Yes, My Isle of Golden Dreams was the one that I had also in mind as his favorite, yet while I heard again the musical autobiography set he mentioned Star Dust as being his favorite in the intro.

Very nice points.
Star Dust is (I read it somewhere) the song that has the more different recordings, it is sung by hundreds of artists and it is indeed a masterpiece.

My Isle of Golden Dream seems as you pointed out to be his favorite of his own recordings, although it is great, it seems an odd choice as an all time favorite.

Of course neither of them was selected for his Dessert Island discs which seems strange. 

Bing's version of Star Dust (although I agree with you Aaron that he must have been talking about the song and his recording) is my favorite, Bing is in fine vocal shape and gives it a sublime treatment. This alongside Louis Armstrong's version must be the best.

Last edited by Pantelis Kavouras (28/9/2026 1:02 pm)

Glad you liked the thread Carmela!

I think Nathaniel Crosby and not Bing named Ghost Riders in the Sky as his favorite at some point.

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME11 Feb. 1948 Rad. “Philco Radio Time”.Joe Venuti; violin, Oscar Levant; piano, John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra

I agree no disrespect to Bing but my favourite version is Nat "King "Cole's as well, Bing sang it well in 1931 and 1939 but Nat really nailed the song as the definitive version when he recorded it in late 1956 , the same goes for his version of "Lush Life".

Isn't it strange how certain songs seem to not just fit a singer's style but also their voice and perhaps even the shape of their mouth? I know much of this also has to do with the musical arrangement and how familiar we are with a particular version. I first heard Stardust being sung (or was it narrated?) by its writer Hoagy Carmichael and thought it unbeatable - until I heard Nat Cole's version. Rather like Sinatra's version of "I've Got You Under My Skin, Bing's "Temptation", Louis Armstrong's "We Have all the Time in the World" or Ella's "Every Time We Say Goodbye", Nat put his own very special stamp on this one. Yes, his "Lush Life", too - and I would add so many more of his as definitive. "Let There Be Love" and "Too Young" to name two. 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (14/10/2026 11:18 pm)

Colin Bratkovich wrote:

Bing's 1931 version of STARDUST found him in his prime as a vocalist.More so HE defined the song,ALL other versions  after him looked to HIS masterpiece. Chick Bullock's 1932 version was very good,close in style.Still a great record. Later versions by.Sinatra,Cole, and even Bing's 2nd (1939) version do not even come close./ 

Colin, this is where we will have to respectfully disagree as we did over Aznavour and Bing's treatments of "Yesterday When I was Young" which I felt fell in Bing's favour.

Bing was indeed in his vocal prime and his 1931 version of Stardust is magical. The physical strength of his vocals and interpretation are riveting. The arrangement and gentle rhythm very stirring but at the same time, reflective.

However, due to what I perceive as Nat Cole's far more natural, gentle and even more understated, delicately nuanced interpretation (and surely he would indeed have taken many cues from Bing), Cole's increased lightness of touch and slower, deeper treatment of this great ballad seems to my ears to serve the plaintiveness and mood of the song even greater. Here, Bing defined, Nat refined.

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (15/10/2026 6:07 am)

Thank you as always for your kind word, Pantelis.
You are completely correct in pointing out the tension in Bing's version, which I had not fully appreciated.
It's always so interesting to learn everyone's preferences over song versions and Stardust is indeed a masterpiece. I'd never heard Louis' version before and it was wonderful. As you've said, he really (as he always did with everything) gave such a warm and powerful reading of the song with the huge benefit of his and his band's incredible playing either side.Stardust seems to have such a modern, minimalist feel to it, too. This was the very first version of it I ever heard - performed by the composer himself. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCKMFcqxmdo

Pantelis / I agree,I should have brought up Louis Armstrong's contemporary version on Okeh-41530- great,You may look for the  Chick Bullock version on Perfect-11326,with a Crosby croon and a Hawaiian guitar-also very good.There is also the contemporary (female) version as by Connie Boswell (Boswell Sisters)  on Brunswick-20100-interesting..After this early 1930s period,styles changed .I prefer STARDUST vocals and background from this period,with Bings Brunswick version still tops.