The Happy Prince | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1946: (original 78rpm album) 1949 (original LP album) | |||
Recorded | August 21, 1945 | |||
Genre | Short story | |||
Length | 12:13 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Bing Crosby chronology | ||||
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The Happy Prince is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby and Orson Welles of the Oscar Wilde short story The Happy Prince .
The story had been adapted for radio by Orson Welles in 1944, featuring a musical score by Bernard Herrmann. It was aired on the Philco Radio Hall of Fame broadcast on December 24, 1944 [1] featuring Bing Crosby alongside Orson Welles, with Herrmann's music conducted by Victor Young. Lurene Tuttle played The Swallow.
Decca Records soon signed up the participants to make a commercial recording.
Down Beat magazine liked the album saying: "If you’ve been getting smothered lately in record stores with scads of children’s’ albums by everybody from Artie Shaw through Ronald Colman by way of Gene Kelly, try this one on your small son. It’s the Oscar Wilde fairy tale with a Bernard Herrmann score, and in very much better taste than anything else being turned out for the Christmas rush." [2]
These newly issued songs were featured on a 2-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album No. A-420. [3] Words by Oscar Wilde, music by Bernard Herrmann. Recorded August 21, 1945 with Victor Young and His Orchestra. [4]
Disc 1 (40007): Part 1 (3:08) / Part 2 (3:02)
Disc 2 (40008): Part 3 (2:54) / Part 4 (3:09)
Decca released a dual 10” LP of The Happy Prince and The Small One on Decca DL6000 in 1949. [5]
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 only be released only one more time, in Merry Christmas in 1945 before the song was re-recorded and 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.
Christmas Music is a compilation album of phonograph records put together for the Christmas season by Decca Records in late 1940. The album features the most popular artists recording for Decca such as: Bing Crosby, Kenny Baker, Men About Town and Eddie Dunstedter. It features Bing Crosby's first commercial release of "Silent Night", the 1942 version of which went on to sell 30 million copies.
Blue Skies is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire released in 1946 featuring songs that were presented in the American musical film Blue Skies. Like Song Hits from Holiday Inn, the entire 78 rpm album would be composed of Irving Berlin songs written specifically for the film. This was the first release of one of Astaire's greatest songs, "Puttin' On the Ritz", on shellac disc record.
Small Fry was a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1941 featuring songs centered on the main song, "Small Fry", which was sung by Bing Crosby in the 1938 film Sing You Sinners.
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.
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 "Star Dust". This album featured his 1939 Decca recording of the song, not the 1931 recording he made for Brunswick.
Ballad for Americans is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1940 featuring the popular "Ballad for Americans" sung by Crosby in an American-type patriotic style. In 1946, the two records in this album were put into a new album called What We So Proudly Hail. This was Crosby's first studio album that was not a reissue of earlier singles.
South Pacific is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Ella Fitzgerald and Evelyn Knight released in 1949 featuring songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific. The album was placed 8th in Billboard's chart of best-selling popular record albums in July 1949.
Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. 1 is a studio album featuring five 78 rpm phonograph records recorded by artists Bing Crosby, Frances Langford, Florence George and Rudy Vallee celebrating the music of Victor Herbert. The recordings were made in December 1938 by Decca Records, who were probably aware that a film called The Great Victor Herbert was being made by Paramount Pictures. Victor Young and His Orchestra provided the musical accompaniment to all of the tracks. The album was followed by a sequel Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. 2
Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. 2 is a compilation album of phonograph records, recorded by Bing Crosby, Frances Langford, Florence George and Rudy Vallee celebrating the music of Victor Herbert. Most of the recordings were made in December 1938 by Decca Records, who were probably aware that a film called The Great Victor Herbert was being made by Paramount Pictures. An album titled Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. 1 had been issued earlier in 1939. Victor Young and His Concert Orchestra provided the musical accompaniment to all of the tracks.
Stephen Foster is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of songs by Stephen Foster released in 1946.
Jerome Kern is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of songs written by Jerome Kern.
Our Common Heritage – Great Poems Celebrating Milestones in the History of America is a Decca Records album of phonograph records by various artists celebrating American ideals and patriotic themes. The album was edited, with notes, by Louis Untermeyer; original music and sound effects were composed by Victor Young and Lehman Engel with the Jean Neilson Verse Choir. Artists reading are Brian Donlevy, Agnes Moorehead, Fredric March, Walter Huston, Pat O'Brien, and Bing Crosby.
The Small One is a studio album of Deccalite phonograph records by Bing Crosby of a Charles Tazewell story. It was produced and directed by Paramount Pictures producer Robert Welch with musical accompaniment from Victor Young and His Orchestra.
Selections from Showboat is a Decca Records compilation album of phonograph records featuring songs from the Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II musical Show Boat.
Christmas Greetings is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1949 featuring popular Christmas songs.
Ichabod – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1949 narrating the famous 1820 Washington Irving short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
Songs from Mr. Music is a Decca Records studio 78rpm album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters and Dorothy Kirsten of songs from the film Mr. Music.
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.
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