Some Fine Old Chestnuts

Some Fine Old Chestnuts
Studio album by Bing Crosby
Released 1954
Recorded June 26, 1953
Genre Vocal
Label Decca
Producer Buddy Cole
Bing Crosby chronology
Le Bing: Song Hits of Paris
(1953)		 Some Fine Old Chestnuts
(1954)		 Bing Sings the Hits
(1954)

Some Fine Old Chestnuts was Bing Crosby's second LP studio album for Decca Records, recorded and originally released as a 10" LP (DL 5508) in 1954.[1]

The 1954 edition of Some Fine Old Chestnuts featured eight standards mastered on June 26, 1953, from tracks recorded for Crosby's weekly CBS radio show with a trio led by Crosby's regular pianist Buddy Cole. Crosby's 1957 Decca LP New Tricks also features songs recorded for radio accompanied by Cole.

Decca later expanded Some Fine Old Chestnuts into a 12" LP by adding four more tracks that were recorded in 1954 and 1955: "In a Little Spanish Town," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Ol' Man River" and "Swanee". [2]

The original 8-track album was first issued on CD in 1993 by MCA Records in Japan No. MVCM 295. In 1998 it was included in a twofer CD called "Some Fine Old Chestnuts & New Tricks" issued by MCA Records No. MCLD19377.[3] All eight of the original tracks from Some Fine Old Chestnuts were released by Sepia Records on the 2010 CD Through the Years: Volume Five (1953).[4] In 2014, Bing Crosby Enterprises and Universal Music issued a deluxe, 23-track version of the album to mark its 60th anniversary.


Reception

Record producer, Ken Barnes, wrote: "Bing is in excellent voice - thanks to an intelligent choice of keys - and accompanied only by the Buddy Cole Trio (piano, bass and drums). The recording quality is truly superb. The only criticism is an alarming sameness in the presentation of each song (first chorus slow, second chorus fast - or, at least, moderately bright). But perhaps this is being churlish when the standard of performance is so high. Apart from Bing’s glorious vocals (his performance of ‘Sleepy Time Gal’ is absolutely definitive), there is Buddy Cole’s dazzling piano work."[5]

"The circumstances surrounding the appearance of the LP reflect the reduced significance of recording to [Crosby]; as he aged into his fifties, he cut back somewhat on his professional activities, notably recording," Allmusic's William Ruhlmann wrote about Some Fine Old Chestnuts. "Nevertheless, the actual performances are comfortable and confident, as the singer takes a slightly jazzy approach to the familiar material."

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Internet Museum(B+)

Track listing

SIDE ONE

  1. "Do You Ever Think of Me" (Earl Burtnett / John Cooper / Harry D. Kerr) - 2.42
  2. "I Never Knew (That Roses Grew)" (Ted Fio Rito / Gus Kahn) - 2.35
  3. "Somebody Loves Me" - 2.00
  4. "After You've Gone" (Henry Creamer / Turner Layton) 2.02

SIDE TWO

  1. "Sleepy Time Gal" (Joseph Reed Alden / Raymond B. Egan / Ange Lorenzo / Richard A. Whiting) 2.30
  2. "Dinah" - 2.20
  3. "I Never Knew (I Could Love Anybody)" (Raymond B. Egan / Tom Pitts / Roy K. Marsh) - 1.44
  4. "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - 2.28

Personnel

Information from sleeve notes of Some Fine Old Chestnuts 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition CD.

References

  1. ↑ "Pop Patter". Billboard. April 13, 1954.
  2. ↑ "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Amazon". Amazon. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sepia Records". Sepia Records. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ Barnes, Ken (1980). The Crosby Years. Elm Tree Books. p. 92.
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