78 RPM - Bob Crosby - Summertime (Bob Crosby's Theme Song) / I'm Free [What's New] - Decca - USA

78 RPM Record

Artist:	Bob Crosby
Label:	Decca
Country:	USA
Catalogue:	2205
Date:	Dec 1938
Format:	10"
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
Community:
Price Guide:	$20
» Search eBay #AD » Search Amazon #AD This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.

PRICE GUIDE

$20

Track	Artist	Title	Composer	Rating
A	Bob Crosby	Summertime (Bob Crosby's Theme Song)	George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Rate
B	Bob Crosby	I'm Free [What's New]	Bob Haggart	Rate

Notes

Disc 1 of the Decca Album No. 32, The Bob Crosby Showcase
Bob Crosby And His Orchestra
A: From the Musical Production "Porgy and Bess"
B: Featuring trumpet by Billy Butterfield
"I'm Free" was retitled "What's New" in 1939, after Johnny Burke had added lyrics to the melody. Labels on later pressings read What's New (Based On Melody "I'm Free").

Images

Comments and Reviews


fixbutte 5th Feb 2016		Many websites allege a later vocal recording of "What's New" by Bob Crosby's orchestra, with female jazz singer Teddy Grace, e.g. JazzStandards.com: “What’s New?” was introduced by Bob Crosby and His Orchestra with vocalist Teddy Grace in 1939, rising to number ten on the pop charts. Still there is no trace of an actual vocal recording, even less of a chart record (nothing on Your Hit Parade, the only certified chart of the time, anyway). So I presume this was another mistake that everybody copied from Joel Whitburn's very unreliable Pop Memories 1890-1954. Benny Goodman, who allegedly had a #7 chart hit with a vocal "What's New" according to the same sources, actually recorded it with Louise Tobin as vocalist, on his first Columbia session on August 10, 1939 (Columbia 35211). Again no real chart entry is traceable though.



fixbutte 5th Feb 2016		B-side has a fantastic trumpet solo by a young Billy Butterfield, soon-to-be superstar in the bands of Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Benny Goodman and his own, on a wonderful melody written by his bandmate, Bob Haggart, on the day of the recording. The melody, then called "I'm Free", would be retitled "What's New" when Johnny Burke provided lyrics in 1939 for Bob's brother Bing (who recorded it on June 30, 1939, Decca 2671, #2 on “Your Hit Parade”). Many vocal cover versions followed.



fixbutte 5th Feb 2016