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1 of 1- ModernBingFan0377
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Bing and the Blues
I was just taking a trip through St. Louis, and I got the delightful chance to listen to Bing making his wonderful recordings with Duke Ellington—I must say that Bing does a wonderful job delivering a blues song in his 1932 vocal state, all of the roughness he could have at times was brought forward. As of late, I’ve found myself considering those two takes to be essential recordings of Bing. If the recording was done on tape, outside of that the same exact performance being featured, I wholly believe that it would rank among the most popular Crosby tracks.
What would be your favorite performance by Bing on blues tracks, like Basin Street Blues, or Memphis Blues?
Sing a song of sunbeams, let the notes fall where they may, sing a song of sunbeams in a light fantastic way.
- David Lobosco
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Re: Bing and the Blues
Great topic!
One of my favorite "Blue" recordings is Blue & Broken Hearted that Bing recorded with Eddie Condon & His Orchestra. I think it's often overlooked too.
- dgmprod
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Re: Bing and the Blues
“Blue Prelude” I think has Bing in perhaps his best vocal form.
- Pantelis Kavouras
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Re: Bing and the Blues
Very nice choices!
I might go with Basin Street Blues.
- Alan
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Re: Bing and the Blues
Other than the "St. Louis Blues" with Ellington and the film and radio performances of "Memphis Blues", Bing didn't record very many actual blues compositions. "Basin St. Blues" is a blues in name only but I think that like Jack Teagarden, Bing would have been great on some of the other blues standards like "Beale St. Blues", "Aunt Hager's Blues" and Ellington's own "I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I've Got". On the latter, Duke's vocalist, Herb Jeffries, takes a very Bing-like approach to the song (listen for how Herb Jeffries sings the word "jive", for instance).
- frans
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Re: Bing and the Blues
Two songs that come to mind which both aren't excactly blues, but come near in both performance and emotional context are Stormy weather and Brother can you spare a dime. Or am I now inventing a subgenre that didn't exist before? ;-)
- ModernBingFan0377
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Re: Bing and the Blues
Apologies for the big message, but I didn't want to leave any of these responses out!
David Lobosco wrote:
Great topic!
One of my favorite "Blue" recordings is Blue & Broken Hearted that Bing recorded with Eddie Condon & His Orchestra. I think it's often overlooked too.
Blue & Broken Hearted is a wonderful one for sure. I don't often go for it on its own, nothing against it, but I adore the Bing & Some Jazz Friends CD that it is included on. That whole CD is a gem.
“Blue Prelude” I think has Bing in perhaps his best vocal form.
Also a beautiful one. Most of the 1932 and 1933 recordings often switch around in my head of what I consider to be Bing's best vocal form.
Very nice choices!
I might go with Basin Street Blues.
I'm curious, do you have a favorite version? I'm quite partial to the Ella Fitzgerald radio version.
Other than the "St. Louis Blues" with Ellington and the film and radio performances of "Memphis Blues", Bing didn't record very many actual blues compositions. "Basin St. Blues" is a blues in name only but I think that like Jack Teagarden, Bing would have been great on some of the other blues standards like "Beale St. Blues", "Aunt Hager's Blues" and Ellington's own "I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I've Got". On the latter, Duke's vocalist, Herb Jeffries, takes a very Bing-like approach to the song (listen for how Herb Jeffries sings the word "jive", for instance).
Herb Jeffries' "jive" in that recording is remarkably Bing-like, most of the vocal is like you said. I would've loved to have heard Bing sing Beale Street Blues too. Another genre that I wish Bing would've dabbled in more was bossa nova, the closest he ever really got, in a studio recording that is, is Cryin' For The Carolines. The official Bing YouTube channel released a clip from his 1969 Christmas special where he tackled The Girl From Ipanema during a medley and it was fantastic.
Two songs that come to mind which both aren't excactly blues, but come near in both performance and emotional context are Stormy weather and Brother can you spare a dime. Or am I now inventing a subgenre that didn't exist before? ;-)
I would definitely say that Stormy Weather comes fairly close to blues! I don't know as much about Brother, Can You Spare A Dime, but nonetheless it's a wonderful recording so I'll let it pass 
Sing a song of sunbeams, let the notes fall where they may, sing a song of sunbeams in a light fantastic way.
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Thread Starter- Colin Bratkovich
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Re: Bing and the Blues
I have in my collection the original American 78RPM (12 inch) releases of Bing's ST.LOUIS BLUES. Noting both A and B takes ,noting the B take was released first on Brunswick-20105-black and gold./ The later (still) Brunswick-20105 reissue found the the A take-at least on MY copy.The later Columbia-55003 reissue found the A take / As Bing was at his peak as a vocalist in 1932, THIS recording found Duke Ellington's collaboration ,something very rare for the times.I would also rate THIS recording as Crosby's best vocal a 'jazz' vocalist,as the very controlled Ellington gave Bing a challenge,in BOTH takes.No wonder Bing make in perfect in 2 takes..I doubt very much that Bing was trying to become a "jazz" entity.As a creature of his time.Bing,like Ellington, was just attempting to produce something good,which turned out excellent.If heard, latter day "jazz" listeners,knowing nothing about Crosby,just have to be blown away by THIS recording.
NOTE : As a "Blue" title,"Blue Prelude",also in my collection, as 10 inch ( Brunswick-6601) also reeks of excellence,yet more of a "pop" ditty
Last edited by Colin Bratkovich (07/7/2026 3:59 am)