Recording » AI-Bing ? » 02/12/2023 8:58 am

Rod Poynter
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An intriguing topic, Dieter, though I’m not really sure how it all works. The Sammy Davis Jnr link supplied by ModernBingFan0377, hints that someone who can sing a bit like the required artist, lays down an initial voice track - then the real artist’s voice is overlaid by AI…somehow??  It sounds ok I suppose, though I never believed that that was Sammy. A less discerning listener may have, however. And, no doubt, the technology will speedily improve…

As to making “new” Road movies, perhaps that’s simply the natural step beyond colourisation and holograms…But not for me…

Everyone on this board is closely attuned to Bing’s vocal styles and inflections. He left a huge, recorded legacy for us to explore, without the need of any “fake takes”. So, for me at least, if it’s not the genuine article, I’ll give it a miss.

Others of Note » 'Red' McKenzie » 29/10/2023 9:53 am

Rod Poynter
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William ’Red’ McKenzie made his name as a comb-and-paper (kazoo) player with the ‘Mound City Blue Blowers’, a jazz band he founded in 1924. 

He was also a popular vocalist, recording under his own name and with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the early ‘30s - making him yet another Crosby contemporary.

This 1931 recording also features prominent jazz players including Mugsy Spanier, Jimmy Dorsey, Coleman Hawkins and Eddie Condon - with a brief kazoo solo by ‘Red’ at the end.

Georgia on My Mind (Version by Red Mckenzie) - YouTube

‘Red’ McKenzie’ died aged 49, in 1948.

Others of Note » Chick Bullock. » 02/9/2023 10:17 pm

Rod Poynter
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Chick Bullock, though not a sound-alike, was a Çrosby contemporary - recording around 500 titles, mostly in the early ‘30s.  Here, he performs ‘Vocal Chorus’ on a smooth dance band version of Bing’s 1933 song, ‘I’m Playing with Fire’.

1933 Bob Causer - I'm Playing With Fire (Chick Bullock, vocal) - YouTube

Bullock eventually moved into real estate, opening his own business.  He died in California in 1981, aged 82.

Film » Road To Rio » 13/7/2023 7:01 am

Rod Poynter
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You were fortunate to see all those great performers, Ron. Your comments reminded me of an interview, by Australian presenter Bert Newton in the late ‘70s, with Stan Freberg.

Freberg spoke of touring Australia with Frank Sinatra, sometime in the 1950s.  He said that after a show at ‘Sydney Stadium’ (which, as you mention, was often used for boxing matches), he, Sinatra, the Lord Mayor of Sydney and several other local dignitaries were photographed in the dressing rooms. He thought no more about it.

Years later, re-discovering the photo, his eyes were drawn not to the participants, but to a sign on the wall above their heads - a sign he hadn’t noticed at the time. It said something like, “Fighters must not urinate in the showers.”
 

Others of Note » Bea Wain - A Ghost Of A Chance » 29/5/2023 8:07 am

Rod Poynter
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Like Bob Hope, Bea Wain made it to 100...April 30, 1917 to August 19, 2017.

A smooth singer, and a neat 'Swing' take of this fine song.

Film » Favorite Priestly Bing Crosby Movie » 18/4/2023 12:57 am

Rod Poynter
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‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ gets the nod from me, too. Bing seems more at ease as Father O’Malley than he was in ‘Going My Way’.

Also, the closing moments of the film, particularly the final close-up of Bing’s face…conveying so many emotions…contain some of his finest acting. For me, it’s one of the most powerful of movie endings, right up there with Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’.

Film » I'm Dreaming of an Asbestos Christmas... » 23/3/2023 1:43 am

Rod Poynter
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That’s an interesting, though disturbing article.
 
Who could have imagined the consequences of asbestos when those movies, including ‘Holiday Inn’ and ‘White Christmas’, were being made?
 
Describing the use of asbestos in snow scenes, the article concludes, “for Bing Crosby, though, there was no evidence that he was affected by the asbestos snowfall even after being exposed to the substance on numerous different occasions in multiple different films.” 
 
