The Peggy Lee Bio-Discography's Picture Gallery:
Decca Collaborations With Bing Crosby
by Iván Santiago-Mercado

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Scope And Contents

The majority of the issues displayed in this page are Bing Crosby albums which contain guest vocals by Peggy Lee. In all cases, the vocals are studio recordings. (Bear in mind that Crosby and Lee also worked together on the radio, in a large number of broadcasts. Albums which contain performances from those broadcasts are covered not herein but in a separate page of this photographic gallery.) For further clarification on the contents of the present page, and for advice on how to locate particular albums, see note at the bottom.

I. SELECTIONS FROM THE PARAMOUNT PICTURE ROAD TO BALI





Album Cover Shown:

1 & 2. Title: Selections From The Paramount Picture Road To Bali / Format: 78 album & EP & 10" LP / Label: DECCA / Cat. Num.: A 926 (28514-28515) & 9 375 (three 45s) & Dl 5444 / Rel. Year: 1953





Album Cover Shown:

3. Title: "Road To Bali" Selection / Format: 10" LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (England) La 8578 / Rel. Year: unknown, possibly 1953 or 1954 / Note: same numbers as #1 above.

4. Title: El Camino De Bali (Serie De "Canto Y Música De Películas") / Format: EP / Label: Columbia / Cat. Num.: (Spain) Ecge 70.022 / Rel. Year: 1955 / Note: same numbers as #1 above.





5. Title: Zing A Little Zong ("Bing's Hollywood" Series) / Format: LP / Label: DECCA / Cat. Num.: Dl 4263 / Rel. Year: 1962 / Note: Includes the full contents of #1 above, along with songs from another Crosby film, Just For You.

6. The 15 volumes from the "Bing's Hollywood" Decca LP series, to which #4 above belongs. The series concentrated on reissuing every film-inspired album which Crosby had previously recorded for the label. Each LP includes the contents of at least two previous EPs or LPs -- sometimes three or more. (Hence these volumes from "Bing's Hollywood" series can be considered twofers, threefers, or even "4fers.")





Album Covers Shown:

7. Title: Bob Hope In Hollywood / Format: CS & LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: 906 / Rel. Year: 1984 / Note: Contains one vocal featuring Peggy Lee. The vocal ("Merry-go-runaround") was originally released by Decca in the EP Selections From The Paramount Picture Road To Bali (#1 above). See also general note below.

8. Title: Thanks For The Memories / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: 10611 / Rel. Year: 1992 / Note: Contains one vocal featuring Peggy Lee. The vocal ("Merry-go-runaround") was originally released by Decca in the EP Selections From The Paramount Picture Road To Bali (#1 above). See also general note below.


General Note
The film Road To Bali starred Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. All three entertainers had previously sung on film and on record. When Decca could not satisfactorily arrange Lamour's participation in a Decca album of this movie's performances, Bing Crosby and company recruited Peggy Lee to take over two of the numbers that the actress sings in the soundtrack. Decca's and Crosby's choice of Lee as a suitable singing partner is not surprising. Due to the numerous radio shows that they had done together in the past, Crosby and Lee had a long-established professional rapport. Moreover, at the time of these sessions, she had just joined the record label.

Entitled Selections From The Paramount Picture Road To Bali, the original issue features two numbers in which Peggy Lee participates: a solo vocal ("Moon Flowers") and a trio vocal in which she shares honors with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope ("Merry-go-runaround"). That trio performance has been included in some Bing Crosby compilations, of course, and also in some Peggy Lee anthologies, but it is in Bob Hope issues that it has made its most frequent appearances. Items #6 and #7 above are just two of the official issues from MCA.

II. SELECTIONS FROM IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS





Album Covers Shown:

1. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: 78 album & EP & 12" LP / Label: DECCA / Cat. Num.: A 956 & Ed 819 (91463-91465) & Dl 8083 / Rel. Year: 1954 / Note: Original American version.

2. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: LP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (England) Lat 8044 / Rel. Year: 1954 / Note: Original British version.





Album Covers Shown:

3 & 4. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: CS & LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Mclc 1777 & Mcl 1777 / Rel. Year: 1983 / Note: MCA's first reissue of the original Decca/Brunswick album. MCA and Universal would go on to reissue the album a fw more times during the CD era; see below.





Album Covers Shown:

5. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Dmcl 1777 / Rel. Year: 1990 / Note: MCA's earliest CD reissue of the album under discussion.

6. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) Msd 35554 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Note:
Curiously, this CD used the original artwork, including the Decca logo. (I should add that my acquaintance with this compact disc does not go farther than the images which I have located on the web. I have never seen a physical copy.) It was the second CD reissue of the album, which was reissued again in 2002, as Mcld 19191.





