It has been many years since I've read the Troubadour book. My memory is that it is more detailed than Charles Thompson's book. Also, it was a welcome relief after "The Hollow Man". 

He makes some assertions about Bing's singing through the years that I don't entirely agree with. However, Norman does support his opinion with examples. Therefore, I respect his opinions throughout even when I disagree with him.

It doesn't measure up against Gary Giddins' 2 volumes, but then I'm not sure anything ever will in terms of biography. The other great books on Bing, of course are Malcolm's Day By Day (even though I have to be content with the online version - my wife won't let me take a second mortgage on the house), Fred's Crosby Collections and the ICC discography, radio and TV listings. However, all these volumes are intended as reference material and do not fall into the category of biography. They all have a singular purpose and they do it extremely well. 

Troubadour is worth a read as it balances the views on Bing nicely. It doesn't raise him on too high a pedestal, nor does it destroy the incredible contribution Bing made to 20th Century popular culture.

Wow - you should borrow Day By Day out and just keep renewing it as often as you can. Return it and then borrow it again. The uni might then gift it to you when you graduate!

It's wonderful that American universities stock books about their own popular culture.

During my university days there was little material on Australian popular culture in our libraries.

Fortunately we have the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra that does preserve as much as they can. But they are not an academic institute. 

I mentioned the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra. My parents took me there on a road trip when I was 14. They had one of Bing's pipes on display. I can't remember who, but Bing had given it to one of our radio presenters he had met somewhere or other. My parents and I returned a year later on another road trip but it had been taken off display.
At the time, it was a few years off a century of cinema, and so efforts were being made to only display Australian items. 
The curator said if I was ever passing through again to ring through and they'd get it out for me. I only live 1,167 km away, so call me lazy for not dropping in regularly. Mind you that curator is most likely not working there anymore. That was 37 years ago.

Last edited by Aaron Tickner (10/9/2026 9:20 am)