How the West Was Won (Bing Crosby album)

How the West Was Won
Studio album by Bing Crosby
Released	1960
Recorded	July, 1959
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Simon Rady
Bing Crosby chronology
Fancy Meeting You Here (1958) How the West Was Won (1959) Say One for Me (1959)

How the West Was Won was an 2-LP album recorded in July 1959 at United Recorders, Hollywood, for Bing Crosby's own company, Project Records. It was released by RCA Victor Records in 1960 and featured Crosby, Rosemary Clooney as well as other singers. The backing orchestra was conducted by Bob Thompson.^[1]

The records were issued with automatic couplings, i.e. LOP 6070-1 - sides 1 and 3, LOP 6070-2 - sides 2 and 4.

Reception

Billboard liked the album saying "This handsome set is sure to attract. The striking cover and informative booklet are perfect complements to the fine album contents which are interpreted by a stellar line-up of artists. The two-disk set offers a heap of Americana in narrated form. Strongest potential."^[2]

Track Listing

SIDE ONE

Exploring the Wild New Land

1. "Shenandoah" (Chorus & orchestra) - 0.45
2. "Extract from Carl Sandburg" (Bing Crosby) - 0.50
3. "Bound for the Promised Land" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) (Traditional) - 1.34
4. "En Roulant Ma Roule Roulant" (Bing Crosby & Jack Halloran Singers) (Traditional) - 1.10
5. "Lupita Divina" (Bing Crosby & The Tarrytown Trio) (Traditional) - 2.00
6. "The Sioux Indians" (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 1.36
7. "Extract from Carl Sandburg / Shenandoah" (Bing Crosby) - 1.54

Travellers of the Great Plains

1. "Crossing the Plains" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) (John A. Stone) - 2.23
2. "Buffalo Boy" (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 1.38
3. "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Rosemary Clooney) - 1.53
4. "Ox Driving Song" (Jimmie Driftwood) (Traditional) - 1.45
5. "Will You Go Out West with Me (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 1.35

SIDE TWO

Ranchers and Indian Raiders

1. "Buffalo Gals" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) - 1.47
2. "General Custer" (Jimmie Driftwood) (Traditional) - 1.52
3. "All 'Pewtrified'" (narration) (Bing Crosby) (Traditional) - 1.39
4. "Will You Come to the Bower" (Bing Crosby) (Traditional) - 2.02
5. "Bile Them Cabbage Down" (Sam Hinton) - 1.25
6. "Green Grow the Lilacs" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) - 2.54

The Great Gold Rush Days

1. "A Ripping Trip" (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 1.31
2. "What Was Your Name in the States" (Jimmie Driftwood) (Traditional) - 1.31
3. "California Ball" (Rosemary Clooney) (Traditional) - 2.10
4. "When I Went Off to Prospect" (Bing Crosby) (John A. Stone) - 1.44
5. "Lane County Bachelor" (Sam Hinton) (Frank Baker) - 1.34
6. "Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)" (Bing Crosby) - 2.46

SIDE THREE

The Railroads

1. "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill" (Jack Halloran Singers) - 1.26
2. "A Railroader's Bride I'll Be" (Rosemary Clooney) (Traditional) - 1.44
3. "Nine Hundred Miles" (Bing Crosby) (Traditional) - 2.03

Desperadoes

1. "Billy the Kid" (Jimmie Driftwood) (Traditional) - 1.44
2. "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me!" (Bing Crosby) (Traditional) - 2.58
3. "Jesse James" (Jimmie Driftwood) (Traditional) - 1.55

Settlers and Civilization

1. "Skip to My Lou" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) - 1.30
2. "Crawdad Song" (The Tarrytown Trio) (Traditional) - 1.31
3. "Careless Love" (Rosemary Clooney) - 1.45
4. "Hell in Texas" (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 2.26
5. "Jennie Jenkins" (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney) (Traditional) - 1.53

SIDE FOUR

Cowboys - The Last Frontiersmen

1. "Streets of Laredo" (Bing Crosby) - 2.54
2. "Down by the Brazos" (Sam Hinton) (Traditional) - 2.05
3. "Git Along, Little Dogies" (Bing Crosby) - 2.19
4. "Buckskin Joe" (Bing Crosby) (Jimmie Driftwood) - 2.06
5. "Red River Valley" (Bing Crosby) - 2.06

The Mormons

1. "The Handcart Song" (The Deseret Mormon Choir) (John D. T. McAllister) - 2.06
2. "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning" (The Deseret Mormon Choir) - 2.29
3. "Come, Come, Ye Saints" (The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir) - 4.17

CD

Bing's songs from the album were released on CD as Lillis, Love and a Little Covered Wagon (catalog number HLVCD-004).
In 2007 the complete album was re-released on CD by Bear Family Records (BCD-16634-AR).

References