| Bing: A Musical Autobiography | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1954 | |||
| Recorded | April 21–June 19, 1954 | |||
| Genre | Vocal | |||
| Length | 3:43:20 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Producer | Buddy Cole | |||
| Bing Crosby chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
Bing: A Musical Autobiography was Bing Crosby's fourth Decca vinyl LP, recorded and released in 1954.
Ready to retire by 1954, Crosby assembled Buddy Cole and his Trio, a small group formed from members of the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, and re-recorded many of his early hits between April and June 1954. The Decca masters were used for his hits, starting with the 1938 recording of "Small Fry" [1] Most of the new recordings were done at the American Legion Hall in Palm Springs, California. [2]
Crosby's memoir, Call Me Lucky, was published in June 1953 by Simon & Schuster. It was written with Pete Martin. [3]
Starting in 1958, Decca released the LPs separately. [4]
The LPs were issued as automatic couplings which would enable the five LPs to be played on an autochanger record player in chronological sequence. For instance, within album set DX-151, LP no. DL 8072 contained sides 1 and 10, DL 8073 sides 2 and 9, DL 8074 sides 3 and 8, DL 8075 sides 4 and 7, DL 8076 sides 5 and 6.
The Musical Autobiography tracks were reissued as a four-CD set in Japan in 1992 without change from the original five LPs (MCA (Japan). Avid Entertainment in the UK released a four disc set in 2005 but with the addition of soundtrack and film promotional material from the 1930s. [1]
In an enthusiastic review of the set, John S. Wilson wrote in The New York Times, "The first half of the program in which Crosby talks about his early days and sings his early hits is an unalloyed joy, a field day for nostalgians. In view of complaints that have been made off and on for the past fifteen years that the Crosby voice was gone, that he no longer had the old touch, it is a particular pleasure to hear these early songs recorded within the past year, sung with all the old Crosby ease and charm...This is an exceptional collection of recordings, the summation of a landmark in American popular music and well worth the asking price." [5]
At Allmusic John Bush called A Musical Autobiography "the most laborious exercise in Crosby's entire career, narrating a career history and re-recording dozens of songs." It was also issued to commemorate Decca's 20th anniversary.
Billboard reported, "Decca's merchandising displays consist of a lifelike window or floor display of Bing Crosby, mounted on an easel and with Crosby holding a copy of his musical autobiography titled simple, 'Bing.' This set...is the firm's big push for the fall." [4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Muddy Water" | Peter DeRose, Harry Richman, Jo Trent | April 24, 1954 | 1:58 |
| 2. | "Mississippi Mud" | James Cavanaugh, Harry Barris | April 24, 1954 | 2:19 |
| 3. | "My Kinda Love" | Trent, Louis Alter | April 24, 1954 | 1:35 |
| 4. | "I Surrender Dear" | Gordon Clifford, Barris, Crosby | April 24, 1954 | 2:37 |
| 5. | "It Must Be True" | Barris, Gus Arnheim, Clifford | April 21, 1954 | 1:13 |
| 6. | "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" | Ted Koehler, Barris, Billy Moll | April 21, 1954 | 2:34 |
| 7. | "Out of Nowhere" | Edward Heyman, Johnny Green | June 16, 1954 | 1:53 |
| 8. | "Just One More Chance" | Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow | April 21, 1954 | 2:12 |
| 9. | "Stardust" | Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish | June 16, 1954 | 2:09 |
| 10. | "Sweet and Lovely" | Harry Tobias, Jules LeMare, Arnheim | April 21, 1954 | 1:57 |
| 11. | "Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)" | Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk, Crosby | April 21, 1954 | 1:43 |
| 12. | "Paradise" | Nacio Herb Brown, Clifford | April 21, 1954 | 1:42 |
| Total length: | 23:52 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Please" | Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin | April 21, 1954 | 2:04 |
| 2. | "Just An Echo in the Valley" | Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods | April 21, 1954 | 1:47 |
| 3. | "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance" | Ned Washington, Victor Young, Crosby | April 21, 1954 | 1:51 |
| 4. | "Learn to Croon" | Johnston, Coslow | April 21, 1954 | 1:33 |
| 5. | "Down the Old Ox Road" | Johnston, Coslow | May 3, 1954 | 1:20 |
