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)
"The American Flag", (
Joseph Rodman Drake), recorded December 17, 1945 by Brian Donlevy with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Columbus", (
Joaquin Miller), recorded December 17, 1945 by Brian Donlevy with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
Disc 2: (40031)
"Barbara Frietchie", (
John Greenleaf Whittier), recorded January 23, 1946 by Agnes Moorehead with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers", (
Felicia Dorothea Hemans) recorded January 23, 1946 by Agnes Moorehead with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Warren’s Address to American Soldiers (June 17, 1775) (
John Pierpont) /
Concord Hymn" (
Ralph Waldo Emerson), recorded November 1, 1944 by Walter Huston with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
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)
"The American Flag", (
Joseph Rodman Drake), recorded December 17, 1945 by Brian Donlevy with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Columbus", (
Joaquin Miller), recorded December 17, 1945 by Brian Donlevy with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
Disc 2: (40031)
"Barbara Frietchie", (
John Greenleaf Whittier), recorded January 23, 1946 by Agnes Moorehead with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers", (
Felicia Dorothea Hemans) recorded January 23, 1946 by Agnes Moorehead with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]
“Warren’s Address to American Soldiers (June 17, 1775) (
John Pierpont) /
Concord Hymn" (
Ralph Waldo Emerson), recorded November 1, 1944 by Walter Huston with Victor Young and His Orchestra.[3]