Crosby Fan World / New Tricks

**Posted by David Lobosco** 23/3/2025 8:57 pm

I was relistening to Bing's New Tricks record today, and Bing was in great voice. They are radio songs with Buddy Cole that Decca issued on a record. I wish Decca would have done more of these. I don't care for Buddy Cole, but Bing's voice is perfect as always...

**Posted by David Lobosco** 23/3/2025 8:57 pm

**Posted by Pantelis Kavouras** 24/3/2025 6:56 am

At the very end of his long-standing collaboration with Decca, New Tricks is a pleasant surprise. I greatly enjoy Buddy Cole's sound, and, of course, Bing Crosby's vocals are superb. The selection of songs, remastered from his radio program, is excellent. With Cole's arrangements and accompaniment, Crosby's remarkable voice, and a fine selection of standards perfectly suited for the combination, New Tricks is truly a winning album.

**Posted by STEPO** 17/7/2025 10:48 am

I think Decca were left with egg on their faces after the success on Capitol of the "High Society" soundtrack album as well as the "True Love" single which was only possible cause Bing was freelancing by then Frank Sinatra of course was tied exclusively to Capitol anyway, as well as the chart success of the Decca 45 of "Around The World", i think that's why they mastered and released earlier radio recordings from a few years before to cash in on "High Society's success, a pity about the organ on "Georgia On My Mind" though,.

Last edited by STEPO (21/7/2025 9:00 am)

**Posted by Anton G.-F.** 18/7/2025 8:42 pm

I like Buddy Cole, particularly when he plays the piano. As an organist, he just doesn't sound as good. Yet in any case, I believe he really understood Bing and accompanied him very well. Anyone that enjoys New Tricks should look for the Mosaic set with all the CBS radio recordings. It's one of my favorite Bing sets ever, because I've always believed that a small-group jazz setting works very well for Bing.

**Posted by STEPO** 18/7/2025 9:34 pm

I have the Mosaic set which i purchased used on E Bay . It was a bid as well fortunately i was the only one who bid anyway the set is well mastered and enjoyable except for that organ which sometimes can grate but Buddy Cole was one of the best session piano players in the music business until his untimely death in 1964 he played on many artists recordings.

Last edited by STEPO (19/7/2025 11:47 pm)

**Posted by Colin Bratkovich** 02/8/2025 4:59 am

New Tricks, Some Fine Old Chestnuts & Buddy Cole in the mid-1950s... / Bing's vocals on these 1950s albums hardly match his brilliant vocals of the 1930s. Buddy Cole's Trio is somewhat of a cover up of these uninspired performances. Cole's contribution to Bing's 1954 "Musical Autobiography LP", is a botched effort, with Decca failing to use many of the original Crosby originals they owned, but that's another story. (This LP was however an event, in which I still have the original LP and the 45RPM original set.) Cole's backing of a re-recording of "Mississippi Mud" WAS more so something good, which an interested Bing. The 1957 single release of this on (Decca-38031) without chatter, is better. Cole's 1955 backings of "Christmas Is A Coming ", The First Snowfall", "Is Christmas Only A Tree" & "Moments To Remember" are good enough. "The Possibility's There", "The Next Time It Happens", "Something In Common", "Look To You Heart", "Suddenly There's A Valley" ,"The Longest Walk", "Old Man River", "In A Little Spanish Town" should never had been attempted. Neither were Cole's 1956 contributions to "Honeysuckle Rose", "Swanee", "Love Is A Home". Cole did luck out in October,1956 when he captured a very interested Bing vocal captured on "Around The World" & "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day", are easily their best collaboration -brilliant recordings! Bing's 1957 releases of "Straight Down The Middle" & "Tomorrows My Lucky Day" with Cole on American (Columbia) are ok. Decca renderings "Church Bells" & "Rain" were perhaps not worth it.

**Posted by STEPO** 03/8/2025 10:10 pm

I personally don't think "A Musical Autobiography was a botched effort except "I Can't Begin To Tell You" with Carmen Cavailero was mysteriously left off even though it was a million seller and a massive hit for Bing anyway for the most part i thought it was an enjoyable career overview of Bing's first thirty years in showbusiness apart from Buddy Cole's organ which could be annoying at times always preferred him on the piano though i liked his organ playing on Frankie Laine's 1954 hit "Rain Rain Rain" which was a gospel song.