| 6. | "Thanks" | Johnston, Coslow | April 21, 1954 | 2:08 |
| 7. | "Black Moonlight" | Johnston, Coslow | May 3, 1954 | 2:34 |
| 8. | "The Day You Came Along" | Johnston, Coslow | May 3, 1954 | 1:57 |
| 9. | "After Sundown" | Brown, Arthur Freed | May 3, 1954 | 1:44 |
| 10. | "Temptation" | Brown, Freed | May 3, 1954 | 2:07 |
| 11. | "Love Thy Neighbour" | Harry Revel, Mack Gordon | May 3, 1954 | 1:35 |
| 12. | "May I?" | Revel, Gordon | May 3, 1954 | 1:47 |
| 13. | "Love in Bloom" | Rainger, Robin | May 3, 1954 | 1:45 |
| Total length: | 24:12 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Love You Truly" | Carrie Jacobs Bond | May 3, 1954 | 1:56 |
| 2. | "June in January" | Rainger, Robin | May 3, 1954 | 1:45 |
| 3. | "Love Is Just Around the Corner" | Robin, Lewis E. Gensler | May 3, 1954 | 1:10 |
| 4. | "It's Easy to Remember" | Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart | May 3, 1954 | 2:16 |
| 5. | "Soon" | Rodgers, Hart | June 16, 1954 | 2:00 |
| 6. | "I Wished on the Moon" | Dorothy Parker, Rainger | May 3, 1954 | 2:03 |
| 7. | "Silent Night" | Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber | May 3, 1954 | 1:39 |
| 8. | "I'm an Old Cowhand" | Johnny Mercer | May 3, 1954 | 1:22 |
| 9. | "I Can't Escape from You" | Richard A. Whiting, Robin | June 19, 1954 | 1:49 |
| 10. | "Song of the Islands" | Charles E. King | May 3, 1954 | 1:33 |
| 11. | "Pennies from Heaven" | Johnny Burke, Johnston | June 19, 1954 | 1:52 |
| 12. | "Sweet Leilani" | Harry Owens | May 3, 1954 | 1:36 |
| 13. | "Blue Hawaii" | Rainger, Robin | May 3, 1954 | 2:15 |
| 14. | "The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart)" | Del Lyon, Lani McIntyre | June 16, 1954 | 1:45 |
| Total length: | 25:01 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "There's a Gold Mine in the Sky" | Charles Kenny, Nick Kenny | June 16, 1954 | 2:33 |
| 2. | "My Heart Is Taking Lessons" | James V. Monaco, Burke | June 16, 1954 | 1:30 |
| 3. | "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams" | Monaco, Burke | June 16, 1954 | 1:24 |
| 4. | "Small Fry" (with Johnny Mercer) | Frank Loesser, Carmichael | July 1, 1938 | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Mexicali Rose" | Helen Stone, Jack Tenney | June 16, 1954 | 2:05 |
| 6. | "That Sly Old Gentleman" | Monaco, Burke | June 16, 1954 | 1:43 |
| 7. | "Allá en El Rancho Grande" | Emilio D. Uranga, Bartley Costello | June 16, 1954 | 1:01 |
| 8. | "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" | Bob Nolan | June 16, 1954 | 2:05 |
| 9. | "Only Forever" | Monaco, Burke | June 16, 1954 | 2:04 |
| 10. | "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland?" | Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy | June 16, 1954 | 2:03 |
| 11. | "Yes Indeed!" (with Connee Boswell) | Sy Oliver | December 13, 1940 | 3:29 |
| 12. | "Brahms' Lullaby" | Natalia Macfarren, Johannes Brahms | June 16, 1954 | 1:27 |
| Total length: | 24:59 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Are My Sunshine" | Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell | July 8, 1941 | 3:03 |
| 2. | "The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid" (with Mary Martin and Jack Teagarden) | Johnny Mercer | May 26, 1941 | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Deep in the Heart of Texas" | Don Swander, June Hershey | January 18, 1942 | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" (with Mary Martin) | Andrew B. Sterling, Harry von Tilzer | March 13, 1942 | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Walking the Floor over You" | Ernest Tubb | May 27, 1942 | 3:30 |
| 6. | "White Christmas" | Irving Berlin | May 29, 1942 | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 19:26 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Moonlight Becomes You" | Jimmy Van Heusen, Burke | June 12, 1942 | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Road to Morocco" (with Bob Hope)) | Van Heusen, Burke | December 8, 1944 | 2:49 |
| 3. | "Sunday, Monday or Always" | Van Heusen, Burke | July 2, 1943 | 2:54 |
| 4. | "Pistol Packin' Mama" (with The Andrews Sisters) | Al Dexter | September 27, 1943 | 3:18 |
| 5. | "San Fernando Valley" | Gordon Jenkins | December 29, 1943 | 3:24 |
| 6. | "I'll Be Seeing You" | Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal | February 17, 1944 | 3:08 |
| Total length: | 19:06 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Swinging on a Star" | Van Heusen, Burke | February 7, 1944 | 2:51 |
