Return to Paradise Islands

Return to Paradise Islands
Studio album by Bing Crosby
Released	1964 (1964)
Recorded	1963 (1963)
Genre	Vocal pop
Label	Reprise
Bing Crosby chronology
Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre (1963) Return to Paradise Islands (1963) Bing Crosby Sings the Great Country Hits (1963)

Return to Paradise Islands is a long-playing vinyl album of Hawaiian themed songs recorded by Bing Crosby for Reprise Records (R-6106) at three separate sessions (August 21, October 16 and December 9) in 1963. The tracks were arranged by Nelson Riddle who also conducted the orchestra.^[1]

The album was re-released on CD by Collectors' Choice Music (CCM 2105) in 2010 after being remixed from the original three track master tapes by Robert S. Bader of Bing Crosby Enterprises.

Reception

Billboard reviewed the album saying "Bing turns on the charm again. This 1964 version of Der Bingle is calm, relaxed and very much in tune with this South Seas material. The tunes, for the most part, are out of the usual standard fare. Nelson Riddle’s backings are fruitful and are certainly enough to make the old master and his vocal backings sway in the breeze. “Adventures in Paradise” is a fine middle of the road programming track."^[2]

In the UK, the Gramophone liked it. "Bing Crosby seems to be holding back deliberately in his collection of Hawaiian-tinged songs on Reprise R6106, for he projects without any effort at all, just as he has always done during the last thirty-eight years."^[3]

Also in the UK, the New Musical Express was even more enthusiastic commenting: "A four star album...With a luxury orchestral backing from Nelson Riddle, the “Old Groaner” shows he is indeed the Peter Pan of recordland. Here he warbles, relaxed and deep throated as ever, a dozen Hawaiian songs. And Bing is one singer you can hear when a vocal group is accompanying. Well done Bing."^[4]

Track listing

SIDE ONE

1. ”Return to Paradise” (Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington) - 3.21
2. ”The Hukilau Song” - 2.16
3. ”The Old Plantation” (David Nape, Mary Montano, J. R. Shannon) - 3.48
4. ”Lovely Hula Hands" (R. Alex Anderson) - 2.56
5. ”Love and Aloha" (Johnny Blaisdell) - 3.19
6. “Keep Your Eyes on the Hands" (Tony Todaro, Mary Johnston) - 2.46

SIDE TWO

1. ”Adventures in Paradise" (Lionel Newman, Dorcas Cochran) - 3.18
2. ”Frangipani Blossom” (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) - 2.51
3. ”Forevermore" (Charles E. King, Milt Raskin) - 3.25
4. ”Farewell My Tane" (August Goupil, Richard Gump, Johnny Noble) - 3.59
5. ”Beautiful Kahana" (Mary Montano, Charles E. King) - 3.45
6. "Home in Hawaii (King's Serenade)" (Charles E. King, Paul Francis Webster) - 3.09

References