Welcome to the forum, Victor!

Victor, I assume you live in Great Britain and are aware of the International Club Crosby. If you visit Australia some time you could time your journey to coincide with a film night of The Australian Bing Crosby Society in Melbourne. On the subject of saucy recordings, some of Bing's 'fluffs' would qualify. A few minutes ago I posted to the 'What non-Bing have you been listening to?', noting that I'd just heard some World War 2 songs. One of them was new to me, 'The deepest air-raid shelter' (or similar title) and some of its lyrics were definitely saucy.

Nice to hear Dorothy Lamour serenading Bob Hope with her song  "You're Dangerous" in the film "Road to Zanzibar" (1941) composed by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke. I see that Bing recorded the song for Brunswick on 20th December 1940 and the old record label mentions (From Bing Crosby's film "Road to Zanzibar").

Another memorable scene is with Bing singing (with magical accompaniment) "It's Always You" to Dorothy who is paddling the canoe.

I have a feeling that the film versions of Bing's songs were recorded before the commericial records (78s) appeared.  Sometimes, the film versions have Bing singing in a slightly stronger voice.  This was most noticeable with the song "Don't Let That Moon Get Away".  The song in the film "Sing You Sinners" (1938) was very lively and had a jazzy start whereas the commercial 78 recording was less lively and Bing's voice sounds "younger" in the film version.  Bing's voice was changing at about the time 1936/1937 onwards and his earlier voice was exceptionally strong i.e. Goodnight Sweetheart in 1931. It was no wonder that the young Frank Sinatra was later unfavourably compared with Bing's powerful recordings of the early 30s.

Last edited by VictorM (14/5/2020 10:43 pm)

Dear MBF0377,

I just watched the nice scene again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ36gbGlm8Y

I also thought that the record (which I believe sold about 30 million compared to Elvis's 12 million for "Now or Never") was a little less bright.  I like the way Bing splits the word "Cris - mas" in the film "Holiday Inn".

Bing's two films with Fred Astaire are both very memorable.  "Holiday Inn" (1942) was coloured up some years ago for the Dvd market.

I read that Irving Berlin liked Fred to introduce his songs.  Irving was said to be under attack in the film with composer played by Basil Rathbone (when not playing the brilliant Sherlock Holmes, the villain from "The Mark of Zorro" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood") having his songs ghost-written!  In that film "Rhythm On The River" (1940), you may remember the song talked about as Basil's greatest hit song being "Goodbye To Love" (never actually heard in the film!). Some 32 years later we got to hear it at last, so to say - sung by the accomplished Karen Carpenter!
 

Bing, Bob & Dorothy are on UK Television again today in "Road To Morocco" (1942) at 1.20pm Channel 50 (Freeview) Sony Movies Classic. 

Note the singing of the main song "Moonlight Becomes You" where Bing adds something which is not on the 78 record version.

Dear Ron,
Thank you very much for your posting. Please see my postings in "OTHERS OF NOTE" where I am writing to you.

Thank you very much. Good Health, Regards, Victor.  11th June 2020 (London)