Thanks for the update! Looks like something at least! I'll be picking them both up!

If The "7 Classic Albums" is indeed released by Music Melon then I would approach with caution, as I purchased a couple of Frank Sinatra "8 Classic Albums", trying to plug a few gaps in my collection. The collection reads "Digitally Remastered and Enhanced For Superior Quality" yet in reality there are a few instances where the albums were clearly just transferred from an LP source; scratches, crackles and all. 

Now whilst this is perfectly expected and acceptable for recordings of certain vintage where only 78's remain, however in the Sinatra case (and Bing's) all of the albums are available in perfectly good mastered editions elsewhere and had I wanted to hear the "authentic" vinyl sound, then I would have simply put the vinyl on. My own fault for trying to get certain albums on CD on the cheap, but in reality, ended up purchasing the official Capitol/Reprise remastered albums on CD. 

Still.....Good and Rare Vol 3......roll on March.

Kevin drew attention to the announced issue titled "Seven Classic Albums".

Although an image (in the standard style of the issuer) has appeared on several sites,  it is accompanied by a statement on Amazon "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock". So far as I know it has never been in stock, but perhaps this indicates some doubt as to whether it will appear,
Possibly this is reinforced by the fact that all of the three internet sites connected with the issuer which I have been able to identify have been suspended.

I do not know where Kevin found the details, but among the albums he lists as being included in the seven is "Fancy Meeting You Here". If indeed that album is to be included (if ever issued) it seems likely the same copies as on the Rosemary Clooney set will be used. I mentioned that set in "Keeping Track" in "Bing" magazine several issues ago. I said then that the sound quality was not as good as the earlier issues. I have re-visited the set and listened a little more intently.  I stand by my view and would add  - 
- The sibilants are poorly defined, verging onto "fuffiness"
- The upper end brightness and sparkle is limited.
       These two together suggest to me heavy handed suppression of LP disc surface noise at the expense of the music.
 
- There is a peculiar effect that I find difficult to describe. Something has clearly been done to add a brighter, lighter effect, and I suspect that some frequencies have been boosted.
- I get the impression that the softer passages might also have been boosted, to give a reduced dynamic range and "louder" overall playing volume.  This could be good when played in a car with noisy surroundings but it ultimately builds to an unsatisfactory listening experience when played on half good domestic equipment.

None of this is very scientific. I am relying on my ears and comparisons with other issues rather than any measuring tools.

Many of the "reviews" on Amazon and elsewhere of the series are enraptured about the cheapness but there are a number of qualifications about sound quality, even when five stars are awarded.
Some Jazz - oriented discussion forums are fairly negative, citing peak level distortion, pickup noise and other adverse aspects.
 

This new Sepia CD is certainly going to be enjoyable.

I found out some of the details and reported it here:
http://bingfan03.blogspot.com/2016/01/bing-crosby-good-and-rare-volume-3.html

Here's a bit more info about the tracks. The demos are a delight!

PAUL WHITEMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 1 – Ol’ Man River (Victor BVE-41607 take 3, recorded January 11, 1928) (Kern - Hammerstein II)

STUDIO ORCHESTRA
TRACK 2 – Poor Little G-String (recorded in 1929) (Ahlert – Turk)
 
PAUL WHITEMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 3 – Song of the Dawn (Columbia W-149822, take 1, recorded March 21, 1930) (Ager – Yellen)
 
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 4 – A Bench in the Park (radio, recorded in 1930) (Ager – Yellen))
 
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 5 – Everything’s Agreed Upon (radio, recorded in 1930) (Barris – Crosby)
 
LENNIE HAYTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 6 – After Sundown (Brunswick LA-21, take B, recorded September 27, 1933) (Brown – Freed)
 
GEORGIE STOLL AND HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 7 – Let Me Call You Sweetheart (Decca DLA-8, take B, recorded August 8, 1934) (Whiston – Friedman)
 
VICTOR YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 8 – Red Sails in the Sunset (Decca DLA-253, take B, recorded November 12, 1935) (Williams – Kennedy)
 
STUDIO ORCHESTRA
TRACK 9 – It’s Easy to Remember (film recording No. B-1976, recorded December 1934) (Rodgers – Hart)
 
RHYTHM ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 10 – The Moon Got in My Eyes (demo No. B-4852, probably recorded April, 1937) (Johnston – Burke)
 
TRACK 11 – All You Want to Do Is Dance (demo No. B-4853, probably recorded April, 1937)  (Johnston – Burke)
 
TRACK 12 – Laugh and Call It Love (demo No. B-6559, probably recorded April, 1938)  (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 13 – Laugh and Call It Love (demo No. B-6560, probably recorded April, 1938) (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 14 – Where Is Central Park? (demo No. B-6561, probably recorded April, 1938) (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 15 – Beware (I’m Beginning to Care) (demo No. B-7318, probably recorded January, 1939) (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 16 – East Side of Heaven (demo No. B-7319, probably recorded January, 1939) (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 17 – Sing a Song of Sunbeams (demo No. B- 7320, probably recorded January, 1939) (Monaco – Burke)
 
TRACK 18 – When the Moon Comes over Madison Square (demo No.B-7691, probably recorded May, 1940) (Monaco – Burke)
 
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 19 – Duke the Spook (Decca L-3174, recorded July 2, 1943) (Van Heusen – Burke)
 
