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
Number:968762 THUMBNAIL Uploaded By:fixbutte Description: A Side Label - 1938 issue
Number:968765 Uploaded By:fixbutte Description: B Side Label - 1938 issue
Number:968766 Uploaded By:fixbutte Description: A Side Label - 1939 issue
Number:968767 Uploaded By:fixbutte Description: B Side Label - 1939 issue (retitled)
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.
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.