Phil Harris - His Original & Greatest Hits [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] [Import]

Phil Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2004)
• Original Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jasmine Music
• ASIN: B00000I06H
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,402 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #100 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Classic Big Band

Track Listings

1. Woodman, Woodman Spare That Tree

2. The Darktown Poker Club

3. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)

4. The Crawdad Song

5. I'm A Ding Dong Daddy

6. Old Time Religion

7. Minnie The Mermaid

8. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

9. Deck Of Cards

10. I'm My Own Grandpa

11. Now You've Gone And Hurt My Southern Pride

12. Loaded Pistols, Loaded Dice

13. Pray For The Lights To Go Out

14. I'm So Right Tonight

15. That's What I Like About The South

16. The Thing

17. Necessity

18. The Preacher And The Bear

19. The Possum Song

20. Never Trust A Woman

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

A solid Phil Harris hit compilation from JASMINE, featuring all the 1940s classics like Woodman, Woodman, Spare That Tree and The Darktown Poker Club , not forgetting his biggest hit from 1950 with The Thing . This is the definitive collection from the man who was to win the hearts of a later generation as the voice of Baloo the Bear in Walt Disney s cartoon version of The Jungle Book. To many people Phil Harris's fame started and ended with his role as the voice of Baloo the bear in Disney's Jungle Book. However this masterstroke of casting happened at the end of a singing career which started in the 1920s. This selection, which does cover his best and most popular work pre-Disney, dates from the 1940s, and many of the tracks will be familiar to anyone who remembers listening to radio programmes such as Children's Favourites then and through to the early 60s. Although by no means children's songs, they are for the most part songs that tell a story or gently satirise popular American culture of the time, and sung in a narrative style (the nearest comparison I can think of would be Rex Harrison without the English accent!). Considering their age the recordings are remarkably clear, having been carefully cleaned up and transferred to CD. An excellent hours-worth of nostalgia that you don't hear very much of these days.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Energy Entertainment!, December 22, 1999

By 

Leanne Martin (Belleville, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phil Harris - His Original & Greatest Hits [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

I grew up listening to Phil Harris, as my parents were fans. I bought this CD for my old favorites, "Darktown Poker Club" & "44 Sycamore"; the latter was a pleasant surprise. The only lyrics I could remember was the chorus; I had forgotten how deliciously droll the verses are. "Never Trust A Woman" was a new one on me. Although not PC these days, I found it amusing nonetheless. The musical accompaniment will have the stuffiest conservative's toes tapping in spite of themselves. The recording/engineering is cleaner than I thought it would be, considering when this music was first recorded. Harris' personality shines through on every song. He is the jolly uncle every kid should have, the one who always raises the grown-up's eyebrows, but delights the young ones. This CD is just plain fun. If you're young at heart & enjoy big band swing music with a touch of humor in the lyrics, this CD is for you.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Ol' Bear Phil Harris, December 13, 2004

By 

Jmark2001 (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phil Harris - His Original & Greatest Hits [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

I had to laugh at the review below that complains about this album "proselytizing" because of the gospel songs on it. She must make it a habit to buy albums by singers she knows little about. I guess I need to start complaining about popular albums that contain secular attitudes and loose morals - after I have bought them!
I am quite fond of Phil Harris. He was a big lovable southern guy deeply proud of his southern Methodist roots. He started out as a drummer and went on to become the bandleader on the Jack Benny radio show. His great comedic timing made him a regular character on that show. His stage personality of the heavy drinking, womanizing, loophole finding, fun loving orchestra guy was a big hit with audiences. He went on to marry movie star Alice Faye. Everyone was sure the marriage of this rough guy to the glamourous star would end in a few months. It lasted until Faye died. Their radio show (easily available on ebay in mp3 format) was one of the funniest radio shows around and influenced the more sophisticated tv shows such as "The Dick Van Dyke" show. It is a great, still very funny show and well worth checking out. It ran for 6 years and got better each year that it was on. Writers loved writing for these two. Harris played every writer's dream of a lovable rascal.
Phil Harris went on to sing "The Bare Necessities" in Disney's "The Jungle Book". He continued to appear on tv until health problems took over.
And yes, he sang gospel songs - like a good southern boy, he sang them often and with all of his big warm heart.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phil Harris CD, February 12, 2007

By 

Joyce M. Austin "music lover" (Yerington, NV. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phil Harris - His Original & Greatest Hits [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

I ordered this CD for my husband. When he was younger, he used to go to
see Phil Harris and danced to his dance band. He loves this kind of music. I put the CD on and Herb sits and listens and laughs at the funny
songs and thoroughly enjoys the others. It is a great way to reminisce
for him. As far as we are concerned, it was a good purchase and we are
glad to have [...] to do business with.