Bing Crosby and Bobbie Gentry - Okolona River Bottom Band
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2013
- Broadcast on the Hollywood Palace television show of 4 January 1969 this performance teams Bing Crosby and Bobbie Gentry on this great version of Okolona River Bottom Band. The song was written by Bobbie Gentry and appeared on her 1968 album, The Delta Sweete.
The final verse includes an interpolation of the song Mississippi Mud, which was a hit for young Rhythm Boy, Bing Crosby, in 1927.
Nice and smooth.
Bing really gets into the groove on this performance. As a 65 year old man, Bing is confronted with the challenge of singing with a modern and ultra-hip singer of the caliber of Bobbie and on her territory too ... not only is he to sing one of her compositions but he's to do it in a modern deep funky vibe sort of rock style. With the opening bars of the driving bass and punching trumpets you know that Bing is far removed from the comfort zone of his 20 greatest hits. Bobbie takes the lead with her so perfectly crafted super sultry singing voice ... and one wonders how Bing will raise to the challenges presented. We aren't left waiting long. Before Bobbie finishes her solo, Bing looking as jaunty as ever slides in some hummed notes and we know that the master is on his game and this is going to be something special. Bing opens his solo and what's immediately noticeable is that this is not his laid back and relaxing voice. This is a voice with drive and edge. It has sharpness and texture, range and resonance. It’s a voice that has been crafted through the ages. Bing easily assails the solo. He is confident and swinging hard. His complete mastery is on full display. The challenge will be the duet. Bing and Bobbie had never sung together before and Bing had no prior knowledge of this song and probably wasn't all that familiar with even the style of music. Bing rises to the challenge. Imperceptibly, he lets Bobbie take the lead and gives her full room to sing her song in her style. It's his job to fit in around her. He does this effortlessly by instinctively taking the harmony line in this driving rock song. It was a master stroke because it allowed the richness and complexity of the two singers' voices to complement and blend with each other so beautifully. Bobbie is the driving backbone of the song but the melding and dovetailing is all Bing. That's Bing's genius and that's what makes this song such a winner. Bing was able to bridge musical genres and the nearly 40 year age difference to make it work. Master singing! The interpolation of Bing's 1927 hit 'Mississippi Mud' could easily have been the ruin of the song but Bing handles the transition masterfully. 'Okolona' presents us with a magnificent performance by both singers and ranks as a triumph of Bing's later years. We are fortunate that this hidden treasure has been preserved.
Bing and Bobbie appeared together on another Hollywood Palace Show where they sang "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" ... which can be found here: ruclips.net/video/9VD3vIAJ5wI/видео.html
Another example is that Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. he could find himself in every song. I really like this performance. Two different people in terms of their singing style gave an amazing show. Bing looks amazing at 66.
They were EXCELLENT together.
Bing getting hip with one of the sultriest voices of the sixties. Bobbie is a groovy chick here.
Bing kept up with her better than i expected lol
Love it. My dad is a big fan of Bobbie Gentry, and so am I. This is one of my favourites.
They sound so good together
great song and beautiful bobbie gentry
Back when younger performers appreciated where they came from. A perfect blend of 19th Century by way of Depression-Era Croonerism plus late Aquarius Age songwriting. Only on late 1960's American TV could one see this. Today in 2023, there is no past. Only the present, and this too is now gone and "irrelevant." In the latter case, it is because it doesn't build upon the past. . . .
Thanks for posting this performance!
Two pros. Nice.
Absolutely love this.
so sick!!!
This is almost as weird as Crosby singing with David Bowie.
Bobbie should have taught Bing how to correctly pronounce/sing Kosciusko and Biloxi.
Kosciuosko?
She should have taught him how to pronounce Kosciusko before they did this song!
Wonderful, but not quite as good as her original version. Bing Bings it, which removes the deep vibe from it a bit.