Album Covers Shown:

7. Title: Noel Blanc / Format: LP / Label: CID / Cat. Num.: (France) 263.539 / Rel. Year: unknown / Note: Judging from the very vague information that I have found about this French pressing on CID Records, there might have also been a reissue at an equally unknown date. French MCA (rather than CID) would be a likelier candidate for the production of such a hypothetical reissue.

8. Title: Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) 7151 (Map S3768) / Rel. Year: 1974 / Note: Reissued in 1981 as MCA LP Vim 7277.




Covers Shown:

9. Title: Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: CD / Label: Prism Leisure Platinum / Cat. Num.: (England) unknown / Rel. Year: 2005 / Note: Lee's face has been added to the movie still that was chosen as the cover of this Public Domain CD. Besides the full contents of the original Decca album, the track listing includes 11 additional Decca numbers, all sung by Crosby. Most of those bonus tracks are also songs from his films.

10. Title: The Ultimate White Christmas / Format: CD / Label: Castle Communications's Pulse / Cat. Num.: (England) Plscd 771 / Rel. Year: 2005 / Note: This Public Domain CD combines Decca's Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney's equivalent material for Columbia Records. The CD's notes wrongly call "Sisters" a duet between Peggy Lee and Trudy Stevens. (The Lee version is exclusively sung by Lee. In other words, she plays in song the two titular sisters.)

11. Title: Irving Berlin's White Christmas / Format: DVD-CD combo / Label: Paramount, Universal, Turner Movie Classics, Starbucks' Hear Music / Cat. Num.: unknown / Rel Year: 2006 / Note: This combo release was offered by Starbucks (in association with Turner Movie Classics) for a brief seasonal period. Since I do not own a copy, I cannot give any specifics other than those few which I have tracked down online. The "bonus CD inside," credited to Universal, is presumed to be the same one shown in image #4 above.





Artwork Shown:

12. Back cover of Decca's original album, in its various configurations (EP, LP, 78 album).

13. Inner covers of Decca's original EP box.


General Note:
The Paramount film Irving Berlin's White Christmas starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. All four stars are heard singing in the soundtrack of this cinematic musical. (In Vera Ellen's case, her singing was actually dubbed by Trudi Stevens.)

Taking advantage of the fact that both Crosby and Kaye were under its contract, the Decca company decided to release its own version of the soundtrack. Entitled Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Decca's album features Crosby, Kaye, and Trudi Stevens, but not Rosemary Clooney, who at this time was under record contract with Columbia. Hence Decca and Crosby enlisted Lee to interpret the numbers which Clooney sings in the movie.

Peggy Lee participates in four of the Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas tracks. She sings by herself in "Love, You Didn't Right By Me" and with herself in "Sisters." The other two tracks ("Snow" and the "White Christmas Finale") are quartet performances in which she shares vocals with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Trudi Stevens.





Album Cover Shown:

14 & 15. Peggy Lee is not featured in either of these Japanese EPs ( Decca Dep 113 and Decca Sdw 10047), whose front covers are displayed herein merely as supplementary material. Both of them give a full color and clearer view of the backdrop seen in the front cover of the album Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas (pictures #1 to #5 above). This backdrop or picture is actually a still from the movie Irving Berlin's White Christmas. In addition to supplying a better view of the artwork featured in the album under discussion, I believe that these two items qualify as worthwhile curiosities of possible interest to Crosby fans.

III. BING SINGS, NO. 2 & BING, RARE STYLE


[Image missing]

Album Cover [Not] Shown:

1. Title: Bing Sings, No. 2 / Format: EP / Label: Brunswick / Cat. Num.: (England) Oe 9467 / Rel. Year: 1959 / Note: This British EP was the original release of "The Possibility's There," a Decca-owned duet featuring Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee. The EP's other tracks are "The Longest Walk," "Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay," and "The Loneliness Of Evening," all of them Crosby solos. The cover shows a b&w photo of Bing, superimposed on a blue background. I do not yet have a regular-size image for this cover, but a small reproduction can be seen in #3 below (top row, second cover).





Album Cover Shown:

2. Title: Bing, Rare Style / Format: LP / Label: Ace Of Hearts / Cat. Num.: (England) Ah 164 / Rel. Year: 1967 / Note: "The Possibility's There" made its second appearance on this album, released by a budget branch of British MCA.





Album Cover Shown:

3. Title: The EP Collection / Format: CS & CD / Label: See-For-Miles / Cat. Num.: (England) See Ck 360 & See Cd 360 / Rel. Year: 1992 / Note: This CD collects tracks from Bing Crosby's EP albums on Brunswick, including #1 above.





