Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love (1968 version)
Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love is an LP set issued in both mono and stereo formats by a mail-order firm, The Longines Symphonette Society, an educational service of the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company. A similar LP set had been issued in 1966, see Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love, and this updated version had a total of thirty-six Bing Crosby vocals. Background. Very similar to the 1966 set, this was a six-LP album comprising seventy-one tunes chosen by Bing Crosby. The  previous set had sixteen Crosby vocals and for this set he over-dubbed his voice to another twenty of the original orchestral tracks. The remaining tracks on the album were orchestral. On each side of all six LPs there were included three Crosby recordings and with the set there was an additional free "souvenir" LP ("Bing Crosby's All Time Hit Parade") which consisted of 1930s and 1940s recordings by Crosby. The cost in the UK was £7.18.6d plus 8/6d postage and payment for it could be made in monthly instalments of £1 for seven months plus a  final payment of 18/6d. The director of the Society, Mishel Piastro, described as "Dean of American conductors, famed violin virtuoso and leader of the sessions" seemed, implicitly, to be the conductor of the orchestra and such was assumed until several years later when the popular British conductor and arranger Geoff Love revealed that he had made the arrangements and orchestral recordings in England. Crosby over-dubbed his voice later at Coast Recorders, San Francisco. Reception. Ralph Harding writing in the fanzine "The Crosby Collector" said: "I have played and replayed all these tracks and paid particular attention to the 'new ' and previously unissued tracks. The recording is excellent and quite up to the standard of the first 16 sides on the first Longines album issue. Without a doubt, they have captured a very pleasant and happy balance. No real complaints in this direction. And it would be impossible to choose any one side that towers above all. Each and every track is good and excellent Bing. Crosby appears perfectly at home on these oldies - 'standards' if you like - because they occupy a firm niche in any catalogue." Track listing. - all orchestral tracks except where marked "(sung by Bing Crosby)". Bing  Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love LWS 343 - SIDE ONE LWS 343 - SIDE TWO LWS 344 - SIDE ONE LWS 344 - SIDE TWO LWS 345 - SIDE ONE LWS 345 - SIDE TWO LWS 346 - SIDE ONE LWS 346 - SIDE TWO LWS 347 - SIDE ONE LWS 347 - SIDE TWO LWS 348 - SIDE ONE LWS 348 - SIDE TWO Bing Crosby's All Time Hit Parade (1968 version) (LWS 349) SIDE ONE SIDE TWO