Ah yes, this album has always been a favorite of mine, if not my favorite album by Bing.

Archiefit wrote:

There's an album I don't hear enough.  Never transferred it to the computer so it doesn't pop up when playing "random" music.  I'll have to go back and listen again.  Hmm, that makes 2 so far I haven't heard or seen in a while, "High Society" & "Seasons".   Before someone mentions it, I also haven't heard Bing's "Hey Jude, Hey Bing" album in a while.  Maybe it's just as well.

Yes, I don't play it often enough, Archiefit. I think the production has so much depth and resonance, with the wonderful rhythm section, gorgeous, opulent strings and that beautiful, echoed analogue mastering. I felt much of this was subsequently digitally dampened on the still most welcome 2010 extra-laden, Collector's Choice CD release. I must play my LP version soon.

Does anyone have any favourite track choices? 


 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (02/10/2022 12:16 am)

I feel precisely the same of the later tracks. They are so beautifully age reflective and Bing makes them his own. It's so difficult to choose a single one, though. If forced, I previously always  plumped for "Yesterday When I Was Young". I thought Bing's deep interpretation outweighed  its composer, Charles Aznavour's own.

I'm currently favouring though, "Autumn in New York". I so enjoy Bing's intimate and intense opening verse and how he and also the musicians then gracefully and seemingly without effort,  slide on those handful of guitar base notes, into the body of the song. I am a sucker for strings and Pete Moore's arrangement (as with all the songs) is just a dream with those sumptuous violins sometimes giving an almost French like flavour to the proceedings. Certainly giving any of the best, signature things Sinatra did with strings, a good run for his money. 

The "Seasons" album holds a special place in my heart. I found a copy at a flea market in 1989, and I saw Bing Crosby fan clubs listed on the back, and it got me into the clubs. Bing's voice might have been tired but some of the songs are so well sung. 

Lobosco wrote:

The "Seasons" album holds a special place in my heart. I found a copy at a flea market in 1989, and I saw Bing Crosby fan clubs listed on the back, and it got me into the clubs. Bing's voice might have been tired but some of the songs are so well sung. 

Yes, David. Mine, too. I originally purchased a single sleeve edition but then later at a shop I used to be employed by, that full gatefold sleeved edition. I do so agree with you on the tired sound of Bing's voice. Indeed it was due to my having previously read two years before about his lung operation, that I was keen to hear the store play the first track.

I remember during the first few seconds of its playing that this was indeed a far older sounding Bing than I'd heard before but as the song progressed, I really began admiring those wonderful, resonating low notes that came with his age and the album's wonderful production values. I thought his reflective interpretations of a man then in is mid seventies were as you have noted, so well sung and so beautifully interpreted. 

Do you have a favourite song from the album? 
 

Ian Kerstein wrote:

Lobosco wrote:

The "Seasons" album holds a special place in my heart. I found a copy at a flea market in 1989, and I saw Bing Crosby fan clubs listed on the back, and it got me into the clubs. Bing's voice might have been tired but some of the songs are so well sung. 

Yes, David. Mine, too. I originally purchased a single sleeve edition but then later at a shop I used to be employed by, that full gatefold sleeved edition. I do so agree with you on the tired sound of Bing's voice. Indeed it was due to my having previously read two years before about his lung operation, that I was keen to hear the store play the first track.

I remember during the first few seconds of its playing that this was indeed a far older sounding Bing than I'd heard before but as the song progressed, I really began admiring those wonderful, resonating low notes that came with his age and the album's wonderful production values. I thought his reflective interpretations of a man then in is mid seventies were as you have noted, so well sung and so beautifully interpreted. 

Do you have a favourite song from the album? 
 

I would say I have always been partial to "Yesterday When I Was Young", but in recent years I really thing the title song "Season" is very pretty. My least favorite song is "Autumn In New York". Bing's voice wasn't strong enough for the song, and it's not one of my favorite songs in general. However, Bing's Seasons album is a fitting way for Bing to end his recording career on.

The film version of ALADDIN, while in a jail cell is much better than the time limit on the 3 minute 78.

Lobosco wrote:

Ian Kerstein wrote:

Lobosco wrote:

The "Seasons" album holds a special place in my heart. I found a copy at a flea market in 1989, and I saw Bing Crosby fan clubs listed on the back, and it got me into the clubs. Bing's voice might have been tired but some of the songs are so well sung. 

Yes, David. Mine, too. I originally purchased a single sleeve edition but then later at a shop I used to be employed by, that full gatefold sleeved edition. I do so agree with you on the tired sound of Bing's voice. Indeed it was due to my having previously read two years before about his lung operation, that I was keen to hear the store play the first track.

I remember during the first few seconds of its playing that this was indeed a far older sounding Bing than I'd heard before but as the song progressed, I really began admiring those wonderful, resonating low notes that came with his age and the album's wonderful production values. I thought his reflective interpretations of a man then in is mid seventies were as you have noted, so well sung and so beautifully interpreted. 

Do you have a favourite song from the album? 
 

I would say I have always been partial to "Yesterday When I Was Young", but in recent years I really thing the title song "Season" is very pretty. My least favorite song is "Autumn In New York". Bing's voice wasn't strong enough for the song, and it's not one of my favorite songs in general. However, Bing's Seasons album is a fitting way for Bing to end his recording career on.

As much as I love it, my late brother would be with you on that one, David. Knowing my love of Bing and this album, he used to mimic and deride some of Bing's sustained notes on "Autumn in New York", claiming he could hear him struggle. Yes, I also have a soft spot for the title track, too. it certainly does convey the prettiness of all four seasons - and again, is sung with such emotive storytelling by Bing. 
 

Yes, I believe you are are most correct there, Stepo. Rosemary Clooney sensed him slowly fading after that dreadful fall. Despite Bing's voice inevitably aging, I can still find much richness and depth to admire within it on "Seasons". Although strain and frailty is audible, I am always so impressed Bing never rasped or demonstrated any "gravel" as Tony Bennett or Sinatra did with their voices during their middle seventies. Both of course unsurpassed artistes, too. Do you think Bing perhaps sounded stronger on the BBC recordings he also made in London, just three days before his death? Welcome by the way, Stepo to the forum. 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (19/6/2024 9:49 pm)

Yes, I'm of the same view.
A few years ago, I played both sets of recordings to my late wife (a trained nurse) to see which she thought were the strongest performances. She chose the later BBC set. When I informed her Bing recorded them just three days before died, she was most surprised but then responded that it's quite usual in many cases for people to have a final strong and sudden burst of autumnal sunshine just prior to death.

I remember in particular, how impressed she was with Bing's force on "Feels Good, Feels Right". I'm just  listening to both versions of "The Summer Wind" from each session and am having difficulty in deciding which is the best, all ways round. I think I'm currently (just to contradict myself!) favouring the "Seasons" version. I think it's because I'm finding that version a little less forced and more intimate. Plus, the sonics in a perhaps a more attuned studio, seem to present Bing's voice a little better and bring it further forward on this particular recording. 

Another thing regarding "April Showers" i was used to hearing Al Jolson's definitive 1945 recording of the song that when one hears backing vocals on another version one feels it spoils the recording anyway the song belonged to  Al Jolson anyway.

"April Showers" by Al Jolson the 1945 version was the other side of "Swanee" another song Bing later recorded , it was released as a tie in with the biopic of George Gershwin "Rapsody In Blue" in which Jolson appeared although the film flopped the net year "The Jolson Story" was released and Jolson was back on top again.