A Southern Memoir

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A Southern Memoir
A Southern Memoir (album cover).jpg
Studio album by
Bing Crosby
ReleasedDecember 1975
RecordedJanuary 16, 21, 1975
GenreVocal
LabelLondon Records (SHU 8489)
ProducerBing Crosby
Bing Crosby chronology
Bing 'n' Basie
(1972) 		A Southern Memoir
(1975) 		That's What Life Is All About
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic3/5 stars[1]

A Southern Memoir is a 1975 vinyl album recorded by Bing Crosby at his own expense at TTG Studios, Los Angeles, California in January 1975.[2] He was accompanied by Paul Smith and his Orchestra. Crosby leased the tracks to the English branch of Decca following negotiations with producer Geoff Milne and the album was issued on Decca's London label.[3]

The album was issued on CD by Collectors' Choice Music (CCM 2160) in 2010 having been remixed from the original eight track master tapes by Robert S. Bader of Bing Crosby Enterprises. Seven bonus tracks were included in the CD.[4]

Background[]

In January 1974, Crosby was seriously ill and after two weeks of tests, he underwent three and a half hours of major surgery. Two-fifths of his left lung and an abscess the size of a small orange were removed. The tumor was a rare fungus called nocardia. There were concerns that he would not be able to sing again and his recuperation took many months. He eventually did some television work and then decided to return to the recording studio.[5]

Reception[]

The UK magazine The Gramophone reviewed the album saying: "Crosby can be sampled on his own to pleasant effect in “A Southern Memoir” which in conformity with its title is a relaxed, easy-going selection of numbers from below the Mason–Dixon line..."[6]

Record producer, Ken Barnes, wrote: "This collection of “Southern-cum-mammy” type songs was a pet project of Bing’s and his affection for the material reveals itself time and again throughout each of the twelve songs. The small-band backings arranged by pianist-conductor Paul Smith are beautifully written and very well played. Bing sings with greater spirit and drive than on his album with Basie and some of the tracks, notably “Carolina in the Morning,” “Swanee,” and “Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay” stand comparison with some of his best-ever up-tempo performances."[7]

Personnel[]

Paul Smith (piano, conductor); Frank Capp (drums); Tony Rizzi (guitar, January 16 session); Allen Reuss (guitar, January 21 session); Joe Valenti (trumpet); Monty Budwig (bass); Dick Nash (trombone); Larry Bunker (percussion, January 16 session); Vic Feldman (percussion, January 21 session); Dominic Mumolo (saxophone); Don Raffell (saxophone), Johnny Rotella (saxophone).[8]

Track listing[]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On the Alamo"Isham Jones, Gus Kahn3:23
2."Alabamy Bound"Ray Henderson, Bud Green, Buddy DeSylva2:14
3."Where the Morning Glories Grow"Richard Whiting, Gus Kahn, Raymond B. Egan2:15
4."Stars Fell on Alabama"Frank Perkins, Mitchell Parish3:03
5."Carolina in the Morning"Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn3:07
6."Swanee"George Gershwin, Irving Caesar2:15
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"Henry Creamer, Turner Layton2:23
8."Georgia on My Mind"Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell2:48
9."Cryin' for the Carolines"Harry Warren, Joe Young, Sam M. Lewis3:24
10."She Is the Sunshine of Virginia"Harry Carroll, Ballard MacDonald2:23
11."When It's Sleepy Time Down South"Leon René, Otis René, Clarence Muse2:48
12."Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay"George Botsford, Jean C. Havez2:24
Bonus Tracks on Collectors' Choice CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Bing's South Texas Quail Hunting Medley" 5:28
14."On the Alamo" (alternate)Isham Jones, Gus Kahn3:59
15."Alabamy Bound" (alternate)Ray Henderson, Bud Green, Buddy DeSylva2:25
16."Stars Fell on Alabama" (alternate)Frank Perkins, Mitchell Parish 
17."Swanee" (alternate)George Gershwin, Irving Caesar2:25
18."Georgia on My Mind" (original LP edit)Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell2:47
19."When It's Sleepy Time Down South" (alternate)Leon René, Otis René, Clarence Muse3:02

References[]

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  3. ^ Reynolds, Fred. The Crosby Collection 1926-1977 (Part Five: 1961-1977 ed.). John Joyce. pp. 154–160.
  4. ^ "Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "BING magazine". BING magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "The Gramophone". The Gramophone. February 1976.
  7. ^ Barnes, Ken (1980). The Crosby Years. Elm Tree Books. p. 98. ISBN 0-241-10177-8.
  8. ^ A Southern Memoir CD. CD sleeve notes: Collectors' Choice Music.
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