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 13/10/2025 10:47 am

Where it cannot be without doubt that the range of Bing's voice was clearly at its height during the 1930's where at full belt it was never as powerful, again - I think there's also something very special and intimate about his interpretations and his hours spent with Buddy Cole. Granted, his organ aside and Cole being no Oscar Peterson, I do think Cole was able to provide a valuable setting for Bing and his Musical Autobiography.

I think this brought out Bing's more casual approach which although not suited to every cut, certainly did so for others. David's choices from "New Tricks" stand with this and also I believe from the same, the beautifully performed "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" and the bouncy "When I Take My Sugar to Tea" benefit hugely from the more bare bones approach. I feel as if Bing is singing just for me in my living room. "I'm Confessin'" I am biased, here, as I consider myself blessed as a lucky owner of the seven disc Mosiac "CBS Recordings" box set, where plenty of ducking and diving can be achieved with Bing and Buddy.

As for the Musical Autobiography, yes I do have sympathy over the omission of the sublime Bing and Carmen Cavallaro collaboration - one of Bing's very best. However, I do find that a uniquely cosy symbiotic intimacy is achieved via the combination of Bing's warm, spoken introductions and Buddy Cole's backing during its initial sides.

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (22/10/2025 10:40 am)

**Posted by Aaron Tickner** 07/10/2026 5:15 am

I do have to defend Buddy Cole's piano playing. Perhaps Joe Bushkin and Paul Smith remain more intentive and clever in their stylings, but Buddy is always tasteful. Some of the early pianists Bing worked with, such as Lennie Heyton and Joe Sullivan have a greater energy, but then again all involved were young and hungry.

Listen to Buddy's rhythmic drive on Alla En El Rancho Grande on the Musical Autobiography set. They should have extended the arrangement out on that one. Great ensemble work there.

I don't think we can really criticise Buddy Cole as an organist. The short-coming is the instrument itself.

If you get a chance listen to Nat King Cole on the album he made with Billy May, Let's Face the Music and Dance. Nat takes some solos on organ in a few instrumental interludes. His improvs are quite inventive and always rewarding on repeat listenings. However, the sound of the organ is horrible.

Then take Nat's disciple, Oscar Peterson. He made a series of 5 albums in the mid-70s each with a different trumpet soloist. On the album with Roy Eldridge, Peterson for some reason employs organ on a few songs. Bad choice. It is blessed relief when he turns back to the piano. There's nothing wrong with the playing, just the sound of the instrument.

Back to Bing and Buddy Cole - I agree with Ian above here - there is a real intimacy in the recordings.

**Posted by STEPO** 07/10/2026 12:08 pm

An organ is all right in the church but an organ on a recording can be a bit overbearing, but sorry to disagree Aaron i thought the organ playing by Nat "King' Cole was quite good on the "Let's Face The Music And Dance "album.

**Posted by Aaron Tickner** 07/10/2026 7:18 pm

STEPO wrote:
An organ is all right in the church but an organ on a recording can be a bit overbearing, but sorry to disagree Aaron i thought the organ playing by Nat "King' Cole was quite good on the "Let's Face The Music And Dance "album.

Don't get me wrong, STEPO - I love Nat's playing on that album. I just wish the organ had a better sound.

**Posted by ModernBingFan0377** 07/10/2026 8:28 pm

I honestly find the organ quite nice in moments. I do think that Buddy Cole overuses it at times, but it creates a very unique sound to these recordings that I believe ends up complimenting Crosby’s vocals quite well.

**Posted by Colin Bratkovich** 13/10/2026 5:15 am

Buddy Cole /more about / the 1954 Box set

My verdict (last year noted)) still stands,NEW TRICKS/ FINE OLD CHESTNUTS is too dull for me,and came off more so when compared to contemporary (1950s) LPs of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.,/Bings 1954 Decca celebration COULD have had featured ALL his brighter ORIGINAL DECCA recorded selections .His re-recordings ,much like an older and dated radio program,sounding like his own funeral with Buddy Cole's organ-a downer for my ears.The best thing about this box set LP, was the liner notes and booklet,something not to be ignored-an event,despite its flaws-as noted.