Holiday in Europe

Holiday in Europe
Studio album by Bing Crosby
Released	1962 (1962)
Recorded	May 8-9, 1961
Studio	Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Genre	Vocal pop
Label	Decca
Bing Crosby chronology
101 Gang Songs (1960) Holiday in Europe (1961) Bing's Hollywood (1962)

Holiday in Europe was a long-playing vinyl album recorded for Bing Crosby's own company, Project Records at Radio Recorders, Hollywood and issued by Decca Records (DL-4281) in 1962. The album consists of twelve European songs. The orchestral arrangements were by Bob Thompson and the orchestra was conducted by Malcolm Lockyer at Decca’s West Hampstead, London studios in October 1960. Crosby had recorded four of the songs with Lockyer on October 15, 1960 in London but a decision was taken not to use these vocal tracks. Crosby subsequently over-dubbed his vocals on all of the orchestral tracks in May 1961.^[1] Malcolm Lockyer does not receive a credit on the album cover.

The album was issued on CD by MCA Victor, Inc., Japan (MVCM-294) in 1993.

Reception

Variety magazine reviewed the album saying “In an indie master deal with Project Records, Bing Crosby comes under the Decca banner once again. The package peg is a global song roundup which has Crosby working his way through such entries as “Under Paris Skies,” “Morgen,” “Never on Sunday” and “Domenica”. It’s flavorsome and pleasing.”^[2]

Crosby Post liked the album too. "Many of you must, like me, have wondered 'can Bing do it'? An album full of ballads, just six a side and with full orchestra backing? After the multi-tracked El Señor Bing and the Singalongs we were bound to have worries - but we need not have had for this is Bing's best album yet released of new material. It's Bing 1962, right bang up-to-date."^[3]

Track listing

SIDE ONE

1. ”April in Portugal” – 3.06
2. ”C'est si bon” – 2.49
3. ”Never on Sunday” – 2.47
4. ”More and More Amor” (C. A. Rossi / Alberto Testa / Dick Manning) – 2.38
5. ”Moment in Madrid” (Bill Katz / Ruth Roberts / Bob Thiele / Bob Thompson) - 2.05
6. “Morgen” – 2.19

SIDE TWO

1. ”Two Shadows on the Sand” (Madeline Karter / Maurice Vidalin / Gilbert Bécaud) – 2.56
2. ”Under Paris Skies (Sous le ciel de Paris)” – 2.27
3. ”Domenica” (Pietro Garinei / Gorni Kramer / Sandro Giovannini / Bing Crosby) – 2.35
4. ”Pigalle” (Charles Newman / Georges Koger / Georges Ulmer) – 2.26
5. ”My Heart Still Hears the Music (A Letter to Pinocchio)” (Madeline Karter / Mario Panzeri) – 2.33
6. ”Melancolie” (Richard Blake / Pierre Dudan / Alain Romans) – 2.33

References