Holiday Inn, Plus a New Year's Bonus

I recently heard a CD of the songs from the 1942 film Holiday Inn that sounded awful. It's a famous film and score, so I decided to produce my own version of the set working from the original 78s. I think it shows off Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire to much better effect than the other edition I heard.

In addition to Bing and Fred's contributions, David Federman has left us another holiday gift in the form of a New Year's compilation.

Holiday Inn

A copy of the Holiday Inn 78 set resides in my basement, but it was easier and quicker to make use of the lossless transfers that I found on Internet Archive. The results to me are pleasing, although perhaps predictably "White Christmas" has more surface noise than the other tracks. (I checked all four of the transfers of the 1942 recording that IA had available.) While you may find quieter transfers, this version is well-balanced and satisfying. The sound on the other tracks is generally excellent.

Most of the songs in Irving Berlin's score are themed to the year's holidays, and almost all are delightful. The exception is the "Abraham" number that tried to honor Lincoln's birthday with a blackface routine. The performance in the album is not as objectionable as the film, with its minstrel show scenario, but the record still includes stereotypical language that even then was considered racist.

Most of the songs in the album are sung by Crosby, with Astaire taking over for "I Can't Tell a Lie" and "You're Easy to Dance With." Bing and Fred split "I'll Capture Your Heart," aided by Margaret Lennart, standing in for the film's Virginia Dale. The backings are split between the bands of John Scott Trotter and Bob Crosby.

Bing, Marjorie Reynolds, Fred, and Virginia Dale

I imagine many of you will have a copy of this album, but if you don't, please enjoy this memorable score, but maybe leave "Abraham" out of the playlist.

The download also includes many cleaned-up lobby cards, posters and other ephemera.

A New Year's Compilation

David F. has provided a long and satisfying compilation to greet the New Year: 39 tracks all chosen to represent three incarnations of the compiler: "Daves of New Years Past, Present and Future," he explains. "Hence I call this download, 'An End-Times New Years Carol.'"

As you listen, all three Daves have this New Year's wish for you: "Stay warm; stay safe; stay sound, and, the toughest wish, stay sane. Staying sober remains optional."