Search - Bing Crosby :: Ep Collection

Crosby the chameleon crooner

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 10/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Discover Crosby as folks in the UK did, on a series of postwar EPs released on the Brunswick and (British) Decca labels, the overseas relatives of American Decca, his label at home. These oldie-but-goodie sets highlight the king of the crooners toying with different guises, and working with various bandleaders and vocal partners. It opens with a Bob Hope duet from "Road To Morroco," followed by some blaring latter-day big band arrangements, then onto softer stuff with Peggy Lee, and a wacky novelty cut or two. The recorded banter between Bing and guests such as Jimmy Durante recalls the jovial, joshing-around feel of radio's golden years -- hard to imagine any modern stars being that relaxed and off-the-cuff in today's high-tech, high-stakes entertainment industry. But thankfully Crosby lived in a different kind of stardom, and his experiments with the pop format are a lot of fun to listen to, even today. This is one of the more fascinating Crosby collections around; definitely worth checking out!"