Album Cover Shown:

4. Title: The Best Of The Decca Years / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: Mcad 11571 / Rel. Year: 1997 / Note: As of 2011, this is the only issue by Peggy Lee which includes "The Possibility's There."

IV. PEGGY LEE AND BING CROSBY





Album Cover Shown:

1 & 2. Title: Peggy Lee And Bing Crosby ("Sound Stream Selection" Series) / Format: LP / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Vim 8019 and 8020 / Tracks: unknown / Rel. Year: unknown / Volumes: 2 / Note: One of the two LPs (#8020) is entirely dedicated to Peggy Lee's recordings, the other (#8019) to Bing Crosby recordings. There are no duets. When I originally entered this album in the present page, I did not know its track listing, and thus worngly assumed that at least one duet might have been included. Although I am now better informed, I have decided not to delete this entry, but to keep it as a curiosity. Japanese MCA also issued a companion album of sorts, entitled Louis Armstrong And Peggy Lee ("The Big Stars" Series), which features Armstrong's tracks on one side, Lee's tracks on the other side.

V. MISCELLANEOUS BING CROSBY ISSUES, PART I: MCA COMPILATIONS





Album Cover Shown:

1. Title: The Voice Of Christmas; The Complete Decca Christmas Songbook / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: 11840 / Volumes: 2 / Rel. Year: 1998 / Note: This 2CD set contains three tracks with Peggy Lee ("Little Jack Frost Get Lost," "Snow" and "White Chistmas Finale").

2. Title: The Voice Of Christmas; 44 Festive Favourites / Format: CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: (England) unknown / Volumes: 2 / Rel. Year: 2010 / Note: British budget reissue edition of item #1. Same tracks, no liner notes.





Album Cover Shown:

3. Title: Bing; His Legendary Years / Format: CS & CD / Label: MCA / Cat. Num.: C4 10887 & D4 10887 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Volumes: 4 / Note: Contains just one track featuring Peggy Lee in duet with Bing Crosby, "Watermelon Weather."





Album Cover Shown:

4. Title: Bing Crosby With Jazz Friends / Format: CD / Label: Universal / Cat. Num.: (Japan) Ucc 3032 / Rel. Year: 2003 / Note: Contains just one track featuring Peggy Lee in duet with Bing Crosby, "Watermelon Weather."

VI. MISCELLANEOUS BING CROSBY ISSUES, PART II: LICENSED AND PUBLIC DOMAIN COMPILATIONS OF NOTE





Album Covers Shown:

1. Title: Through The Years, Volume 4, 1952-1953 / Format: CD / Label: Sepia / Cat. Num.: (England) 1139 / Rel. Year: 2009 / Note: Contains four vocals with Peggy Lee ("The Moon Came Up With A Great Idea Last Night," "Watermelon Weather," "Merry-Go-Runaround," and "Little Jack Frost Get Lost"). This CD is part of an ongoing series, dedicated to the release of Bing Crosby's masters in chronological order.

2. Title: Through The Years, Volume 6, 1953-1954 / Format: CD / Label: Sepia / Cat. Num.: (England) 1158 / Rel. Year: 2010 / Note: Contains two vocals with Peggy Lee ("Snow," "White Christmas Finale"). This CD is part of an ongoing series, dedicated to the release of Bing Crosby's masters in chronological order.

3. Title: Through The Years, Volume 9, 1955-1956 / Format: CD / Label: Sepia / Cat. Num.: (England) 1185 / Rel. Year: 2012 / Note: Contains one duet with Peggy Lee ("The Possibility's There"). This CD is part of an ongoing series, dedicated to the release of Bing Crosby's masters in chronological order.





Album Cover Shown:

4. Title: Duets And More / Format: CD / Label: unknown / Cat. Num.: Fmc 009 / Rel. Year: 1997 / Note: This Public Domain issue contains one performance featuring Peggy Lee with Bing Crosby ("The Moon Came Up With A Great Idea Last Night").

5. Title: The Very Best Of Bing Crosby / Format: CD / Label: One D6ay Music / Cat. Num.: unknown / Volumes: 2 / Rel. Year: 2011 / Note: This Public Domain 2CD set contains Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby's duet "Watermelon Weather."







Album Covers Shown:

6. Title: Duets With Friends / Format: CD / Label: Pegasus / Cat. Num.: (France) Pegcd 354 / Rel. Year: 2008 / Note: This Public Domain CD contains two vocals with Peggy Lee ("Merry-Go-Runaround" and "The Moon Came Up With A Great Idea Last Night").

7. Title: Duets with Friends / Format: CD / Label: Blue Moon / Cat. Num.: (Spain) Bmcd 3014 / Rel. Year: 1994 / Note: This licensed CD contains two vocals with Peggy Lee ("Watermelon Weather" and "Merry-Go-Runaround").

