Bing: A Musical Autobiography was Bing Crosby's

Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....

 fourth Decca

Decca Records

Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....

 long play album, recorded and originally released in 1954 as a 5 LP set. It was also released as a 17-disc box set of 45rpm EP records. Both box sets came in a hinged box with latch that included a booklet.

Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....

, in a retirement mood by 1954, got together with the Buddy Cole Trio, a small group formed from members of the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, and re-recorded many of his earlier hits. The original Decca masters were used for his hits after 1940.

Track listing

1. Muddy Water
2. Mississippi Mud
3. My Kinda Love
4. I Surrender Dear
5. It Must Be True
6. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
   Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (song)
   "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is a popular song written by Harry Barris with lyrics by Ted Koehler and Billy Moll, published in 1931.The original 1931 popular hit recording was made by Bing Crosby with the Gus Arnheim Orchestra, but the song has become a standard, recorded by many other artists...
   
   
7. Out of Nowhere
8. Just One More Chance
9. Stardust
   Stardust (song)
   "Stardust" is an American popular song composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Originally titled "Star Dust", Carmichael first recorded the song at the Gennett Records studio in Richmond, Indiana...
   
   
10. Sweet and Lovely
11. Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)
    Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)
    "Where the Blue of the Night " was the theme Bing Crosby selected for his radio show. It was recorded in November 1931, backed by Bennie Krueger's band. The song was featured in a Mack Sennett movie short starring Bing Crosby....
    
    
12. Paradise
13. Please
14. Just An Echo in the Valley
15. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance
16. Learn to Croon
17. Down the Old Ox Road
18. Thanks
19. Black Moonlight
20. The Day You Came Along
21. After Sundown
22. Temptation
    Temptation
    A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological , health, economic, etc...
    
    
23. Love Thy Neighbour
24. May I?
25. Love in Bloom
26. I Love You Truly
27. June in January
28. Love Is Just around the Corner
    Love Is Just around the Corner
    "Love Is Just around the Corner" is a popular song with music by Lewis E. Gensler and lyrics by Leo Robin, published in 1934. It was first introduced in the 1934 movie, Here Is My Heart, and also included in the 1935 movie, Millions in the Air....
    
    
29. It's Easy to Remember
30. Soon
31. I Wished on the Moon
32. Silent Night
33. I'm an Old Cowhand
34. I Can't Escape From You
35. Song of the Islands
36. Pennies from Heaven
    Pennies from Heaven (song)
    "Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name...
    
    
37. Sweet Leilani
38. Blue Hawaii
39. The One Rose
40. There's a Gold Mine in the Sky
41. My Heart is Taking Lessons
42. I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams
43. Small Fry
44. Mexicali Rose
45. That Sly Old Gentleman
46. Allá en El Rancho Grande
47. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
48. Only Forever
49. Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?
50. Yes Indeed
51. Brahms' Lullaby
52. You are My Sunshine
53. The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid
54. Deep in the Heart of Texas
55. Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie
56. Walking the Floor Over You
57. White Christmas
    White Christmas
    A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere...
    
    
58. Moonlight Becomes You
    Moonlight Becomes You (song)
    Moonlight Becomes You is a popular song, composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was written for the Paramount Pictures release Road to Morocco and published in 1942 in connection with the film...
    
    
59. Road to Morocco
60. Sunday, Monday or Always
61. Pistol Packin' Mama
62. San Fernando Valley
63. I'll Be Seeing You
    I'll Be Seeing You (song)
    "I'll Be Seeing You" is a popular song, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal. Published in 1938, the song was inserted into the Broadway musical Right This Way, which closed after fifteen performances. The song is a jazz standard, and has been covered by countless musicians.The...
    
    
64. Swinging on a Star
    Swinging on a Star
    "Swinging on a Star" is an American pop standard with music composed by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was sung by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film Going My Way, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song that year, and has been recorded by numerous artists since...
    
    
65. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby)
66. Don't Fence Me In
    Don't Fence Me In (song)
    Don't Fence Me In is a popular American song with music by Cole Porter and lyrics by Robert Fletcher and Cole Porter.-Origins:Originally written in 1934 for Adios, Argentina, an unproduced 20th Century Fox film musical, "Don't Fence Me In" was based on text by a poet and engineer with the...
    
    
67. Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta (Talk, Talk, Talk)
68. It's Been a Long Long Time
69. The Bells of St. Mary's
70. Put it There, Pal
71. MacNamara's Band
72. Sioux City Sue
73. Begin the Beguine
    Begin the Beguine
    "Begin the Beguine" is a song written by Cole Porter . Porter composed the song at the piano in the bar of the Ritz Hotel in Paris. In October 1935, it was introduced by June Knight in the Broadway musical Jubilee produced at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.-Music:The beguine music and dance...
    
    
74. South America, Take It Away
75. Blue Skies
    Blue Skies (song)
    -History:The song was composed in 1926 as a last minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical, Betsy. Although the show only ran for 39 performances, "Blue Skies" was an instant success, with audiences on opening night demanding 24 encores of the piece from star, Belle Baker. During the final...
    
    
76. Alexander's Ragtime Band
    Alexander's Ragtime Band
    "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is the name of a song by Irving Berlin. It was his first major hit, in 1911. There is some evidence, although inconclusive, that Berlin borrowed the melody from a draft of "A Real Slow Drag" submitted by Scott Joplin that had been submitted to a...
    
    
77. The Whiffenpoof Song
78. Now is the Hour
79. Galway Bay
80. Far Away Places
    Far Away Places
    "Far Away Places" is an American popular song. It was written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer and published in 1948.The recording by Bing Crosby was released by Decca Records as catalog number 24532. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on December 31, 1948 and lasted 18 weeks...
    
