Details
Track Listing
DISC 1: BING MEETS NAT "KING" COLE & THE ANDREW SISTERS:
1. Swinging on a Star
2. Don't Fence Me In - (with The Andrews Sisters)
3. Bing Introduces 'Strange Music'
4. Strange Music
5. Tallahassee
6. Peg O' My Heart
7. Shoo Shoo Baby
8. Bing Chats With the Andrews Sisters
9. You Don't Know the Language - (with The Andrews Sisters)
10. South America, Take It Away
11. It's Magic
12. Night Has a Thousand Eyes, The
13. But Beautiful
14. Bing Introduces Nat King Cole
15. Bing Chats With Nat
16. Sam's Song - (with Nat "King" Cole)
17. My Foolish Heart
18. Them There Eyes
19. Too Late Now
20. Not Mine
21. Bing Welcomes Back the Andrews Sisters
22. I Can Dream, Can't I? - (with The Andrews Sisters)
23. Sure Thing - (with Buddy Cole)
24. Bing Introduces Finale
25. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You - (with Nat "King" Cole/The Andrews Sisters)
DISC 2: BING MEETS ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG (PART 1):
1. Basin Street Blues - (with Ella Fitzgerald/Red Nichols)
2. If This Isn't Love
3. It's a Good Day
4. Bing Introduces Louis Armstrong
5. Bing Chats With Louis
6. Blueberry Hill - (version 1, with Louis Armstrong)
7. Fella With an Umbrella, A
8. Bing Introduces Ella and 'Dreamer's Holiday'
9. Dreamer's Holiday, A - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
10. For You, For Me, Forever More
11. Bing & Louis Introduce 'Gone Fishing'
12. Gone Fishin' - (with Louis Armstrong)
13. Lazy Bones - (version 1, with Louis Armstrong)
14. Best Things in Life Are Free, The
15. That's a-Plenty - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
16. Kiss to Build a Dream On, A - (version 1)
17. Louis Congratulates Bing on His 20th Anniversary
18. Blueberry Hill - (version 2, with Louis Armstrong)
19. Bing Chats With Jack Teagarden
20. Rockin' Chair - (part 1, with Jack Teagarden/Louis Armstrong)
21. Bing Chats With Dinah Shore
22. Rockin' Chair - (part 2, with Dinah Shore/Louis Armstrong/Jack Teagarden)
23. Five Minutes More
24. Marshmallow World, A - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
25. Silver Bells - (version 1, with Ella Fitzgerald)
26. Bing Introduces 'Memphis Blues'
27. Memphis Blues - (version 1, with Ella Fitzgerald)
DISC 3: BING MEETS ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG (PART 2):
1. Stay With the Happy People - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
2. It Had to Be You - (with Red Nichols)
3. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - (with Joe Venuti)
4. Now That I Need You
5. Gone Fishin' - (version 2, with Louis Armstrong/Jack Teagarden)
6. Chicago Style - (with Ella Fitzgerald/Bill Taylor)
7. Route 66
8. Blue Skies - (with Les Paul)
9. Istanbul - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
10. Lazy Bones - (version 2, with Louis Armstrong)
11. Bing Introduces Toni Arden & The Band
12. My Honey's Lovin' Arms - (with Toni Arden)
13. Bing Introduces the Mills Brothers
14. Paper Doll / Up A Lazy River - (with The Mills Brothers)
15. Way Back Home - (with The Mills Brothers/Ella Fitzgerald)
16. You're Just in Love - (with Louis Armstrong)
17. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
18. Silver Bells - (version 2, with Ella Fitzgerald)
19. Bing Chats With Ella - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
20. White Christmas - (with Ella Fitzgerald)
21. Kiss to Build a Dream On, A - (version 2, with Louis Armstrong)
22. Bing, Ella & Louis Introduce "Memphis Blues"
23. Memphis Blues - (version 2, with Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald)
Album Notes
Includes a 40-page booklet.
Personnel include: Bing Crosby (vocals); Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald, Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole, The Andrews Sisters, The Mills Brothers, Toni Arden (vocals); Les Paul (guitar); Joe Venuti (violin); Ziggy Elman (trumpet); Red Nichols (cornet); John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra, Jud Conlon Rhythmaires.
Liner Note Author: Ken Barnes.
Recording information: 1944 - 1954.
This beautifully packaged Bing Crosby box set is divided into three parts. The first disc features Crosby in radio performances with Nat "King" Cole and the Andrews Sisters. Disc two documents broadcasts with Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and, finally, the third disc features additional Crosby collaborations with Fitzgerald and Armstrong, as well as two performances with the Mills Brothers.
One of the highlights on this collection is the second rendition of "Memphis Blues," a tune Crosby shares with Fitzgerald and Armstrong. Here, the rapport between the three singers is relaxed and lighthearted, and Armstrong even causes the studio audience to crack up during one of his verses. "Basin Street Blues" is another wonderful example of the simpatico between Crosby and Fitzgerald. At Crosby's request, Fitzgerald imitates Armstrong to the bemusement of the audience, and Red Nichols takes a superbly bluesy cornet solo on this tune, as well. (Not surprisingly, Nichols's playing is very influenced by the swampy, New Orleans approach of Armstrong.) Cole Porter's hit "Don't Fence Me In" is another high point; this song combines 1940s swing with a Western feel (a la Gene Autry), and the Andrews Sisters' rich three-part harmonies add great depth to this selection. Of course, it's Crosby's debonair voice that ultimately steals the show.
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