(MGM, LP & CD, 1960)
Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong had a long relationship of working together. Crosby had a great respect for Armstrong’s talent, and they performed together in films, recorded single numbers on other records, and Armstrong was a frequent guest on Crosby’s radio broadcasts and television shows. Drawing on recordings of those performances different collections featuring the two stars together have been released in recent years. However this record was the only full album these two giants of 20th century popular music collaborated on.
Here you have these two masters of their musical craft arguably at or near the top of their form getting together and letting loose, playing off each other and having a fine old time. Comedy? No – this is just fun, relaxed, joyful interplay between two friends who have built a relationship over years. Besides the two principals you have the skill of the energetic Billy May, one of the premier band leaders of the day, arranging and conducting the orchestra. Were that not enough star-power, the legendary Johnny Mercer – who apparently had much to do with motivating and coordinating the album – contributed two new songs and added lyrics to others.
There are many fine songs here. The album leads off with “Muskrat Ramble,” a fun romp that sets a great tone for the record. It’s followed by “Sugar,” only one of the cuts showcasing Bing’s great, seemingly off-the-cuff (but actually scripted) interjected remarks. “Preacher” is another fun number, as is the old chestnut, “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.” And... well, gosh durnit – there are so many downright fun, listenable tunes! Notes of big-band and Dixieland styles weave throughout the songs. The outstanding versatility of Billy May’s arrangements is in full evidence throughout.
I will betray a personal prejudice regarding ballads by mentioning that there are a couple of... less worthwhile cuts that the album might have been better off without. “Rocky Mountain Moon” (a Mercer song) is an example. But the majority of the numbers are most enjoyable indeed. The album closes with the well-known classic, “Bye Bye Blues,” with what must be some of those added-on Mercer lyrics.
If you want to pick nits and call this music ‘dated,’ well, you must be too young to have developed mature tastes. (Hey, I wouldn’t be writing reviews if I wasn’t opinionated!)
This is an album that you can just put on and enjoy, appreciating all of the talent and artistry that went into it. An audiophile treat? Well... no, not exactly, but definitely a musical one.
As befits an album by two entertainers famous the world over, it has been released in many different countries and re-released in the US. Discogs lists no less than 89 such versions, including some under the slightly different title
Bing & Louis. Its original release was on the MGM label in 1960, as an LP in both mono and stereo versions. I have the original mono LP and a stereo CD released on the DRG label in 2009, the latter including a bonus cut. While I usually recommend the LP version of most any album I am reviewing, of the two copies I have I would have to come down on the side of the cleaner, more open sound of the CD. (I also have a 1966 LP copy on the Metro label, a division of MGM, which is to be avoided.)
Regardless, this is a great album, a thoroughly enjoyable listen. It is of course available on Discogs, not for cheap but very reasonably. And – oh yeah – if you are unfortunately limited to streaming, it’s also available through online sources.
ALSO RECOMMENDED
High Society movie soundtrack (Capitol, LP & CD, 1956) – Crosby and Armstrong were both in this movie and on this album, though not together on all songs. I’m a great Cole Porter fan, and though this certainly isn’t my favorite musical of his there are a
few excellent songs sprinkled in. Another singer by the name of Frank Sinatra is also involved, and manages to contribute some decent vocalizing here and there as well.
-Dave Hortland
“Championing worthy albums from the past that should not be forgotten…"