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[Ken Barnes]

Thanks, Mark, for your comments. As Bing put it, I don't know how we left this one out, but it certainly was considered along with Victor Herbert's
"Indian Summer" and Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne's "The Things We Did Last Summer." But, somewhere along the way, it was dropped for some reason. We spent a lot of time sifting through dozens of songs and when the final choice was made, we were all satisfied. In those days, albums were limited mainly to just 12 titles. Today, we would have stretched it to 14 or even 16.

I've been trying for some years to get this album issued on CD but there seems to be some kind of contractual problem that's holding it up. It might have something to do with the fact that the Crosby Estate have a law suit against Universal ( who now own the Polydor catalogue ).

Glad you were able to get a copy of the old LP. It hasn't been available anywhere since 1982. It's a real mystery for an album that was so hugely successful on vinyl.

Anyway, I'm happy to say that "Swingin' With Bing" is selling happily in the USA and theis augers well for the new album "Bing Crosby meets Al Jolson" which is released on September 6th.

[Ken Barnes]

Yes, Mark, it was about 18 months in the planning. In fact, the first track to be recorded was on January 19, 1976 - that was in Los Angeles with a 43 piece orchestra. The title? "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year." The second title to be recorded was "Seasons" later that same year alos in Los Angeles on October 18th,1976. The rest were all done in London September 12,13 and 14 of 1977. Exactly one month before Bing died.

He was a great singer to the last.

I sure wish we could get this album out on CD but contractual problems still persist.

Thanks for your interest.
Ken

[V.J.]

Dear Ken Barnes,

Your website is tops for movie buffs and music lovers. I just got your 3-CD box set of Bing Crosby- SWINGIN' WITH BING and it is an absolute knockout. Can we expect any more issues like this ?