03 December 2011

Around the World

"Around the World" was the theme tune from the 1956 movie Around the World in 80 Days. It never actually featured with the lyrics in the Around the World in Eighty Days film, but it is the vocal version which has by far become the better known. It was written by Harold Adamson (words) and Victor Young (music). Bing Crosby's recording of "Around The World" was a hit on the United States music charts in 1957, and was also popular in Australia in October-December of 1957.

Bing's "Around The World" was issued as a 45-rpm 7-inch phonograph record. The flip side was an instrumental version of the same tune:"Around The World" was included on the 5-LP set Bing: A Musical Autobiography:Bing: A Musical Autobiography was also issued as a box set of 45 rpm records. Here's the 45 of "Around The World":Listen to Bing sing "Around The World":

06 November 2011

When I Take My Sugar To Tea

Bing Crosby sings "When I Take My Sugar to Tea". Written by Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal and Pierre Norman, published 1931. Recorded and released in the 1950s, Decca.

"When I Take My Sugar To Tea" appeared on these microgroove vinyl releases:

Four-song EP: New Tricks...Bing Crosby with Buddy Cole and his trioLP:Twelve-song LP: New Tricks...Bing Crosby with Buddy Cole and his trio"Bing Crosby the plumber sings When I Take My Sugar to Tea while preparing to take his sugar out at the beginning of the 1932 short Dream House."

03 October 2011

True Love

"True Love" was written by Cole Porter, published in 1956. Introduced by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the musical film High Society. The Crosby–Kelly version, accompanied by Johnny Green's MGM studio orchestra, arrangement by Conrad Salinger, was also a popular recorded version of the song. Kelly's contribution on the record is relatively minor, duetting with Bing on only the final chorus. Nonetheless, the single is co-credited to her. True Love is the name of C.K. Dexter Haven's yacht, on which he and Tracy Lord honeymooned off the coast of Maine. They are fictional characters in the play The Philadelphia Story, on which the musical is based.

"True Love" appeared in these analog formats:

Duet with Rosemary Clooney:
Duet with Grace Kelly, US release:Duet with Grace Kelly, UK release:Listen to the Crosby-Clooney recording of "True Love" here:

03 September 2011

Summer Wind


Bing Crosby - "Summer Wind" (Recorded September 1977 and released in 1977). Music by Heinz Meier a.k.a Henry Mayer, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1965. Produced by Ken Barnes, arranged by Pete Moore. Recorded at CBS Studios, Whitfield Street, London. From the last album Bing recorded, Seasons. (The visual part of this video is partially irrelevant; someone's self-promotion. The song plays just fine.)
Released by Polydor Records on an LP album and cassette tape titled Seasons.Bing also recorded "Summer Wind" for a BBC broadcast, later released on an LP titled The Final Chapter - His Last Songs Ever Recorded.

"Summer Wind" was also recorded by Peter Duchin, Wayne Newton (who recorded it first), Frank Sinatra (who had the biggest hit with it), Roger Williams, and by "The Columbia Musical Treasuries Orchestra And Chorus".

03 August 2011

That's What Life Is All About


Bing Crosby With The Pete Moore Orchestra - "That's What Life Is All About" (1975). Produced by Ken Barnes. Recorded in London. Written by Ken Barnes, Bing Crosby, Peter Dacre, and Les Reed. Bing's humble answer to "My Way", at the age of 71. This is one of 15 songs that include a Crosby writing credit. It made the Easy Listening chart in the US, and also the UK Singles Chart.

Released by United Artists Records on a 7-inch 45 rpm single, and an LP album titled That's What Life Is All About. The LP includes a reprise of the song.
There's also a "live" video version. Not a lip-sync:

03 July 2011

Moonlight Bay


Bing and Gary Crosby With Matty Matlock's All Stars: "Moonlight Bay" (Words by Edward Madden - Music by Percy Wenrich, 1912) Vocal Duet with Orchestra. Decca records, 1951.

The song has been adapted and arranged, but this is not credited on the label of the 7-inch 45 rpm record. The extra words could have come from Bing (who previously had written introductory verses), or perhaps from some uncredited lyricist who wanted to maintain a working relationship with Bing.

The label credit "Featured in Warner Bros. Picture 'On Moonlight Bay'" suggests that perhaps the main purpose of this single was to provide publicity for the 1951 motion picture. (Bing appears to have been under contract to Paramount Pictures at that time.)

"Moonlight Bay" has been recorded by many artists, including Doris Day, Deanna Durbin, Billy Vaughn, and Lawrence Welk.The original words from 1912:
Voices hum, crooning over Moonlight Bay
Banjos strum, tuning while the moonbeams play
All alone, unknown they find me
Memories like these remind me
Of the girl I left behind me
Down on Moonlight Bay

We were sailing along
On Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing
They seemed to say:
"You have stolen her heart"
"Now don't go 'way!"
As we sang love's old sweet song
On Moonlight Bay

Candle lights gleaming on the silent shore
Lonely nights, dreaming till we meet once more
Far apart, her heart, is yearning
With a sigh for my returning
With the light of love still burning
As in of days of yore

03 June 2011

Violets and Violins

"Violets and Violins" (a.k.a. "Love is Like a Violin"/"Mon Coeur est un Violon") from the 1953 Paramount movie Little Boy Lost. (Music: Miarka/Maria Laparcerie, English lyrics: Jack Lawrence.)

The song was released on a Decca four-song extended play 45:...and on a Decca soundtrack LP with songs from The Country Girl:Bing Crosby sings "Violets and Violins":

"Love is Like a Violin" was recorded by Francis Van Dyke.

"Mon Coeur est un Violon" was recorded by Stanley Black.

Bing also recorded a version with the French lyric.