8. Title: Bing Crosby And Friends Collection ("Black And White" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Rajon Music Group / Cat. Num.: (Australia) 774460 / Rel. Year: 2005 / Volumes: 2 / Note: This Public Domain compilation includes three vocals with Peggy Lee ("The Moon Came Up With A Great Idea Last Night," "Watermelon Weather," and "Merry-Go-Runaround").

9. Title: Bing Crosby & Friends / Format: CD / Label: Lifestyles / Cat. Num.: 14150 / Rel. Year: 2009 / Note: This Public Domain item contains Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby's duet "Little Jack Frost Get Lost."

10. Title: Bing ("Stars Of The Silver Screen" Series) / Format: CD / Label: Yesteryear / Volumes: 3 / Cat. Num.: unknown (England) / Rel. Year: / Note: This Public Domain 3CD set contains two duets sung by Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby, one from their Decca stuido dates ("Watermelon Weather") the other from their radio work ("Silver Bells").

11. Title: Bing Crosby & Friends / Format: CD / Label: Music Club / Cat. Num.: (England) Mccd 089 / Rel. Year: 1999 / Note: This licensed CD contains just one vocal with Peggy Lee ("The Moon Came Up With A Great Idea Last Night").





Album Covers Shown:

12. Title: Christmas With Bing / Format: CS& LP & CD / Label: Pickwick International's Hallmark / Cat. Num.: (England) Hsc392 & Shm 3292 & Pwks 561 & Pwkm 4012 / Rel. Year: 1989 / Note: This CD (possibly licensed, at a time when Hallmark used to do so) contains two vocals in which Peggy Lee is featured (Little Jack Frost Get Lost," "Snow").

13. Title: Songs For Christmas / Format: CD / Label: Christmas Legends / Cat. Num.: (Portugal) 25266 / Rel. Year: 2004 / Note: This Public Domain CD contains two vocals in which Peggy Lee is featured (Little Jack Frost Get Lost," "Snow").


General Note:
There are various other Crosby anthologies which contain one or two duets with Peggy Lee, and whose covers are not shown above. Most of them are from Public Domain outfits (Rajon, Lifestyles, Tim International, etc.).

For this page, my goal is to feature the handful of compilations which has struck me as either better-sounding or richer in its Lee-related contents. Aside from those, I have included just a few other Crosby compilations with Lee tracks upon which I have chanced.
Ultimately, viewers should bear in mind that every Peggy Lee - Bing Crosby studio duet can also be found in Lee's CDs. Therefore, Crosby's anthologies -- the ones whose covers are shown herein and the ones whose covers are not -- can be deemed of minimal relevance to a Peggy Lee discography. (This comment applies to the present photo gallery only -- not to the main body of this discography. In the sessionography, I have tried to enter all Crosby issues containing Lee vocals, irrespective of their worth.

Index

The following alphabetical list includes every relevant album whose image is displayed in this page. To locate a given image, use as your guideline the Roman numeral that follows each title.

The Best Of The Decca Years: III
Bing; His Legendary Years: V
Bing, Rare Style: III
Bing Crosby & Friends (Music Club release): VI
Bing Crosby And Friends Collection ("Black And White" Series): VI
Bing Sings, No. 2: III [cover currently missing]
Bob Hope In Hollywood: I
Duets With Friends (Blue Moon release): VI
Duets With Friends (Pegasus release): VI
El Camino De Bali (Serie De "Canto Y Música De Películas"): I
The EP Collection: III
Noel Blanc: II
Peggy Lee And Bing Crosby ("Sound Stream Selection" Series): IV
"Road To Bali" Selection: I
Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas: II
Selections From The Paramount Picture Road To Bali: I
Thanks For The Memories: I
Through The Years, Volume 4, 1952-1953: VI
Through The Years, Volume 6, 1953-1954: VI
The Ultimate White Christmas: II
The Voice Of Christmas; The Complete Christmas Songbook: V
White Christmas, Selections From Irving Berlin's: II
Zing A Little Zong ("Bing's Hollywood" Series): I


Scope And Completeness

This page aims at being comprehensive, not exhaustive. Chief among items of interest are images of Crosby's official releases. As for images of his Public Domain anthologies, there is a myriad of them, many with just the odd Peggy Lee duet in them. Since their relevance is so minimal for the purposes of this discography, I have listed just a few Public Domain items, some of them chosen because they contain more Lee tracks than usual, some because they sport comparatively better sound quality. (I refer to Bing Crosby's anthologies as minimally relevant to this discography because every studio duet that Peggy Lee performed with Crosby can also be found in her CDs.)

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