| Way Back Home | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1951 | |||
| Recorded | 1944, 1949–50 | |||
| Genre | Popular | |||
| Length | 24:12 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Bing Crosby chronology | ||||
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Way Back Home is a Decca Records compilation 78rpm album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby featuring sentimental and homely songs .
Bing Crosby had enjoyed unprecedented success during the 1940s but his discography indicates that the hits were becoming less frequent. His record company - Decca - had enthusiastically embraced the relatively new vinyl long-playing discs by putting out many albums of his songs to counter the reduction in hit singles. This particular album was one of the last to be issued in all three formats of 78rpm and 45rpm albums as well as a 10-inch (250 mm) LP. Two of the songs had already been hits with "Just a Prayer Away" reaching the No. 4 spot and "'Way Back Home" charting also. [1]
Billboard did not review the album but it had reviewed many of the separate single issues.
'Way Back Home If it hadn't been for "Mule Train," this one would have swept at once. As it is, its success has only been delayed a bit. Song, an oldie, is a natural, and the Bing-Waring team do it mightily. [2]
The Iowa Indian Song Bing makes strong medicine, with the Waring council whooping and tom-toming. [2]
My Own Bit of Land Bing spreads warmth and a homey flavor in warbling this pleasing chunk of homespun philosophy. Fine for the family trade. [3]
Just a Prayer Away — My Mother's Waltz There is plenty of vocal and instrumental embellishment to the spinning of these sides. But it's still to the credit of Bing Crosby that it is entirely his chanting that makes this couplet a desired one. For "Just a Prayer Away," singing the ballad at a moderately slow tempo, the Ken Darby Singers blend their voices with the organology of Ethel Smith and Victor Young's orchestra. Miss Smith's organ playing is pronounced throughout, and the entire company adds up to a simple setting that heightens Bing's simplicity in selling a song. Just as fitting and attractive is the setting created for Crosby's chanting of Dave Franklin's "My Mother's Waltz," rich in sentimental melodic and lyrical content, and sure to find immediate response among the three-quarter-time fans. For the phonos, "Just a Prayer Away" packs most of the nickel appeal where the fans are content to give a listen. [4]
The Last Mile Home Bing evokes plenty of nostalgia with this warm rendition of a sentimental tune. Fine production backing. [5]
The Meadows of Heaven Crosby and a chorus work over a pretty plug melody for attractive results. [6]
The songs were featured on a four-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album No. A-826. [7]
| Side | Title | Recording date | Writer | Performed with | Time |
| Disc 1: (24800) | |||||
| A. | "'Way Back Home" | June 17, 1949 | Tom Waring, Al Lewis | Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians | 3:11 |
| B. | "The Iowa Indian Song (I-O-WUH)" | June 17, 1949 | Meredith Willson | Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians | 3:13 |
| Disc 2: (27441) | |||||
| A. | "My Own Bit of Land" | December 22, 1949 | Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney | The Ken Darby Singers and rhythm accompaniment | 3:09 |
| B. | "Early American" | June 23, 1950 | Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke | Victor Young and his Orchestra | 2:44 |
| Disc 3: (27442) | |||||
| A. | "Just a Prayer Away" | July 24, 1944 | Dave Kapp, Charles Tobias | Ethel Smith (organ), Victor Young and his Orchestra, and the Ken Darby Singers | 3:00 |
| B. | "My Mother's Waltz" | July 24, 1944 | Dave Franklin | Ethel Smith (organ), Victor Young and his Orchestra, and the Ken Darby Singers | 2:48 |
| Disc 4: (27443) | |||||
| A. | "The Meadows of Heaven" | May 11, 1949 | Joseph Meyer, Joseph McCarthy | Victor Young and his Orchestra, and the Ken Lane Singers | 3:14 |
| B. | "The Last Mile Home" | May 11, 1949 | Walter Kent, Walton Farrar | Victor Young and his Orchestra, and the Ken Lane Singers | 2:53 |
The songs were also featured on a four-disc, 45 rpm album set, catalog number 9-204.
The songs were also featured on a 10" LP album, Decca DL 5310 issued in 1951. Side 1
Side 2
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.
Auld Lang Syne is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1948 featuring songs that were sung by Crosby and also by Fred Waring and his Glee Club. The songs were later presented in 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm sets, respectively. This set featured many of Bing's great hits such as: Silver Threads Among the Gold and Now Is the Hour.
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.
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 One 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 fourth Hawaiian-themed album release for Crosby.
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.
Don't Fence Me In is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters released in 1946 featuring Country and Western songs. This album contained the enormously popular record "Pistol Packin' Mama", which sold over a million copies and became the first number one hit on the then-new Juke Box Folk Song Records Chart that was later renamed the Hot Country Songs Chart.
Bing Crosby Sings Songs by George Gershwin is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1949 featuring songs written by George Gershwin.
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.
Stephen Foster is a compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of songs by Stephen Foster released in 1946.
El Bingo – A Collection of Latin American Favorites is a Decca Records album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of Latin American themed songs.
St. Valentine's Day is a 1948 Decca Records compilation album of recordings by Bing Crosby.
Bing Crosby Sings with Lionel Hampton, Eddie Heywood, Louis Jordan is a Decca Records compilation album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby, Lionel Hampton, Eddie Heywood and Louis Jordan.
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."
Top o' the Morning / Emperor Waltz is a Decca Records studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby of songs from his movies Top o' the Morning and The Emperor Waltz, catalog number DL 5272.
Bing Crosby Sings the Song Hits from Broadway Shows is a Decca Records compilation 78rpm album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby featuring some of the hits from Broadway musicals.
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.
