Personnel includes: Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, Al Jolson, Fred Waring, Carmen Gavallaro.
Includes liner notes by Bing Crosby and F.B.Wiggins.
With music from the era before LPs (much less "concept albums"), there's nothing to lose by pulling together a pop artist's greatest hits--you're not hearing the material out of context in any way, since single releases were the context for a singer's work in the '30s and '40s. Bing Crosby was extremely successful as a singer, but singing and making records was something he did in the greater context of being an entertainer. As a result, a cross-section of his work reveals a variety of repertoire and production styles that would probably prove career-imploding in these modern times.
While Crosby did at times record with jazz musicians and do Tin Pan Alley material, GOLD RECORDS leans toward the kind of repertoire that now is generally qualified as "novelty." Sprightly female background singers, strings, whistling, and percussion serve as sound effects. Not surprisingly, GOLD RECORDS includes (as do many collections) "White Christmas," as well as "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Documentation includes commentary on each of the recordings, as well as recording dates and guest vocal credits.
