Through the Years, Vol. 2: 1951 [PA]

Performer: Bing Crosby
Artist: Jud Conlon's Choir; The Andrews Sisters; Betty Mullin; Gary Crosby; Louis Armstrong
Distributor: Allegro Corporation (Dist

Notes: Personnel: Bing Crosby (vocals); Perry Botkin and His Orchestra (guitar, banjo); Allu�sio Antunes "Lulu" Ferreira, Al Hendrickson (guitar); Barbara W. Shik (harp); Sam Freed, Mischa Russell, Nick Pisani, George Kast, Anatol Kaminsky, Henry Hill , Erno Neufeld, Jacques Gasselin, Murray Kellner, Marshall Sosson, Paul Nero, Harry Bluestone, Walter Edelstein (violin); David Sterkin, Fred Glickman, Raymond Menhennick, Abraham Hochstein, Milton Thomas (viola); Cy Bernard, Armand Kaproff, Kurt Reher, Eleanor Slatkin (cello); Sylvia Ruderman, Martin Ruderman (flute); Phillip Shuken, Matty Matlock (clarinet, reeds); Morris Bercov (bass clarinet); Warren Baker (oboe, reeds); Kenneth Lowman, Frederick Moritz (bassoon); Larry Wright (reeds); Joe Rushton (bass saxophone); Harry Vasco de Almeida (trumpet, percussion); Bobby Guy , Ziggy Elman (trumpet); William J. Atkinson, Elmer R. Moe Schneider, Wendell Mayhew, Eddie Kusby (trombone); Walter Welscher, Mel Henke, Buddy Cole (piano); Nick Fatool, John Cyr, Irving Cottler (drums). Audio Remasterer: Robin Cherry. Liner Note Author: Malcolm MacFarlane. Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (02/05/1951-06/08/1951). The second volume in a series of chronological recordings documenting Bing Crosby's output, THROUGH THE YEARS VOL. 2 covers 1951. Although Crosby had already been a star for close to 40 years by the time these tunes were cut, his rich vocal timbre and impeccable phrasing show no signs of wear. Included on this set are tracks recorded with the popular Brazilian ensemble Bando de Lua, songs featuring the stellar harmonies of the Andrew Sisters, and a plethora of Broadway stage songs including favorites from THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC, and GUYS AND DOLLS. In 1950, Bing Crosby ranked as the top pop recording artist in the U.S. (according to chart researcher Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard charts), the fifth time he had topped the list since 1943. In 1951, Crosby would slip to 11th place, the first time he had missed the Top Ten since Billboard instituted a singles chart in 1940. But in February 1951 it must have seemed to be smooth sailing, as Crosby held marathon recording sessions prior to scheduled hospitalization for gallstones. Jonzo Records issued 51 volumes of its series The Chronological Bing Crosby, compiling Crosby's commercial recordings in chronological order, and now the series has been taken over by Sepia Records and renamed Through the Years. This second volume in the Sepia series chronicles four months in Crosby's recording career, running through June 1951. In the 24 songs (plus an alternate take of the Louis Armstrong duet "Gone Fishin'"), Crosby does what he usually did, moving from Spanish material to Broadway to Hawaiian music to old standards, and giving every selection an assured reading. By this time, the hits, such as they were, tended to come when he was paired with another act -- with the Andrews Sisters on "Sparrow in the Treetop," with his son Gary Crosby on revivals of "Moonlight Bay" and "When You and I Were Young, Maggie, Blues," and with Armstrong. (He also had a minor hit with his cover of Doris Day's "Shanghai.") But his best performances come when he finds a song that suits his mature perspective, notably the show tunes "More I Cannot Wish You" from Guys & Dolls and "Hello, Young Lovers" from the just-opened The King and I, songs in which he is not the ardent lover himself but instead a sage observer of young romance. "Indian Summer" (recorded for an album of Victor Herbert songs) is also a good choice for a veteran artist transitioning into the latter part of his career. (Crosby fans should note that "With This Ring I Thee Wed" and "We All Have a Song in Our Hearts" are making their CD debuts with this release.) ~ William Ruhlmann

Record Collector (magazine) (p.102) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his collection gathers a further 25 tracks, including the hit duet with Louis Armstrong, 'Gone Fishin''..."

It can be safely said that Bing Crosby taught America how to sing. Before his arrival in the 1930s, the airwaves were filled with off-pitch, rakish crooners and semi-operatic belters. It was Crosby who brought nuance to popular singing, popularizing the crooning style that influenced everyone from Frank Sinatra to Nat "King" Cole. He was even on hand for the early years of jazz, singing with jazz vocal group the Rhythm Boys in the 1920s. For decades, Crosby was a multi-media giant, hosting his own radio show, appearing on TV, and turning in highly regarded performances in tons of films, both musical and dramatic. He won a Best Actor Oscar in 1945 for his leading role in GOING MY WAY, and his "Road" films with Bob Hope are the stuff of comedic legend.

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