    
81. Mule Train
82. Dear Hearts and Gentle People
    Dear Hearts and Gentle People
    "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" is a popular song published in 1949 with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Bob Hilliard. They were inspired to write the song based on a scrap of paper with the words "Dear friends and gentle hearts" written on it that was found on the body of Stephen Foster when he...
    
    
83. Rock of Ages
84. Sunshine Cake
85. Play a Simple Melody
86. Sam's Song
87. Gone Fishin'
88. In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening
    In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening
    "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" is a popular song with music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was written for the 1951 film, Here Comes the Groom, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song....
    
    
89. Y'All Come
90. Count Your Blessings
91. I Can't Begin To Tell You
92. Danny Boy
93. Old Man River
94. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
95. I'll Capture Your Heart
96. Little One
97. Now You Has Jazz
98. True Love
99. Well Did You Evah
100. Where The Blue Of The Night
101. With Every Breath I Take
102. You Belong To My Heart
103. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
     You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
     "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" is a popular song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, published in 1938. It was featured in the movie Hard to Get, released November 1938, where it was sung by Dick Powell....
     
     
104. Little Drummer Boy
105. Don't Be A Dobadder
106. Frosty The Snowman
107. Let It Snow
108. Silver Bells
109. Oh Holy Night
110. Santa Cluse Is Coming To Town
111. Joy To The World
112. Tenderness
113. Around The World
114. Far Away Places
115. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
116. Swingin' On A Star
117. It's Been A Long Long Time
118. Dinah
119. Samantha
120. Bing Crosby signs off

And Many Many More!

Bonus Tracks (on the 2005 CD release)

When Bing: A Musical Autobiography was re-released as a 4-CD set in 2005, the label added bonus tracks that had no connection with the original album. These tracks were sourced from Bing Crosby's radio shows, publicity discs and from his short film soundtracks. The audio quality varies according to source.

'Paris Honeymoon' selection

1. Banter between Ken Carpenter
   Ken Carpenter (announcer)
   Kenneth Lee Carpenter was a longtime TV and radio announcer, who was best known for being the announcer for singer and actor Bing Crosby for 27 years.- Early life and education :...
   
    and Bing Crosby
2. The Funny Old Hills
3. Banter between Ken Carpenter and Bing Crosby
4. You're a Sweet Little Headache
5. Banter between Ken Carpenter and Bing Crosby
6. I Have Eyes

'The Star Maker' selection

1. Banter between Ken Carpenter and Bing Crosby
2. An Apple for the Teacher
3. Banter between Ken Carpenter and Bing Crosby
4. Still the Bluebird Sings
5. Banter between Ken Carpenter and Bing Crosby
6. A Man and His Dream

'I Surrender Dear' film soundtrack selection

1. I Surrender Dear
2. Out of Nowhere
3. At Your Command

'Just One More Chance' film soundtrack selection

1. Magic C.O.D. (parody of 'I Surrender Dear')
2. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
   Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (song)
   "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is a popular song written by Harry Barris with lyrics by Ted Koehler and Billy Moll, published in 1931.The original 1931 popular hit recording was made by Bing Crosby with the Gus Arnheim Orchestra, but the song has become a standard, recorded by many other artists...
   
   
3. I'd Climb the Highest Mountain
4. Just One More Chance

'Dream House' film soundtrack selection

1. When I Take My Sugar to Tea
2. It Must Be True
3. Dream House

'Billboard Girl' film soundtrack selection

1. Were You Sincere?
2. For You

'Sing, Bing, Sing' film soundtrack selection

1. In My Hideaway
2. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
3. Lovable
4. Snuggled on Your Shoulder

'Blue Of The Night' film soundtrack selection

1. My Silent Love
2. Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear
3. Ev'ry Time My Heart Beats
4. Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day

from 'The Big Broadcast' publicity discs

1. Banter between Stuart Erwin
   Stuart Erwin
   Stuart Erwin was an American actor. Erwin began acting in college in the 1920s, first appearing on the stage, then breaking into films in 1928 in Mother Knows Best...
   
    and Bing Crosby
2. Here Lies Love
3. Announcement by Sam Coslow
   Sam Coslow
   Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager...
   
   
4. Please

'Please' film soundtrack selection

1. You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me
   You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me
   "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me" is a popular song.The music was written by Harry Warren, the lyrics by Al Dubin. The song was published in 1932. It appears in the backstager Warner Brothers musical film 42nd Street...
   
   
2. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You
3. Please

from 'She Loves Me Not' publicity discs

1. Love in Bloom
   Love in Bloom (song)
   "Love in Bloom" is a popular song with music by Ralph Rainger and lyrics by Leo Robin, published in 1934. It was introduced in the film She Loves Me Not by Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle. The song was first recorded by Bing Crosby, for whom it was a hit in 1934. It also became the theme song of...
   
   
2. Straight From the Shoulder
3. I'm Hummin', I'm Whistlin', I'm Singin'

from 'Two For Tonight' publicity discs

1. Two For Tonight

from 'Doctor Rhythm' publicity discs

1. Introduction by Gayne Whitman
2. This is My Night to Dream
3. On the Sentimental Side
4. Only a Gypsy Knows
5. My Heart is Taking Lessons

from 'The Birth Of The Blues' publicity discs

1. The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid
2. My Melancholy Baby
   My Melancholy Baby
   "My Melancholy Baby" is a popular song published in 1912 and first sung publicly by William Frawley. The music was written by Ernie Burnett, the lyrics by George A...
   
   

from 'The Big Broadcast' publicity discs

1. Banter between Stuart Erwin and Bing Crosby
2. Here Lies Love