| 2. | "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)" | James Royce Shannon | July 17, 1945 | 3:30 |
| 3. | "Don't Fence Me In" (with The Andrews Sisters) | Cole Porter | July 25, 1944 | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta (Talk, Talk, Talk)" (with Judy Garland) | Van Heusen, Burke | March 9, 1945 | 3:31 |
| 5. | "It's Been a Long, Long Time" | Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn | July 12, 1945 | 3:26 |
| 6. | "The Bells of St. Mary's" | A. Emmett Adams, Douglas Furber | September 10, 1945 | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Put It There, Pal" (with Bob Hope) | Van Heusen, Burke | December 8, 1945 | 2:48 |
| Total length: | 23:05 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "McNamara's Band" | Shamus O'Connor, John J. Stamford | December 6, 1945 | 2:59 |
| 2. | "Sioux City Sue" | Ray Freedman, Dick Thomas | December 27, 1945 | 3:00 |
| 3. | "Begin the Beguine" | Cole Porter | May 3, 1944 | 4:08 |
| 4. | "South America, Take It Away" (with The Andrews Sisters) | Harold Rome | May 11, 1946 | 3:26 |
| 5. | "Blue Skies" | Berlin | July 11, 1946 | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (with Al Jolson) | Berlin | March 27, 1947 | 3:21 |
| Total length: | 20:32 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Whiffenpoof Song" | Rudyard Kipling, Guy H. Scull, Meade Minnigerode, George S. Pomeroy | May 5, 1947 | 3:18 |
| 2. | "Now Is the Hour" | Clement Scott, Maewa Kaihau, Dorothy Stewart | November 8, 1947 | 3:23 |
| 3. | "Galway Bay" | Arthur Colahan | November 27, 1947 | 3:20 |
| 4. | "Far Away Places" | Joan Whitney Kramer, Alex Kramer | November 25, 1948 | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Mule Train" | Johnny Lange, Hy Heath, Ramblin' Tommy Scott, Fred Glickman | October 26, 1949 | 3:14 |
| 6. | "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" | Sammy Fain, Bob Hilliard | October 26, 1949 | 3:04 |
| 7. | "Rock of Ages" | Augustus Toplady | May 6, 1949 | 3:17 |
| Total length: | 23:00 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sunshine Cake" (with Carol Richards) | Van Heusen, Burke | May 10, 1949 | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Play a Simple Melody" (with Gary Crosby) | Berlin | May 23, 1950 | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Sam's Song" (with Gary Crosby) | Lew Quadling, Jack Elliott | May 23, 1950 | 3:11 |
| 4. | "Gone Fishin'" (with Louis Armstrong) | Nick Kenny, Charles Kenny | April 25, 1951 | 2:52 |
| 5. | "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" (with Jane Wyman) | Carmichael, Johnny Mercer | June 20, 1951 | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Y'All Come" | Arlie Duff | November 14, 1953 | 2:41 |
| 7. | "Bing Crosby signs off" | 0:56 | ||
| Total length: | 20:07 | |||
When Bing: A Musical Autobiography was re-released as a 4-CD set in 2005, the label added bonus tracks that had no connection with the original album. These tracks were sourced from Bing Crosby's radio shows, publicity discs, and his short film soundtracks.
Paris Honeymoon selection (from Kraft Music Hall, June 28, 1945): [6]
The Star Maker selection (from Kraft Music Hall, April 19, 1945): [6]
I Surrender Dear 1931 film soundtrack selection:
One More Chance 1931 film soundtrack selection:
Dream House 1931 film soundtrack selection:
Billboard Girl 1931 film soundtrack selection:
Sing, Bing, Sing 1932 film soundtrack selection:
Blue of the Night 1932 film soundtrack selection:
From The Big Broadcast publicity discs:
Please film soundtrack selection:
From She Loves Me Not publicity discs:
From Two for Tonight publicity discs:
From Doctor Rhythm publicity discs:
From Birth of the Blues publicity discs:
From The Big Broadcast publicity discs:
A Tribute to Bing Crosby is a 1994 studio album by Mel Tormé, recorded as a tribute to the singer Bing Crosby.
Sing You Sinners is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Ellen Drew, and Donald O'Connor. Written by Claude Binyon, the film is about three singing brothers who go to California to find their fortune. Initially the film was to be titled "The Unholy Beebes" and then "Harmony for Three" before finishing with "Sing You Sinners". Filming took place in April/May 1938 in Hollywood. Race track scenes were filmed at the Pomona Fairgrounds and at Santa Anita using two dozen of Crosby's horses. Sing You Sinners was premiered on August 5, 1938 at the Del Mar racetrack with the New York premiere taking place on August 16.
