Search - Bing Crosby :: Definitive Collection

Fine collection that's best used as a primer to the great Bi

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 03/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Definitive Collection is a single CD retrospective of some of Bing Crosby's finest artistry. Naturally, a single CD with twenty-two tracks can't possibly be all of the very "best of" Bing's work; but as a single CD compilations it's one of the stronger ones out there. The sound quality is pretty good and the artwork is very nicely done.



"Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day)" starts the CD off with Bing singing his very best--and really, when you think about it, was there ever a time when he DIDN'T sing his very best? SMILE Bing sings this very sweetly and although there's some minor surface noise it doesn't really interfere much with the beauty of this track. "Stardust" is another earlier recording by Bing; and he sings this beyond perfection. He also gets to show off his wide vocal range on "Stardust" and the musical accompaniment works well for "Stardust." There's also Bing performing "Pennies From Heaven;" Bing sings this with panache and it's no wonder he was considered the best crooner ever! (Well, maybe with the lone exception of Frank Sinatra.)



"You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" features Bing's vocals squarely in the spotlight; and this version of this popular tune gets a fine big band style arrangement that uses the brass to great advantage. "White Christmas" is one of the best selling records of all time; and Bing was the only crooner who could ever have made this so. Bing delivers this melancholy ballad with all his heart and soul; and this impresses me greatly. "Swinging On A Star" puts Bing in the center and the backup vocalists sing perfectly as well.



"Don't Fence Me In" showcases Bing's vocals and you won't be disappointed! The Andrews Sisters join up with Bing for this number and they do a wonderful job of singing along with Bing. "It's Been A Long, Long Time" also shines like pure gold when Bing performs this classic ballad; I predict that you'll enjoy "It's Been A Long, Long Time" very much.



"Alexander's Ragtime Band" has Al Jolson singing this duet with Bing; and together these two superb singers render this tune fresh, energetic and enjoyable every time you hear it! Al and Bing never sounded better! "In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening" sounds like a more recent recording by Bing, Jane Wyman with Four Hits And A Miss; and he sings this with his buddies in grand style.



In short, Bing Crosby fans will want this album--it's really very good. I will take off one star for the surface noise on the first several tracks and the slightly misleading title that claims this single CD is a "definitive" collection when a true "definitive" collection would have to include so much more. I also recommend this CD for fans of classic pop vocals.

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Bing Crosby, the crooner!

William Williamson Jr. | Prescott, AZ | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A very good disk, but you have to be a certain age to really appreiate it. Bing was the best for many years and this is a pleasant way to remember the old boy. It's well worth the money to bring back the memories. Some of you younguns could benefit by listening to the King. In Prescott, AZ have a good day."

Pretty Good Late Collection

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 12/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Calling a single disc "definitive" with an entertainer as protean and prolific as Crosby is presumptuous if not misleading. I love Crosby's early work in the '30s, from the melodramatic ("Out of Nowhere") to the jazz and scat ("Shine"). None of that material is represented here. Also missing is his later sterling performance with Bob Scobey's jazz band, including his early, arguably best, version of "Mack the Knife." Nevertheless, this collection at least begins to represent the remarkable multicultural and stylistic diversity of a singer who, far more than the "modern ironical temperament" represented by the individualist Sinatra, sang for and of the "community." Still, the single disc "Bing's Gold Records," a chronological presentation of all 21 recording-breaking records, is the more representative, useful approach toward Crosby's versatility and singular appeal."