It's Been A Long, Long Time

"It's Been A Long, Long Time" is a 1945 popular song that became a major hit at the end of World War II. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person welcoming home his or her spouse or lover at the end of the war. The music was written by Jule Styne (1905-1994), the lyrics by Sammy Cahn (1913-1993).

A recording by Harry James with vocal by Kitty Kallen reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 24 November 1945. An alternate version by Bing Crosby accompanied by The Les Paul Trio was also working its way up the charts. It replaced the James' version at #1 on 8 December 1945. Crosby's lasted a week at #1, ousted by Sammy Kaye's "Chickery Chick." The Harry James recording then returned to the top spot on 22 December for another week. In 1945 it was standard practice in the record industry for labels to release "competing" versions of hit songs.

Crosby's version features some memorable guitar by Les Paul (1915-2009), who recalled in an interview printed in Mojo magazine: "Bing was a sucker for guitar and that particular song was a case of you don't have to play a lot of notes, you just have to play the right notes."

It was recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford for Columbia Records. In 1975 it was recorded by Chet Atkins with Les Paul on their album Chester and Lester.

Bing Crosby and Les Paul perform "It's Been A Long, Long Time":

The Second Time Around

The Second Time Around is a song with words by Sammy Cahn (1913-1993) and music by Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990). It was introduced in the 1960 film High Time, sung by Bing Crosby with Henry Mancini conducting his orchestra, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (losing to "Never on Sunday"). It was the last song Bing Crosby introduced that would be nominated for an Oscar for Best Song.

Its theme is captured by its first two lines:
Love is lovelier the second time around,
Still wonderful with both feet on the ground.

Y'all Come

"Y'all Come" (originally titled "You-All Come") was written and recorded by Arlie Duff a.k.a. "The Singin' Schoolteacher" (1924-1996), and was a country hit for him in 1953. Bing's recording for Decca Records is with the Cass County Boys, with orchestra directed by Perry Botkin. It was a hit in the United States. It was preceded by "Hush-a-bye" in 1953, and followed by "Down By The Riverside" (with Gary Crosby) in 1954.

"Y'all Come" was also recorded by Glen Campbell, Jim and Jesse, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner.

Did Your Mother Come from Ireland

Bing Crosby: "Did Your Mother Come from Ireland?" Written by Michael Carr and Jimmy Kennedy, and published in 1937.

Jimmy Kennedy OBE (20 July 1902 – 6 April 1984) was an Irish songwriter, predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer", or co-writing with the composers Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams) and Nat Simon amongst others. He also wrote "Love is Like a Violin".Michael Carr (11 March 1905 – 16 September 1968), real name Maurice Alfred Cohen, was a British light music composer born in Leeds. He is best remembered for the song "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)", written with Jimmy Kennedy for the 1939 film of the same name.Bing's United States hit recording of "Did Your Mother Come From Ireland" was preceded by "It Makes No Difference Now" and followed by "Dolores", all released in 1941.

Also recorded by Connie Francis on her album Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites.

Jimmy Kennedy is also the co-writer of:

Harbor Lights
http://analogbing.blogspot.com/2012/08/harbor-lights.html

April in Portugal
http://analogbing.blogspot.com/2012/09/april-in-portugal.html

Gone Fishin' with Louis Armstrong

45:"Gone Fishin'" is a song written in 1950 by Nick Kenny (1895-1975) and Charles Kenny (1898-1992), and recorded by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong in 1951. It was a hit in the United States. It was preceded by Bing & Gary Crosby's hit recording of "Moonlight Bay" (hence the reference to Gary on "Gone Fishin'") and followed by "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" (with Jane Wyman).

U.S. double LP that includes "Gone Fishin'":Listen to Bing & Louis perform "Gone Fishin'":
...and now, an English lesson: "The song title, and its usage within the lyrics, are an example of the use of the verb 'to go' together with the gerund of a verb which is a leisure activity or, as in this case, the meaning of the verb as a leisure activity is understood."

Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree

An alternate pressing with a "punch-out" center, possibly meant for export to the U.S.:Bing's 1973 recording of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree", written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, arranged and conducted by Billy Byers:

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":