"Blue Hawaii" is a popular song written by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger for the 1937 Paramount Pictures film Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross. Crosby recorded a version with backing by Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians, which was released in 1937 as the B-side of "Sweet Leilani." This reached the No. 5 spot in the charts of the day during a 13-week-stay
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. Crosby and Martin sang "Only Forever", for which James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
She Loves Me Not is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Bing Crosby and Miriam Hopkins. Based on the novel She Loves Me Not by Edward Hope and the subsequent play by Howard Lindsay, the film is about a cabaret dancer who witnesses a murder and is forced to hide from gangsters by disguising herself as a male Princeton student. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film has been remade twice as True to the Army (1942) and as How to Be Very, Very Popular in (1955), the latter starring Betty Grable. The film is notable for containing one of the first major performances of Bing Crosby, and it helped launch him to future stardom. This was also the last film that Miriam Hopkins made under her contract to Paramount Pictures, which began in the early 1930s upon her arrival in Hollywood. In 1935, the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Love in Bloom", theme song of comedian Jack Benny.
Here Is My Heart is a 1934 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Kitty Carlisle, and Roland Young. It is based on the play La Grande-duchesse et le garçon d'étage by Alfred Savoir.
Doctor Rhythm is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lillie, and Andy Devine. Based on the 1907 short story The Badge of Policeman O'Roon by O. Henry, the film is about a doctor who pretends to be a policeman assigned as the bodyguard of a wealthy matron, whose beautiful niece becomes the object of his affections. The film features the songs "On the Sentimental Side" and "My Heart Is Taking Lessons".
Song Hits from Holiday Inn is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire released in July 1942 featuring songs presented in the American musical film Holiday Inn. These are the longer studio recorded versions of the songs presented in the film. For the songs that were actually in the film, see Holiday Inn (soundtrack). This album is not only notable because it is one of the greatest works of the highly regarded songwriter Irving Berlin, but it is only Crosby's third studio album. This was also the first release of Crosby's signature song "White Christmas" on shellac disc record. The 1942 version would be released only one more time, in 1945's compilation album, Merry Christmas, before the song was re-recorded in 1947. The later version became the standard.
Selections from Going My Way is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in late 1945 featuring songs that were presented in the American musical comedy-drama film Going My Way. This was the first release of one of Crosby's best songs throughout his career, "Swinging on a Star", on shellac disc record.
This is a list of Bing Crosby songs he recorded twice or more during his career, excluding all of the 1954 re-recordings for Bing: A Musical Autobiography.
St. Patrick's Day is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1947 featuring songs with an Irish theme. This includes one of Crosby's most-beloved songs, "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" which was number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks, and topped the Australian charts for an entire month, on shellac disc record. This version, the 1945 re-recording, was released earlier in another Crosby album, Selections from Going My Way.
Favorite Hawaiian Songs, Volume Two is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1946 featuring songs that were sung in a Hawaiian-type genre. This was the fifth Hawaiian-themed album release for Crosby.
Star Dust is an album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1940 featuring songs that are sung sentimentally, being based upon the 1927 popular song "Stardust". This album featured his 1939 Decca recording of the song, not the 1931 recording he made for Brunswick.
Music of Hawaii is a compilation album containing five 78rpm records of Hawaiian music issued by Decca Records.
Selections from The Bells of St. Mary's is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1946 featuring songs that were presented in the American musical comedy-drama film The Bells of St. Mary's.
The Emperor Waltz is an album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of songs featured in his film The Emperor Waltz.
Bing Crosby Sings Cole Porter Songs is a Decca Records studio 78rpm album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby featuring the songs of Cole Porter.
Collectors' Classics, Vols. 1–8 are a set of Decca Records compilation albums by Bing Crosby featuring songs from his various films over the years. The albums were issued as 10” LPs numbered DL6008 to DL6015 and 4-disc 45rpm sets numbered 9-194 to 9–201.
Selections from the Paramount Picture "Just for You" is a Decca Records studio album by Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman and The Andrews Sisters of songs featured in the film Just for You released in 1952. All of the songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics).
Road to Bali is a Decca Records studio album by Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Peggy Lee of songs featured in the film Road to Bali released in 1952. All of the songs were written by Jimmy Van Heusen (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics). The songs were featured on a 10” vinyl LP numbered DL 5444 and in a 3-disc 45rpm box set numbered 9-375.
