Released 1957 Artist Bing Crosby Genre Pop | Recorded 1955-1956 Release date 1957 Label Hallmark Records | |
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New Tricks
(1957) Fancy Meeting You Here
(1958) Similar On the Happy Side, Favorite Hawaiian Songs - V, Victor Herbert Melodies, Favorite Hawaiian Songs - V, Selections from Road to Rio | ||
New Tricks was Bing Crosby's eighth long-playing album and sixth vinyl LP for Decca Records, originally released in 1957 as number DL-8575.
Contents
New Tricks featured twelve standards recorded between August 1955 and August 1956 for Crosby's daily CBS radio show with a trio led by Crosby's regular pianist Buddy Cole. They were mastered for LP release in May 1957.
Crosby's earlier Decca LP Some Fine Old Chestnuts (1954) similarly features songs recorded for radio accompanied by Cole.
The album was first issued on CD in 1990 by Decca in Japan No. 25P2 2833. In 1998 it was included in a twofer CD called "Some Fine Old Chestnuts & New Tricks" issued by MCA Records No. MCLD19377.
Reception
Record producer, Ken Barnes, wrote: "While Bing broke no new ground with this album of oldies—accompanied by Buddy Cole’s trio—it was clearly something he enjoyed doing. The songs are all good—‘When I Take My Sugar to Tea’, ‘Avalon’, ‘Chicago’ and an outstanding ‘On the Alamo’ to name but four, and Bing puts it all across with great style. Cole plays his customary tasteful piano—his occasional excursions on to organ, however, only serve to point out how much better electronic organs sound today. This is a pity, because Cole had a considerable technique. Not a classic Crosby album by any means but a pleasant one, certainly.
The jazz historian Will Friedwald describes New Tricks as "swingingly successful," adding that "its cover - a very Bingish basset bearing a Crosby-style pipe, hat, and even eyes - had won listeners over even before they dug into the disc."
Personnel
Buddy Cole (musician) (piano); Vince Terri (guitar); Don Whitaker (bass); Nick Fatool (drums)
Songs
1When I Take My Sugar To Tea3:00
2On The Alamo2:56
3I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)3:44