Search - Bing Crosby w/ Billy May & His Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney :: Fancy Meeting You Here

Bing and Rosie show how it's done with fun!

Thomas F. Mackey | Oak Park, Illinois United States | 10/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fantastic album collaboration. Great arrangemnets by Billy May and absolutely superb vocal duets between two of the finest singers of their time. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney are obviously having fun, but not at the expense of the music. They harmonize beautifully on a round-the-world tour of songs including the title track, "Hindustan," "You Came a Long Way from St. Louis," "It Happened in Monterey," and "Brazil." Special lyrics on some songs by Sammy Cahn, plus 6 bonus tracks not on the original 1958 release with Bob Hope and Jo Stafford. Must have for every Bing and/or Rosie fan. 24-bit remastered."

Good fun, great skill from all hands involved...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 01/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 13 tracks from the original 1958 LP are just about perfect. Worldly-wise Bing and fresh-sounding Rosie flirt charmingly and vocalize beautifully, and old pro Billy May assembles an orchestra which complements them superbly. The sound is excellent, the booklet helpful. This is just about the most cheerful disc one can ever imagine. If a person wanted a little Bing Crosby and a little Rosie Clooney in one's collection, just because they were excellent 20th-Century American "pop" singers, this one disc satisfies both needs. If you are a big fan of either one and do not already have this, you must budget for it and add it someday soon. The only flaw here is that the bonus tracks simply add length to the CD, helping it reach 49 minutes instead of the 35 of the original. But throwing on two Bob Hope duets with Rosie and a Jo Stafford medley with Bing and then two Bing solos which are totally at odds with the theme of the original LP makes no sense. What might have been sensible perhaps was not "do-able" because of "rights" conflicts: adding some some songs from the "White Christmas" film which Bing and Rosie starred in together. I don't know if this CD is good enough to buy at full retail price for most people.I have wanted it for months and luckily found an affordable copy. However, no one can fault its musical quality. When this was made in the late summer of 1958, the young record buyers were heavy into rock, and the affluent educated men were into jazz, and the middle-class men liked country and western while women liked Broadway and a category called "light classics". Bing and Rosie's audience, which had still been large just five years earlier, had fragmented and almost vanished. Their album of clever songs, lovely melodies, good taste and clean fun did not make a splash on Billboard charts. We're lucky to have the chance to buy it on CD at all, so I thank the people handling the "Bluebird" label (RCA Victor reissues) even if their bonus tracks did not quite work out. Buy this, enjoy it and just play the first 13 twice. You won't find a happier hour on all of Amazon!"

Around The World With Bing and Rosie

William Cox | Knoxville, Tennessee USA | 11/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Several years ago, I was tuned into a Music of Your Life station on my way to a car club meet. Bing & Rosie's recording of "You Came A Long Way From St. Louis" was played, and I enjoyed it so much that I began hunting for a copy to purchase. It took a while, but I finally tracked down the album. I was just about to buy the vinyl LP when I saw that it had been released on CD. Quick change of plans, and the CD was soon in my hand.I can understand why Rosie said this was one of her favorite albums. It's clear that Crosby and Clooney had a wonderful time recording it. The comraderie and chemistry come through loud and clear. The concept of an around the world trip, in song, is a wonderful display of the talents of these two extraordinary vocalists. The highlights, most certainly, are the title track as well as "I Can't Get Started With You," "Hindustan," "Slow Boat To China" and, of course, "You Came A Long Way From St. Louis."Bonus tracks from Bing's 1959 NBC Television Show, and a couple of duets featuring Rosie and Bob Hope, are also included.The sound quality on the CD is incredible. The notes say the album was recorded in July 1958, but it sounds as if it was just yesterday. Since purchasing the CD, I've read that BMG did a 24-bit digital remastering for this release. The CD comes in a digipack sleeve, with an inserted booklet replicating the front and back covers of the original LP. A "History" behind the recording, along with Bing's original liner notes for the album, is included.Fans of both Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney would most certainly want to have this CD in their collections. There's nothing better than spending an afternoon on a trip around the world with Bing & Rosie."