How the West Was Won
Studio album by
Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney
Released1960
RecordedJuly 1959
Length1:23:15
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerSimon Rady
Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney chronology
Say One for Me
(w/ Debbie Reynolds and Robert Wagner)
(1959) 		How the West Was Won
(1960) 		Join Bing and Sing Along
(1960)

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

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."[3]

Track listing

Side one
No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) Time
Exploring the Wild New Land
1. "Shenandoah" Chorus & orchestra Traditional 0:45
2. "Extract from Carl Sandburg" Bing Crosby Carl Sandburg 0:50
3. "Bound for the Promised Land" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:34
4. "En Roulant Ma Boule 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 Carl Sandburg 1:54
Travellers of the Great Plains
8. "Crossing the Plains" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney John A. Stone 2:23
9. "Buffalo Boy" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:38
10. "Sweet Betsy from Pike" Rosemary Clooney John A. Stone 1:53
11. "Ox Driving Song" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:45
12. "Will You Go Out West with Me Sam Hinton Traditional 1:35
Side two
No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) Time
Ranchers and Indian Raiders
1. "Buffalo Gals" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney John Hodges 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 Traditional 1:25
6. "Green Grow the Lilacs" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 2:54
The Great Gold Rush Days
7. "A Ripping Trip" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:31
8. "What Was Your Name in the States" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:31
9. "California Ball" Rosemary Clooney Traditional 2:10
10. "When I Went Off to Prospect" Bing Crosby John A. Stone 1:44
11. "Lane County Bachelor" Sam Hinton Frank Baker 1:34
12. "Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)" Bing Crosby Francis D. Henry 2:46
Side three
No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) Time
The Railroads
1. "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill" Jack Halloran Singers Thomas Casey, Charles Connolly 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
4. "Billy the Kid" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:44
5. "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me!" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:58
6. "Jesse James" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:55
Settlers and Civilization
7. "Skip to My Lou" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:30
8. "Crawdad Song" The Tarrytown Trio Traditional 1:31
9. "Careless Love" Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:45
10. "Hell in Texas" Sam Hinton Traditional 2:26
11. "Jennie Jenkins" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:53
Side four
No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) Time
Cowboys - The Last Frontiersmen
1. "Streets of Laredo" Bing Crosby Frank H. Maynard 2:54
2. "Down by the Brazos" Sam Hinton Traditional 2:05
3. "Git Along, Little Dogies" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:19
4. "Buckskin Joe" Bing Crosby Jimmie Driftwood 2:06
5. "Red River Valley" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:06
The Mormons
6. "The Handcart Song" The Deseret Mormon Choir John D. T. McAllister 2:06
7. "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning" The Deseret Mormon Choir W. W. Phelps 2:29
8. "Come, Come, Ye Saints" The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir William Clayton 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

  1. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "BING THE RECORDING STAR". Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Billboard". March 21, 1960. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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