JOHN SCOTT TROTTER & HIS ORCHESTRA, WITH THE MUSIC MAIDS & HAL
TRACK 20 – Song of the Seventh Air Force (Decca TL-151, recorded October 21, 1943) (Van Heusen – Burke)
 
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT
TRACK 21 – Song of the Fifth Marines (Decca TL-152, probably recorded July 1944) (Van Heusen – Burke)
 
JOHN SCOTT TROTTER & HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 22 – Night and Day (Decca L-3316 fluff, February 11, 1944) (Porter)
 
BUDDY BREGMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA
TRACK 23 – The Blue Room (Verve, BR20155, alternate, June 11, 1956) (Rodgers – Hart)
 
TRACK 24 – Cheek to Cheek (Verve, BR20164, alternate, June 12, 1956) (Berlin)
 
TRACK 25 – Mountain Greenery (Verve, BR20166, alternate, June 12, 1956) (Rodgers – Hart)

Last edited by Malcolm Macfarlane (12/1/2016 4:25 pm)

"Good and Rare" indeed..!

Looking forward to the alternate takes - particularly those from "Bing Sings While Bregman Swings". (I know this album has tended to divide opinion over the years, but it's always been a favourite of mine.)
I've got a couple of the demo tracks, so it will be good to hear the others. Presumably Bing went through this process for most of his movies...
This is clearly pretty specialist stuff, so it's heartening that Sepia has committed to the release.
Many thanks to all concerned.

Suggestions for Volume 4..?!

And another.......coming thick and fast this year....I'm Hummin' I'm Whistlin' I'm Singing: 1931-1936 by Halcyon-Uk (hlc) released on 18th March

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Im-Hummin-Whistlin-Singing-1931-1936/dp/B01APR1O7A/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1453030077&sr=1-1&keywords=bing+crosby

I can't find any details to suggest this is anything other than a compilation of well known songs from that period or if there are any rare recordings included. Hopefully more will be revealed and these releases are quality over quantity.

Last edited by Kevin (17/1/2016 11:34 am)

Richard Baker wrote:

Kevin wrote:

I can't find any details to suggest this is anything other than a compilation of well known songs

- of which there are very many of doubtful origin.  At present on offer are those which proudly offer "BILL CROSBY", "BING COSBY", and a series of what appear to be mere copies of the Chronological series (with half the content at a greater price) and many others that offer no added value whatsoever.  Interesting combinations of carelessness, (or ignorance) and greed.

Look at such items with care as the "added value" of yet another mixture of what has gone before, rarely with supporting information, and often of poor audio quality is very limited.

However "Halcyon" is a label once used in the US by the well known jazz performer Marion McPartland, and (apparently a different concern) in the UK for issues of 1930s/40s bands during the 1970s/80s, of which I have several..
Both were well regarded, but whether connected with the present promised issue, I know not.
. 

 

Halcyon put out a series of chronological Bob Crosby issues that are among my prized CDs. Those were done with high quality and good sound.

Ron Field wrote:

I was in LA one time on Vine St or somewhere near the old hunting grounds of the stars.
One shop was offering 'autographed photos of the Stars' - if we don't have one we'll get one for you.
I asked about Bing Crosby and the bloke said to me - yes Bill Cosby, I can get. I said NO - Bing Crosby. Don't think he knew who Bing was.

With my children now (my son is 6 and my daughter is 3), I have made sure they know who Bing Crosby is. They don't have to like him like I do but as long as they are aware of him!
 

I'm Hummin' I'm Whistlin' I'm Singing 1931-1936

Tracklist

1. Out Of Nowhere  2. Now That You're Gone  3. Love, You Funny Thing!  4. You're Still In My Heart  5. Let's Try Again  6. I'm Playing With Fire  7. What Do I Care, It's Home!  8. I've Got To Pass Your House To Get To My House  9. I Would If I Could But I Can't  10. Let's Spend An Evening At Home  11. I'm Hummin' - I'm Whistlin' - I'm Singin'  12. Someday, Sweetheart  13. Two Cigarettes In The Dark  14. It's Easy To Remember  15. My Heart And I  16. Moonburn  17. Lovely Lady  18. Let's Call A Heart A Heart  19. South Sea Island Magic   20. I Never Realized

Nothing I don't own already but a thoughtful compilation without most of the usual suspects.

Last edited by Kevin (21/1/2016 5:03 pm)

The Sepia "Good and Rare, Volume 3" release looks amazing, so thanks in advance to Wig, John, David, and especially Sepia who are releasing this one. When Malcolm mentioned there was something in the work for this year, I was very much hoping it would be something like this compilation. I'm glad to see that some of these rare tracks which were previously issued in various releases are coming together in one unified release for the Bing collector!

48blonde wrote:

I don't have any of the Good And Rare dvd's. Are they worth getting?

Carmela
The two "Good And Rare" CDs (not DVDs) so far released by Sepia in 2006/7 are very good indeed - they were very well engineered and presented and had (at the time) some tracks not otherwise in wide circulation, but much of the material on them was later covered by the "Through The Years" sequence, which covered a similar period and necessarily had to be complete. "Through The Years" was of course also from Sepia. If you have the latter complete you might not want Volumes 1 and 2 of "Good And Rare". 

The forthcoming Volume 3 is different because it covers so much material that is mostly otherwise unobtainable.