Our Common Heritage Explained

Our Common Heritage – Great Poems Celebrating Milestones in the History of America
Type:	studio
Artist:	Bing Crosby and others
Cover:	Our Common Heritage.jpg
Released:	Original 78 album: 194712” LP DL9072: 1959
Recorded:	1943–1946
Genre:	Poetry
Label:	Decca
Chronology:	Bing Crosby
Prev Title:	Selections from Welcome Stranger
Prev Year:	1947
Next Title:	El Bingo
Next Year:	1947

Our Common Heritage – Great Poems Celebrating Milestones in the History of America is a Decca Records album of phonograph records by various artists celebrating American ideals and patriotic themes. The album was edited, with notes, by Louis Untermeyer; original music and sound effects were composed by Victor Young and Lehman Engel with the Jean Neilson Verse Choir. Artists reading are Brian Donlevy, Agnes Moorehead, Fredric March, Walter Huston, Pat O'Brien, and Bing Crosby.^[1]

Reception

Howard Taubman, writing in The New York Times heralded the release of the album. “With considerable beating of the drums, Decca has issued an album called “Our Common Heritage” (eight 10 inch records). It contains sixteen poems commemorating “milestones in the history of America.” Jack Kapp, president of Decca is keynoting the campaign for this album [and writes] “Who else but Bing Crosby, who symbolises America to the world, should read The Star-Spangled Banner? And who else should make it a living experience, read as we believe Francis Scott Key felt it?” Who else, indeed? Unless of course, it should occur to you that you could read it for yourself....If it makes American ideals shine more brightly for them to hear Bing Crosby, Pat O’Brien and the others dramatize them, only a bounder would disagree with Mr. Kapp.”^[2]

Track listing

These songs were featured on an 8-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album No. A-536.

Disc 1: (40030)Disc 2: (40031)Disc 3: (40032)Disc 4: (40033)Disc 5: (40034)Disc 6: (40035)

Disc 7: (40036)Disc 8: (40037)

LP release

The album was re-released as a 12” LP (DL 9072) in 1959.^[3]

LP track listing

SIDE ONE

1. “Columbus"
2. "The American Flag”
3. “Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers"
4. "Barbara Frietchie"
5. "Paul Revere’s Ride"
6. "Paul Revere’s Ride"
7. “Warren’s Address to American Soldiers (June 17, 1775) / Concord Hymn"
8. "Hail Columbia"

SIDE TWO

1. “America”
2. “Sheridan’s Ride"
3. "The Star-Spangled Banner"
4. “Old Ironsides
5. "Nancy Hanks"
6. “Lincoln, Man of the People"
7. “O Captain! My Captain!"
8. "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Library of Congress. Library of Congress. September 12, 2015.
2. The New York Times. The New York Times. April 27, 1947.
3. Web site: DISCOGS. discogs.com. September 12, 2015.