Ichabod – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow explained

Ichabod – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Type:Studio album
Artist:Bing Crosby
Cover:Ichabod_-_The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow_(Decca_album)_cover.jpg
Released:Original 78 album: 1949
Original LP album: 1949
Recorded:June 23, 1949
Genre:Children's
Length:13:09
Label:Decca
Chronology:Bing Crosby
Prev Title:Christmas Greetings
Prev Year:1949
Next Title:Top o' the Morning / Emperor Waltz
Next Year:1950

Ichabod – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby released in 1949 narrating the famous 1820 Washington Irving short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Background

Crosby had recorded the soundtrack for the "Ichabod" portion of the Walt Disney animated feature The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, which premiered in October 1949, and he recorded the story separately for Decca Records on June 23, 1949. The songs were written by Don Raye and Gene De Paul. Simon Rady was the director and Victor Young and His Orchestra provided the musical support.

Reception

Billboard reviewed the album, saying:

Combination of familiar elements should eliminate any sales-resistance to this package. There's Bing, Disney, Washington Irving, even a Victor Young score. As an actual kiddie special, the material doesn't match the Mr. Toad portion from the same cartoon feature. But for older children, this breezy, hip adaptation, and Bing's ditto projection should prove thoroughly winning. Portions of the songs are woven in, and adults too will find plenty of entertainment here. The package itself is attractive, and pictures together with portions of the tale are inside the folder. Also available as one side of an LP disking. Retail rating 86.[1]

Track listing

All songs were recorded on June 23, 1949,[2] written by Don Raye and Gene De Paul, directed by Simon Rady and featuring Victor Young and His Orchestra. The songs were featured on a 2-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album DAU-725 which was auto-coupled for ease of playing with a record changer.

Side Title Time
Disc 1: (40090)
A. "Ichabod" (Pt. 1) (includes song "Ichabod") 3:11
B. "Ichabod" (Pt. 2) (includes song "Ichabod") 3:23
Disc 2: (40091)
A. "Ichabod" (Pt. 3) (includes song "Katrina") 3:15
B. "Ichabod" (Pt. 4) (includes song "The Headless Horseman") 3:20

LP issue

The 1949 10" LP album issue[3] Decca DL 6001 consisted of DAU-725 (details above) on one side plus "Rip Van Winkle" narrated by Walter Huston on the other.[4] "Rip Van Winkle" was originally recorded on August 16, 1945[5] and issued as a 2-disc 78 rpm album No. DA-432[6] (with the records numbered 40003-4). The running time was 12 minutes 14 seconds and the music was supplied by Wilbur Hatch and His Orchestra. The directors were Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee.

Notes and References

  1. Billboard. Billboard. December 24, 1949.
  2. Web site: A Bing Crosby Discography. BING magazine. International Club Crosby. July 22, 2017.
  3. Web site: BSN Pubs. BSN Pubs.com. November 23, 2015.
  4. Web site: Discogs. Discogs.com. November 23, 2015.
  5. Web site: The Online Discographical Project. The Online Discographical Project. November 23, 2015.
  6. Web site: kiddierecords.com. kiddierecords.com. November 23, 2015.