Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams-the Early Years, 1903-1940 by Gary Giddins ISBN: 0-316-88645-9 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 08 October, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.26 (39 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Difinitive Bing Biography
Comment: Amazingly, no one had written a serious Crosby biography since 1948 - when Bing was a household name - until Gary Giddins gave us this incredible first volume of what promises to be the definitive study of the man of whom it used to be said, "the voice of Bing Crosby has been heard by more people than the voice of any other human being who ever lived."
"Pocketful" is a thorough, heavily researched evaluation of Crosby's life and career, and his cultural significance. As such, Giddins covers not only the landmark moments and achievements, but also the minutiae. To me, this is not a drawback. The subject is worthy of such intellectual scrutiny. It isn't a gossip-laden Hollywood tell-all, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere.
Bing Crosby personified everything Americans of his generation found admirable: he was self-assured, easygoing, intelligent, quick-witted and athletic, yet modest and self-effacing. Possessing an easygoing manner and a mellifluous and universally appealing baritone voice, he was adored by women and admired by men, and was the nation's most beloved entertainer throughout the Great Depression and the Second World War. The across-the-board nature of his of fame and longevity - he was simultaneously the world's top singer, actor AND radio star for a number of years, and he remained popular to the end of his life - is almost unfathomable in this age of perpetually divergent trends in entertainment, and disposable celebrity.
The cold, hard facts of Crosby's career, laid out for us by Giddins, are staggering:
* He had sold 400 million records by 1980.
* He charted more records (368) - and scored more #1's (38) - than any other recording artist in history, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson.
* His rendition of "White Christmas" is the most popular single ever, and the only one to make the American pop charts 20 times.
* He dominated the medium of radio for over 30 years with his top-rated programs, regularly attracting 50 million listeners in his peak years (about 1/3 of the population of the U.S. at the time!).
* His "Road" films with Bob Hope were the highest grossing comedies of their time.
* He was the #1 box office movie star for five consecutive years (1944-48), a streak which still hasn't been topped.
* He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, and won it in 1944.
* "Going My Way" became the top grossing film in the history of Paramount Pictures. A fluke you say? The next year "Bells Of St. Mary's" became the top grossing film in the history of RKO!
* He was a key figure in the development and popularization of audio- and videotape.
* He started the first celebrity/pro-amateur golf tournament, which raised millions of dollars for charity over the years.
After Bing's death in 1977, his reputation diminished to the point that he was almost forgotten, or simply dismissed, in part due to a hyped-up hatchet job of a book by his eldest son. This straightforward, factual effort by Giddins has begun to turn the tide back in Bing's favor. Since the publication of this essential work, a reassessment of Bing Crosby's life and career has taken place in many circles. A scholarly conference entitled "Bing Crosby and American Culture" was held at Hofstra University in 2002, and last year his alma mater, Gonzaga University, celebrated the centennial of his birth with a three-day event.
Giddins understands that to know about Bing Crosby is to know about American culture from the 1930's through the early 1950's, because Bing WAS American culture during those years. For that reason alone, this book is a must-read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderful Book - still waiting for volume II!
Comment: I, along with Candace Scott and David Lobosco (see below) am on the INTERNET BING CROSBY MUSEUM page, and invite you to join and do disccusion on the board thereon.
Now to the book:
First to that sourpuss writing from Mexico, the guy who complained of Bing's (here were go again) Bing beinbg a "MONSTER" ,writing that Bing had a bad family career-he'll get to that later, but it doesn't mean Bing was a bad guy--girl swooned over him like happened with no one else! Like a lot of biographers on the topic, and as has been said, Giddins first didn't care for Bing but wanted to give fans what they wanted, it it was Bing, and he WAS a major star then turned out a major fan, maybe the biggest. Which applies to THIS project--there is a second volume coming out (with Sinatra, World War II, White XMAS and other factors Bing afloat down the historical pike!Not to mention the Andrews Sisters legendary duets,either!!) Bing was THE original white jazz popularizer. Vocal OR Instrumentla.With Paul WHiteman's1920s Rhythm Boys (Harris Barris and Al Rinker, cowriter of ongs for Disney's first post-Walt flick, "ARISTOCATS"), Bing became a legend. In 1931 CBS's William S.Paley signed him to an exclusive radio contractr, a new label Decca's Jack Kapp (1900-1949) did he same for Bing Crosby for disc, and legendry film pioneer Adolph Zukor of Paramount Pictures, of course, for flicks. Of course Giddins covers trhe rest and we know the rest, which as they say is history-and as Paul Harvey says, we know the REST of the story.
Neither a critic nor a out and out "groupie" as such, Mr.Giddins, a famed VILLAGE VOICE jazz writer, has interesting things about the material of the man, and his thoughts, which sadly DO condescend toward Rudy Vallee and Nick Lucas, and other stars ofthe late 1920s. (One wonders hwther Vallee OR Crosby were the first crooners..)
I wait with baited breath for the NEXT volume.
If you're like a lot of people who THINK that they know their Bing---i.e., MINUTE MAID orange juice guy, amiable family guy on 1960s variety shows, White XMAS, Road trips, rock star David Bowie duet-ter, Andrews Sisters partner (but at least THERE ya gotta give him cedibility if you're a one of the growing swing fans..)....be prepared..be surprised..be fascinated. Vol.II hopefully will be out thsi yeaer, but I can't promise anything...
Rating: 3
Summary: When is..............
Comment: the sequel to this wonderful biography coming out??? Anyone know?
 |
Title: Call Me Lucky by Bing Crosby, Pete Martin, Gary Giddins, As told to Pete Martin ISBN: 0306810875 Publisher: DaCapo Press Pub. Date: November, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
 |
Title:Bix 'N' Bing ASIN: B000001HF2 Publisher: Asv Living Era Pub. Date: 20 April, 1994 List Price(USD): $11.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $10.99 |
 |
Title:Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 to 1957 ASIN: B000002OPK Publisher: Mca Pub. Date: 28 September, 1993 List Price(USD): $59.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $53.99 |
 |
Title: Bing Crosby-Crooner of the Century by Richard Grudens, Kathryn Crosby ISBN: 1575792486 Publisher: Celebrity Profiles Inc Pub. Date: 05 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
 |
Title:Fun with Bing & Louis (1949-1951) ASIN: B0000017DO Publisher: Jasmine Music Pub. Date: 09 December, 1997 List Price(USD): $15.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $15.98 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
