm Boys, as well as his unparalleled 1932-1936 recordings - his golden age!

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!

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.

Bing Crosby could do just about anything he set his mind to doing; and this CD proves his wide range of vocal abilities. Bing's voice never sounded better; and it's a pleasure to hear these fine numbers Bing performs with his peers.

The CD track set opens with Bing Crosby and Louis Jordan performing "Your Socks Don't Match." The horns at the beginning sound great; and when Bing comes in this number takes flight! Louis Jordan and Bing truly convince you that they're best buddies with "Your Socks Don't Match." Great! Another great number is "Basin Street Blues" which Bing performs with the great Connie Boswell. There's some surface noise on "Basin Street Blues;" but this number is so good it scarcely interferes with the grand entertainment. Connie Boswell sings with all her heart and soul; together she and Bing Crosby sing of the wonderful Basin Street where people can go to see some of the finest entertainment around! The musical interlude makes good use of the brass as well.

"Pennies From Heaven" features an excerpt of this classic ballad done by Bing Crosby with both Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Dorsey; and this number lacks nothing--it's THAT good. Louis's voice stay strong though it's not as gravelly as it would become; and Bing sings this with all his heart and soul. What music by Jimmy Dorsey and those fine musicians! Unfortunately, the fact that this is an excerpt disappoints me; and I must take off a star for this to make this a four star review. Sigh.

"The Birth Of The Blues" showcases Bing paired up with the great Jack Teagarden. Some of the language for black people in this version is embarrassingly dated; but the number swings well. Bing Crosby sings to perfection and Jack Teagarden's Orchestra never misses a beat!

One of the treats this album gives us is that we get both an unissued version and a released version of "After You've Gone." Bing Crosby and Eddie Condon deliver this jazzy rendition with panache and all their soul. The musical arrangements make good use of the horns and percussion, too. Listen for great jam sessions in the middle of both versions of "After You've Gone." "Personality" showcases Bing doing a great jazzy rendition of this classic ballad; and the musicians never miss a beat!

"On The Sunny Side Of The Street" begins with some sharp percussion as Bing croons this number without a superfluous note. The catchy, relentlessly upbeat melody grabs your attention and holds it, too. Eddie Condon does an awesome job with his vocals which are mostly spoken; yet they add to the beauty of the number very well.

The CD track set ends with Bing and Louis Armstrong together once again; they do a sublime rendition of "Gone Fishin'." This number showcases a somewhat more mature Bing and Louis but their performance is every bit as electric as it ever was. "Gone Fishin'" provides a strong, upbeat ending for this album.

The liner notes have great artwork; and Richard M. Sudhalter provides an extensive, informative essay about these numbers. We also get the song credits and the detailed discography impresses me.

As I mentioned above, we should have had more than just an "excerpt" from "Pennies From Heaven;" and some of the language for African American people is embarrassingly dated on "The Birth Of The Blues." I must take off one star for this disappointment. I thought of taking off more than one star but what we get on the rest of the CD is so flawless that I'll leave it at four stars.

Bing Crosby's talent was very, very special; and when he did these marvelous numbers with his peers both their talents shined more brightly than ever before. I highly recommend this CD for Bing Crosby fans; and people who appreciate classic pop vocals will love this album for ages to come.

Enjoy!

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.