Customer Reviews

Fancy Meeting You Here

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fantastic album collaboration. Great arrangemnets by Billy May and absolutely superb vocal duets between two of the finest singers of their time. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney are obviously having fun, but not at the expense of the music. They harmonize beautifully on a round-the-world tour of songs including the title track, "Hindustan," "You Came a Long Way from St. Louis," "It Happened in Monterey," and "Brazil." Special lyrics on some songs by Sammy Cahn, plus 6 bonus tracks not on the original 1958 release with Bob Hope and Jo Stafford. Must have for every Bing and/or Rosie fan. 24-bit remastered.

The 13 tracks from the original 1958 LP are just about perfect. Worldly-wise Bing and fresh-sounding Rosie flirt charmingly and vocalize beautifully, and old pro Billy May assembles an orchestra which complements them superbly. The sound is excellent, the booklet helpful. This is just about the most cheerful disc one can ever imagine. If a person wanted a little Bing Crosby and a little Rosie Clooney in one's collection, just because they were excellent 20th-Century American "pop" singers, this one disc satisfies both needs. If you are a big fan of either one and do not already have this, you must budget for it and add it someday soon. The only flaw here is that the bonus tracks simply add length to the CD, helping it reach 49 minutes instead of the 35 of the original. But throwing on two Bob Hope duets with Rosie and a Jo Stafford medley with Bing and then two Bing solos which are totally at odds with the theme of the original LP makes no sense. What might have been sensible perhaps was not "do-able" because of "rights" conflicts: adding some some songs from the "White Christmas" film which Bing and Rosie starred in together. I don't know if this CD is good enough to buy at full retail price for most people.I have wanted it for months and luckily found an affordable copy. However, no one can fault its musical quality. When this was made in the late summer of 1958, the young record buyers were heavy into rock, and the affluent educated men were into jazz, and the middle-class men liked country and western while women liked Broadway and a category called "light classics". Bing and Rosie's audience, which had still been large just five years earlier, had fragmented and almost vanished. Their album of clever songs, lovely melodies, good taste and clean fun did not make a splash on Billboard charts. We're lucky to have the chance to buy it on CD at all, so I thank the people handling the "Bluebird" label (RCA Victor reissues) even if their bonus tracks did not quite work out. Buy this, enjoy it and just play the first 13 twice. You won't find a happier hour on all of Amazon!

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.

If I had to choose 25 top albums ever made, this would be one of them. Flawless duet pop and jazz singing by Crosby and Clooney to such classics as A Slow Boat To China, Love Won't Let You Get Away, I Can't Get Started. This cd is filled with smooth and romantic, fantastic arrangements and harmony. It's a cd you will want to play over and over and over when you are falling in love...or want to dance to alone or with someone. It just puts you into a wonderful warm place because the choice of songs is so perfect. I can't say enough good things about it. It is a classic and should be in everyone's cd library. I don't understand why there a song thrown in at the end with Jo Stafford and Bing Crosby...she is totally flat compared to Ms. Clooney's sparkling interpetations. BUY THIS CD - I promise you won't regret it.

I have this album. I got it as a record almost 20 years ago. It came out in this CD version i n 2001, and I just got that. But it's been one of my very favorite albums of all time. It's so good.

The songs are all about travel, or fantastic places, and they're beautiful duets, but they're more fun than anything. Lots of ad-libs and topical references. The tracks are: 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', Calcutta, Love Won't Let You Get Away -- every one is gold. Originally a 1958 release, arranged and conducted wonderfully by Billy May.

This new CD version comes with some bonus duets. Rosemary Clooney and Bob Hope do Ain't A-Hankerin' and Protection. Bing Crosby and Jo Stafford do Love Won't Let You Get Away, Medley: Fancy Meeting You Here/On A Slow Boat To China/Hindustan, Ol' Man River and When It's Twilight On The Trail.

Really, I can't recommend it enough.

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.

The first 13 tracks are the best (of course) but they all have something to recommend them. Clooney and Crosby not only blend voices seamlessly, but the fun they must have had recording this shines through. They're having a blast and it shows. They don't sing 'em like this anymore, and that's a pity. At least they captured these performances and we can listen to them again and again. Best of all, they only improve with listening.

Dismiss your cynical thoughts about Duet albums (forget Frank Sinatra vs. Bono, and other such fiascos). This one is an absolute treasure. A duet concept album with Crosby and Clooney as world travelers who keep running into each other. It is sheer bliss. Crosby and Clooney seem to be a perfect match vocally and stylistically. Both singers had very relaxed and natural styles which blend perfectly. The chemistry between these two greats is nothing short of magical. The title track is clever, funny and casually swinging. Nothing is forced and both singers seem completely at ease. Billy May's orchestration swings gentlely, never overpowering the wit and music of Crosby and Clooney. The remainder of the album is equally strong and intelligent. There is not a weak song in this set. Compare the Crosby Clooney collaborations to the Crosby-Jo Stafford Medley offered here as a Bonus Track. The versions with Stafford sound lifeless compared to the effervescent versions with Clooney. The sound quality is exceptional (even the Bonus Tracks from Crosby's TV show have minimal background hiss). Fans of either singer should pounce on this one.

Spurred on, no doubt, by the success of Frank Sinatra's travelogue album, "Come Fly With Me," songwriters Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen approached Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney with a similar concept album, but one that would emphasize the friendship and good humor the singers shared. What resulted is a classical vocalists' album at its highly polished best. Cahn and Van Heusen closely tailored the material to Bing and Rosie's rapport, and they wisely got the great Billy May (who had arranged the Sinatra album) to provide swinging charts filled with May's trademark humor. It's rollicking fun from start to finish, and everyone involved seems to be having a ball. You will, too.

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!