Bing Crosby - Bing Crosby Meets Al Jolson: The Complete Radio Duets (CD) - CD

Details: December 23, 1946 saw the historic first teaming in Hollywood of two founding fathers of 20th century popular music. Bing Crosby was recording his enormously successful radio show for new sponsor, Philco Radio, when out walked Al Jolson joining him in a rendition of "April Showers". The invited audience went wild. The show was broadcast 3 weeks later on January 15, 1947 to an incredible reception and attracted millions of listeners across the United States. Between December 1946 and April 1950 the two icons teamed up and performed on a further eleven shows - Jolson guested on ten Crosby shows and Crosby returned the favour twice. Collectively these twelve shows yielded over 40 duets (certain songs were repeated on more than one occasion) plus numerous solo performances from the two singers, many from the Great American Songbook. The final show was recorded 6 months before Jolson's death. Thankfully these shows were recorded on tape. These sessions have been re-mastered and edited on this 2 CD set to leave the complete duets (together on CD for the first time), some fine solo performances and a little cheerful banter.