Elvis singing Bing Crosby

#1092089

There was an elderly gentleman I knew who didn't like Elvis at all. His favorite was Bing Crosby. Remember thinking at the time that Elvis admired Bing Crosby. How many songs recorded by Bing Crosby did Elvis cover? What were they? And did Bing cover any songs by Elvis during his career?

#1092091

Elvis recorded White Christmas...

#1092093

There's little doubt that Elvis owned this Bing Crosby double-sider from 1950:

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Billboard 11 November 1950.jpg

zolderopruiming1 · #1092099

True love by Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly was recorded by Elvis and can be found on the Loving you LP and CD.

#1092100

I know that Bing did the first impactful version of Blue Hawaii in Waikiki Wedding, although he wasn't the first one to record it. Here is the info from David Neales site-

Blue Hawaii recorded by Elvis on Wednesday, 22 March 1961; Studio
Written by: Robin; Rainger
Originally recorded by Jack Denny and His Orchestra in 1937
Hear Elvis's version on: Blue Hawaii
Elvis's "Blue Hawaii" was, of course, the title track of one of his first films after leaving the army. The song originally became well known because of another film, "Waikiki Wedding," from 1937, starring Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross, but it was not Crosby who made the original recording. This honour probably goes to Jack Denny and His Orchestra, with vocals by Sonny Schuyler. Denny and his band recorded the number on 19 February 1937, several days before Crosby. It was released on Master 105.
Denny fronted numerous bands in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1931 he moved from Montreal, Canada, to New York City, and the following year started playing at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. He developed a "society" sound, using no brass section, but adding extra pianos and woodwinds. His sweet sound was eventually overtaken when Xavier Cugat's more raucous style was featured as an opening act.
Confusingly, towards the end of the 1920s, another number called "Blue Hawaii" was popular. However, this was a totally different song, both musically and lyrically, written by Baer, Caesar and Schuster.
(Marilyn Monroe fans might like to know that co-writer Leo Robin also wrote "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.")

#1092101

Bing Crosby singing Blue Hawaii in the movie "Waikiki Wedding" (1937)
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Bing Crosby's re-recording of Blue Hawaii from 1954
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Edit: ian beat me to it

#1092107

Bing Crosby recorded the first version of I'll Be Home For Christmas in 1943.

#1092113

Have I told you lately that I love You
Aloha Oe
Danny Boy
God Bless America
I'll take you home again Kathleen
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho

#1092118

Harbor lights?

#1092125

frus75 wrote:Harbor lights?

Yes -

greystoke · #1092131

Elvis sang numerous songs that were recorded or sung by Crosby, some of which in a professional capacity, some at home or others in passing, such as Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, which Elvis dropped a few lines of when being filmed for Elvis: On Tour. Or, Alla en el Rancho Grande, which was toyed with in the studio. There are other instances of Elvis finding success with a traditional melody, or an adaptation of an established song, such as No More, Love Me Tender or You'll Be Gone, which were, formerly, La Paloma, Aura Lee and Begin the Beguine. All of which were recorded by Bing. As was The Whiffenpoof Song, which can be heard in The Trouble With Girls.

Crosby didn't often tread the same ground as Elvis, but there are several songs cut by Elvis that Bing later recorded. Gentle On My Mind, Joshua Fit the Battle, Put Your Hand in the Hand, Snowbird and Spanish Eyes come to mind. I've probably overlooked a few, but Elvis recorded, or sung in some capacity, the songs I've listed below. This said, Crosby didn't sing the definitive, most popular or only version in most instances, nor do I presume that Elvis' knowledge of every song stems from Crosby's version. We know that's not the case with several of these.

All en El Rancho Grande

Aloha Oe

America

Auld Lang Syne

Aura Lee

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Beyond the Reef

Blue Hawaii

Blue Moon

Blueberry Hill

Carry Me Back to Old Virginny

Danny Boy

Dark Moon

Down by the Riverside

The First Noel

Fools Rush In

Ghost Riders in the Sky

Harbour Lights

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?

If I Loved You

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen

La Paloma

Begin the Beguine

Mona Lisa

My Happiness

O Come All Ye Faithful

Old MacDonald

Santa Lucia

Silent Night

Silver Bells

True Love

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

Unchained Melody

When the Saints Go Marching In

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

White Christmas

Winter Wonderland

Without a Song

The Yellow Rose of Texas

#1092206

I had no idea there was so much! Thanks everyone for the great and informative responses!

#1092208

nashnet wrote:There was an elderly gentleman I knew who didn't like Elvis at all. His favorite was Bing Crosby. Remember thinking at the time that Elvis admired Bing Crosby. How many songs recorded by Bing Crosby did Elvis cover? What were they? And did Bing cover any songs by Elvis during his career?

The tunes below, which Elvis cut between 1957 and 1971, may be directly traced to superb earlier versions by Bing Crosby. Especially those in red:

"Make Believe"
"Blue Hawaii"
"Sweet Leilani"
"White Christmas"
"If I Loved You"
"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
"Beyond The Reef"
"Hawaiian Wedding Song"
"True Love"
"Silver Bells"

It should be stated that the Presley arrangement of "White Christmas" is a direct cop of the #1 R&B classic recorded by the Drifters.