Bing, however, did have some respiratory issues. Older fans may recall that, back in the early ‘70s, he suffered a lung ailment. Initially diagnosed as pneumonia, it failed to respond to treatment. Cancer was feared, and almost half of his left lung was subsequently removed. It was reported at the time that he’d picked up a rare fungal infection while on safari in Africa.

Recording » Underrated Bing Crosby » 09/3/2023 6:08 am

Rod Poynter
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I agree that Bing’s record output in the early ‘50s is underrated in general.”

It's a favorite period for me, and ‘Something Wonderful’ (1951) is a favorite underrated recording.

Film » Bing Crosby Movies You Have Never Seen » 03/2/2023 4:05 am

Rod Poynter
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Compared to years gone by, it’s relatively easy to have seen most of Bing’s movies these days. Still, some have eluded me…
 
I don’t ever recall seeing 1938’s ‘Doctor Rhythm’, and have also never seen ‘Say One for Me’.
 
The 1967 made for TV movie, ‘The Demon Under the Bed’ is another. Actually, I think only those who watched when it originally aired will ever have seen it!
 
And finally, there’s ‘Cinerama’s Russian Adventure’, narrated by Bing in 1966. There’s a trailer for it on youtube
 
Trailer for "Cinerama's Russian Adventure" with new 3-panel elements - YouTube 

I look forward to discovering more Bing movies others haven’t seen…

Others of Note » Harlan Lattimore, and Bing’s early ‘30s crooning contemporaries. » 23/1/2023 10:48 pm

Rod Poynter
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Another early ‘30s Bing sound-alike was Harlan Lattimore.
 
Known in his heyday as “the Black Bing”, he became popular on Don Redman’s network radio show, making his recording debut in 1931. Apart from performing with Redman, he guested with other bands…before cutting his final side in 1936.
 
‘How Do You Do It?’ (1932), with Abe Lyman’s Orchestra, finds Harlan Lattimore sounding uncannily like the young Bing. Incidentally, the song came from a short-lived stage revue of the day, which featured Bob Hope. Do you like it?
 
How Do You Do It? - YouTube
 
And do you have any favorites among Bing’s early ‘30s crooning contemporaries?

General Discussion » How are you listening to Bing? » 19/1/2023 11:36 pm

Rod Poynter
Replies: 7

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Wow, that’s a lot of trouble to go to, Ron. Although, as I recall, the GE Superadio has a very full, mono sound...great for older music.
 
These days, I generally listen to Bing on youtube, while working on other projects. Like you, I occasionally break out a CD or LP. And not only Bing. Just a couple of days ago, I played a CD of ‘King Oliver’ from 1929-30.
 
However, believe it or not, my preferred mode of listening to Bing is 78s. Admittedly, I don’t do that very often. Starting out as a teenage Bing fan in the late’60s, I spent many hours in junk stores and opportunity shops picking up old records, which now reside in the garage. 
 
I reckon the right combination of a pristine 78, reliable turntable and suitable cartridge can still produce a superior sound. CDs and the internet are often highly compressed, depriving Bing of his full vocal power.
 
For me, even today, nothing beats an early ‘30s Bing 78 for richness of sound. Somehow, the voice has more vitality. So, very occasionally, I trek out to the garage and grab a random stack of 78s, for a “session.” Thanks for an interesting topic.

Others of Note » Bing’s early ‘30s crooning contemporaries » 12/1/2023 10:59 pm

Rod Poynter
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I enjoy listening to some of Bing’s early ‘30s crooning contemporaries…names like Rudy Vallee, Russ Colombo, Cliff Edwards and Gene Austin.
 
A lesser-known name from those days is Charllie Palloy (1906-93), an obscure vocalist/guitarist heard on ‘Çrown Records’ between 1932 and ’33.
 
Vocally, he was clearly influenced by Bing, and his guitar style is similar to Eddie Lang.
 
