15/8/2011 11:55 pm  #1


New member, new fan.

Hello everyone,

In the past few weeks, I spend much time listening to early 20th century popular music and to my great surprise, i never had so much musical joys so incredibly powerful than this. I searched for recommendations on the Last.Fm website and a few people were kind enough to help me with my new found passion. One of them took the time to write a huge piece on Crosby's music from the 30s and 40s and I ended up buying the ''His Legendary Years'' boxset a couple of days ago...

Bing's voice is now a part of my life and I just can't get enough of his songs. I am very glad to have this website and cant wait to chat with you folks. Greetings from Montreal. Sorry for my bad english since french is my first. Oh and by the way, I'm 31.

I was wondering what do buy next since my boxset contains 30s to early 50s stuff.

 

16/8/2011 11:55 am  #2


Re: New member, new fan.

Antoinetr31 wrote:

Hello everyone,

In the past few weeks, I spend much time listening to early 20th century popular music and to my great surprise, i never had so much musical joys so incredibly powerful than this. I searched for recommendations on the Last.Fm website and a few people were kind enough to help me with my new found passion. One of them took the time to write a huge piece on Crosby's music from the 30s and 40s and I ended up buying the ''His Legendary Years'' boxset a couple of days ago...

Bing's voice is now a part of my life and I just can't get enough of his songs. I am very glad to have this website and cant wait to chat with you folks. Greetings from Montreal. Sorry for my bad english since french is my first. Oh and by the way, I'm 31.

I was wondering what do buy next since my boxset contains 30s to early 50s stuff.

Welcome to this Board.

What to recommend next? A big question, and perhaps it should not be me trying to answer because I'll end up suggesting too many at no small expense. You have, in 'His Legendary Years' an extremely good overview of the Decca years (mainly 1931 to 1955, though there are one or two slightly later items).

You are missing out on the very early years when Bing was participating in a number of up beat jazz influenced numbers either as a band singer or as one of the Rhythm Boys, and a few solos. Much of what Bing did then is very different from the general impression you will have gained from 'His Legendary Years' and whether you like it might depend on how adventurous you want to be.

There are several good discs covering the period, but if I were to single one out it is 'Bix 'N' Bing which I see is listed by Amazon Ca, though slightly pricey. http://www.amazon.ca/Bix-Bing-Crosby-Wh-Beiderbecke/dp/B000001HF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313492757&sr=1-1

I would also suggest a look at radio. There is a really good three CD set 'Swingin' With Bing' http://www.amazon.ca/Swingin-W-Bing-Lost-Radio/dp/B0002RUQG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313492956&sr=1-1

which gives a very good idea of the high entertainment value contained in the radio shows from the 1940s and 1950s. It is very well selected and presented.

Then there is the big gap in what you have - the years 1957 to 1977.

There are three discs from the earlier part of this period that I would not part with.

Two of them are duets with Rosemary Clooney 'Fancy Meeting You Here' and 'That Travellin' Two Beat'. Unfortunately I cannot trace CD versions of either currently listed, but if the opportunity come your way do get them, particularly the first.

The third is of duets with Louis Armstrong 'Bing And Satchmo' http://www.amazon.ca/Bing-Satchmo-Crosby-Louis-Armstrong/dp/B001QBC28U/ref=sr_1_12?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313493446&sr=1-12

Then there is the later period which has been handsomely served with a string of fairly recent issues, though some delve into slightly specialised niches.  Look at the 'The Year In Review' on this site It is in several parts , the first of which is here http://crosbyfanworld.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=41

Of them I'd suggest 'Seasons' because it shows what Bing was still able to do in the very last months of his life, has some very interesting as well as entertaining material.

There is of course much, much more and I've been spending your money like water, so I won't even mention some of others such as the 'Chronological' series and 'Through The Years'!

I'm sure other fans will have other ideas.

 

16/8/2011 3:20 pm  #3


Re: New member, new fan.

Hello Richard,

Wow, thanks for the quick response. I will keep all this information in a safe place for later use. The early stuff seems very interesting and different from what I have heard on my Boxset. Have a good day and thanks again.

     Thread Starter
 

19/8/2011 3:34 am  #4


Re: New member, new fan.

I have found the 51 volumes of the Chronological series for 200 $. Are these the complete Crosby catalogue, are they worth so much money ?

     Thread Starter
 

19/8/2011 9:06 am  #5


Re: New member, new fan.

Antoinetr31 wrote:

I have found the 51 volumes of the Chronological series for 200 $. Are these the complete Crosby catalogue, are they worth so much money ?

The 'Chronological' series, on the 'Jonzo' label has all Bing's commercial studio recordings in strict chronological order from the very start - 18th October 1926 - until 6th September 1950, including almost all known alternative takes.  It is possibly not for the general listener, and some have complained about the presence of multiple takes. And to be honest as the sequence is complete it includes some songs which have not stood the test of time. But for those with a real interest it is a fantastic series and full details and comprehensive notes are included *.

The series ceased in September 1950 and the 'Sepia' label took over the sequence under the title 'Through the Years'. This has now reached volume 7 and gets up to 21st May 1954. Volume 8 is due later this year and will go to 1st July 1955. 

Possibly two further volumes could follow but the sequence will certainly cease in 1955/6.  Bing continued recording right up to October 1977. Most of the remainder of Bing's recordings 1956-1977 are in the possession and control of the Crosby Family interests and they have been actively reissuing material over the last two years under the general title 'The Bing Crosby Archive'.  Full details here http://bingcrosby.com/bing/the-bing-crosby-archive There is some extremely good stuff there and I have already recommended 'Seasons' to you.

Some of the recently issued material includes songs recorded in the studio for radio use, normally (though not exclusively) with Buddy Cole and His Trio.

See also my discography (click on the banded link at the head of this page) to see what might be available from other sources on CD.

As to the price you have quoted, if in good condition with notes it sounds a bargain to me - less than $4 a disc. The vendor would have paid very much more!

* and PS, they are of excellent audio quality.

Last edited by Richard Baker (19/8/2011 11:41 am)

 

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