541113_Atlantic 1048 45_Drifters.JPG

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The Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinckney, "White Christmas" (Atlantic 1048, November 13, 1954)
Clyde McPhatter grabs the lead at 1:09, Bill Pinkney is the bass voice doing the first verse alone.

541113_Atlantic 1048 78_Drifters.JPG

#1092211

A little postscript -- in 1963, the Beatles' biggest Elvis fan, tongue-somewhat-in-cheek, claimed Presley's new single sounded "like Bing Crosby."

Song heard: Devil In Disguise - Elvis Presley

JOHN: "Well, you know, I used to go mad on Elvis, like all the groups, but not now. I don't like this. And I hate songs with 'walk' and 'talk' in it -- you know, those lyrics. She walks, she talks. I don't like that. And I don't like the double beat: doom-cha doom-cha, that bit. It's awful. (pause) Poor ol' Elvis."

(laughter)

BRUCE PROCHNIK: "Your heart bleeds for him."

JOHN: "Well, I've got all his early records and I keep playing them. He mustn't make another like this. But somebody said today he sounds like Bing Crosby now, and he does."

(laughter)

JOHN: "There'll be people writing in now. I know what they're saying (comically in a low, slow voice) 'What d'ya mean!?'"

(laughter)

JOHN: "I don't like him anymore."

KATIE BOYLE: "If he did sound like Bing Crosby, would it be bad?"

JOHN: "Well, for Elvis... yes."

(laughter)

(John votes by holding up the MISS card)

Juke Box Jury: June 22, 1963
http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1963.0622.jukebox.jury.john.lennon.html

When Lennon made his reference to Crosby, he was being more facetious than literal.

But, of course, his point was clear. Elvis' output after June 1963 probably didn't do much for John. Like millions of other Presley fans around the world, he was not thrilled by crappy movie fodder.

#1092236

drjohncarpenter wrote: When Lennon made his reference to Crosby, he was being more facetious than literal.

But, of course, his point was clear. Elvis' output after June 1963 probably didn't do much for John. Like millions of other Presley fans around the world, he was not thrilled by crappy movie fodder.

It would be interesting to know what he thought about Elvis after 1968 and if his opinion changed...

#1092246

elvis-fan wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote: When Lennon made his reference to Crosby, he was being more facetious than literal.

But, of course, his point was clear. Elvis' output after June 1963 probably didn't do much for John. Like millions of other Presley fans around the world, he was not thrilled by crappy movie fodder.
It would be interesting to know what he thought about Elvis after 1968 and if his opinion changed...

From what little I know, it did, but the '50s would always rule in John Lennon's heart.

He wore a huge ELVIS pin on his coat at the 1975 Grammy Awards ceremony, so the love never died.

#1092247

drjohncarpenter wrote:From what little I know, it did, but the '50s would always rule in John Lennon's heart.

He wore a huge ELVIS pin on his coat at the 1975 Grammy Awards ceremony, so the love never died.

And he announced his love to all of Madison Square Garden in 1972.

#1092249

George Smith wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote:From what little I know, it did, but the '50s would always rule in John Lennon's heart.

He wore a huge ELVIS pin on his coat at the 1975 Grammy Awards ceremony, so the love never died.

And he announced his love to all of Madison Square Garden in 1972.

Yup. John actually says, mid-song, "Elvis, I love ya."

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John Lennon, "Hound Dog" (Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, August 30, 1972)
Note: John says "Elvis, I love ya" at 2:46.

It is not insignificant that the leader of the greatest band in the history of rock 'n' roll stood on the Madison Square Garden stage just eight weeks after Elvis had been there, covered "Hound Dog" and yelled "Elvis, I love ya" while singing it.

#1092286

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What the heck was Yoko Ono doing?!

(She was almost as good as Voice)

#1092288

It matters about as much as all your Romney posts in Off Topic.

#1092292

drjohncarpenter wrote:It matters about as much as all your Romney posts in Off Topic.

Gettin' a little touchy there, aren't ya' drjohn?

Food for thought - Come January, that'll be "President Romney" to you!

Hope this helps

Thank you.

#1092310

A very interesting thread. Nice stuff

Thanks DOC for the John Lennon items. I was really unaware of all that. Really insightful information. I appreciate it.

rlj

#1092540

rlj4ep wrote:A very interesting thread. Nice stuff

Thanks DOC for the John Lennon items. I was really unaware of all that. Really insightful information. I appreciate it.

rlj

Thank you very much for the kind words.

This is what the FECC forum is all about, the other stuff is a waste of everyone's time.

#1092549

drjohncarpenter wrote:It matters about as much as all your Romney posts in Off Topic.

Ouch! Doctor playing hardball! lol

pingpong · #1092577

"you know, those lyrics. She walks, she talks. I don't like that."

who wants to listen to those lyrics when you could be listen to great lyrics such as "i want to hold your hand" and "P.S. I love you" ........an education on lyrics .........and an education on voices .........Had John Lennon been told his voice sounded like Bing Crosby he would have been distraught... well said Mr Lennon.

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