Here, Charlie Palloy performs “I’ve Got to Sing a Torch Song.”
 
It’s interesting listening…Charlie Palloy - I've Got to Sing a Torch Song - YouTube
 
Do you have any favorites among Bing’s early ‘30s crooning contemporaries?

General Discussion » Rolling Stone 200 Best Singers of All Time » 05/1/2023 12:26 am

Rod Poynter
Replies: 10

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Few on this board would argue with Rolling Stone’s contention that “the modern era of popular music begins with Louis Armstrong.” He comes in at number 39. Surely, Bing deserves the spot right beside him, at the very least.
 
Then, at number 19, “the breath control, the careful study of every lyric, the relentless search for vocal perfection - Sinatra was a titan behind the microphone before he was anything.” True…perhaps…yet to my ears Sinatra’s attributes are often greatly over-hyped…the relaxed Crosby delivery, more meaningful and effective.
 
As David points out, these kinds of lists are often subjective, merely highlighting the ignorance of those who put them together. Or is there a ‘conspiracy’ to deny Bing’s achievements, to simply write him out of entertainment history…the relaxed Crosby delivery just not cutting it in today’s frenzied, social media driven, world. Just a thought…

Member Introductions » Hi everyone... » 02/1/2023 5:20 am

Rod Poynter
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Thanks for the welcome, Archiefit. I’ve followed your comments, and listened to ‘Sounds Like Radio’ over the years.
 
Like you, I also fondly recall the days of record collecting - including 78s - and exciting finds. Sure, we can now easily see and hear just about anything on youtube, but nothing quite beats the thrill of finding a much sought-after record rarity in a junk shop!

Television » Engelbert talks Bing » 02/1/2023 2:02 am

Rod Poynter
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Now aged 86, Engelbert Humperdinck is still performing.
 
I recently watched his Christmas show on youtube, which was recorded by a fan in the audience, and uploaded. It took place on December 17, 2022 at Foxwoods, Connecticut. So, just a few weeks ago. 
 
Anyway, I remembered once hearing him mention his appearance on Bing’s ‘Hollywood Palace’, and thought that if he were to sing ‘White Christmas’, he’d probably mention Bing.  Sure enough, that’s what happened…
 
Engelbert Humperdinck- Christmas Carols - YouTube
 
Engelbert’s Bing story starts around the 27.45 mark.

Film » YEARLY BING CROSBY PODCAST - BING AS AN ACTOR » 02/1/2023 1:39 am

Rod Poynter
Replies: 5

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Like Malcolm, I think the closing moments of ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ (particularly the final close-up of Bing’s face, conveying so many emotions) contain some of his best acting. ‘Road to Rio’ is my favourite of the road movies.
Great job, guys - very entertaining and informative.

Member Introductions » Hi everyone... » 02/1/2023 12:18 am

Rod Poynter
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Dear gentle folk of ‘Crosby Fan World’, or maybe I should say hats and cats… 
 
I’m Rod Poynter, a Bing fan and ICC member from Australia. 
 
Over the years, I’ve visited the site, and think it’s time I joined in. 
 
I “discovered” Bing in 1967, when I was aged thirteen. Like most of my generation, I thought he was a boring old man from a bygone era. I even remember thinking, “how did that old bloke ever become famous?” 
 
Mum had instilled in me a love of old movies. Then, one day, my grandfather asked whether I’d like to look through a box of 78s he was throwing out.  Among them, were four Bings, which I took home…simply because Bing was still alive, and I’d heard of him.
 
I was stunned when I played the first - ‘Please’. The vitality of Bing’s young voice virtually jumped from the grooves and grabbed me by the throat. I realised immediately why “that old bloke” had become famous.
 
I became a Bing fan from that moment, looking for more 78s in opportunity shops, and soon purchased the original CBS ‘Bing in Hollywood 1930-34’ double LP with my paper round earnings.
 
It’s been an enjoyable hobby over the years. And, if we all keep up the good work, hopefully, every now and again another young listener will “discover” Bing!

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