(RCA, LP & CD, 1958)
Something a little different for you this month, ladies and gentlemen – and audiophiles. I present for your consideration – and hopefully listening pleasure – a classic of American popular music. Whazat? I call it a classic and you’ve never heard of it? Ah well, it may not rank alongside the very best albums of, say, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, or Peggy Lee. Although... a case might be made. It has received at least some recognition over the years since its release (perhaps some readers have indeed heard of it), but if does not already have a place on the LP or CD shelf alongside those traditional titles perhaps it is because it’s just too light-hearted and fun. Classics are supposed to be serious, right?
One indicator of its classic status is that all of the talent that went into producing this album is nothing less that first-rate. Tunesmiths Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen (who BTW wrote a number of hit songs for Sinatra and others) originated the concept, chose most of the material, wrote a couple of the songs for it and updated others. The music was arranged and conducted by Billy May, one of the best band leaders in the business. And the original LP was released by RCA under its Living Stereo imprint – not a guarantee of great sonics, but here they are excellent.
It is said that Sinatra was the most iconic singer of the last century. However he was preceded in the hearts and minds of America by Crosby – an iconic singer in his own right and the biggest, most popular vocal entertainer of his day. Not to belabor this point, but in 1948 American polls declared him to be “the most admired man alive,” he sold over 500 million records (a lot more than Sinatra), and “White Christmas” remains the highest-selling single of all time. There are many more interesting facts concerning him, but you could/should check out the Wikipedia article about him. Rosemary Clooney, while perhaps not quite the female equivalent, was also extremely talented and a very popular female singer for many years.
What we have at hand is a rather early example of a concept album, the ersatz theme of which has the pair singing duets highlighting romance and travel about different locales around the world. Hey – there have been many far worse themes that albums have been built around!
I shouldn’t and won’t take the space to comment on all the songs. But to mention just a few: Things lead off with the title cut, my favorite, an engaging Cahn-Van Heusen song that sets the tone for the album, showcasing the interplay of the two singers as well as the energy of the band. “(I’d Like to Be) On a Slow Boat to China” starts slow and then surprises with an injection of energy. “It Happened In Monterey” is a nicely updated version of an old chestnut, and there are some great two-part harmonies on "You Came a Long Way from St. Louis." I’m fond of “Hindustan,” which opens with a charming back-and-forth interplay. I grant you that not every cut is a winner, but most of them qualify.
Between and within the songs the two singers often banter like old friends – which they were. Is the banter scripted? Who knows? Who cares? The interaction is always relaxed and enjoyable. I can’t help but observe that the repartee between the two stars leans into the type of exchanges that they were each famous for providing to radio audiences in a broadcasting age that had almost vanished at the time the album was made.
Both singers are in excellent form on the album, and their vocals complement each other’s amazingly well. The skillful contributions of the Billy May Orchestra weave in, around and through the tunes to form an integral part of the overall sound. The band is tight, swinging, and powerful, and the arrangements perfectly support each song.
The album was originally released in 1958 in both mono and stereo vinyl versions, and for the most part was critically well received. “Delightful” and “infectious” were a couple of adjectives applied by reviewers. Perhaps as a testament to its popularity – and it’s classic status – it has seen a number of reissues since, including some international versions. I have a NM (Near Mint) copy of the ’58 mono release, and the sonics are impressive. I have read some reviewers who like it more than the stereo version, which I don’t have. However another version I do have and can recommend is a 2001 remastered CD by Bluebird, an “audiophile division” of BMG Entertainment. As I compare the sonics of the two, the stereo LP has more body, more “presence.” As a trade-off the CD presents a somewhat more appealing stereo mix, but personally I’ll stick with the LP.
As well as the original 13 album songs, the CD includes a six additional, um, rather... “different” cuts, not Crosby-Clooney duets, which I would call filler throw-aways and don’t feel compelled to go into here. But aside from those and all in all, this is a most enjoyable listen, and whether you agree with it as a “classic” or not, it is definitely a worthy album that should not be forgotten.