How the West Was Won was a 2-LP album recorded in July 1959 at United Recorders, Hollywood, for Bing Crosby's own company, Project Records. It was released by RCA Victor in 1960 and featured Crosby, Rosemary Clooney as well as other singers. The backing orchestra was conducted by Bob Thompson.
The records were issued with automatic couplings, i.e. LOP 6070-1 - sides 1 and 3, LOP 6070-2 - sides 2 and 4.
Reception Billboard liked the album, saying "This handsome set is sure to attract. The striking cover and informative booklet are perfect complements to the fine album contents which are interpreted by a stellar line-up of artists. The two-disk set offers a heap of Americana in narrated form. Strongest potential."
Track listing Side one No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) Time Exploring the Wild New Land 1. "Shenandoah" Chorus & orchestra Traditional 0:452. "Extract from Carl Sandburg" Bing Crosby Carl Sandburg 0:503. "Bound for the Promised Land" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:344. "En Roulant Ma Boule Roulant" Bing Crosby & Jack Halloran Singers Traditional 1:105. "Lupita Divina" Bing Crosby & The Tarrytown Trio Traditional 2:006. "The Sioux Indians" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:367. "Extract from Carl Sandburg" / "Shenandoah" Bing Crosby Carl Sandburg 1:54Travellers of the Great Plains8. "Crossing the Plains" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney John A. Stone 2:239. "Buffalo Boy" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:3810. "Sweet Betsy from Pike" Rosemary Clooney John A. Stone 1:5311. "Ox Driving Song" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:4512. "Will You Go Out West with Me Sam Hinton Traditional 1:35Side two No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) TimeRanchers and Indian Raiders 1. "Buffalo Gals" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney John Hodges 1:472. "General Custer" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:523. "All 'Pewtrified'" Bing Crosby Traditional 1:394. "Will You Come to the Bower" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:025. "Bile Them Cabbage Down" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:256. "Green Grow the Lilacs" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 2:54The Great Gold Rush Days7. "A Ripping Trip" Sam Hinton Traditional 1:318. "What Was Your Name in the States" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:319. "California Ball" Rosemary Clooney Traditional 2:1010. "When I Went Off to Prospect" Bing Crosby John A. Stone 1:4411. "Lane County Bachelor" Sam Hinton Frank Baker 1:3412. "Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)" Bing Crosby Francis D. Henry 2:46Side three No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) TimeThe Railroads1. "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill" Jack Halloran Singers Thomas Casey, Charles Connolly 1:262. "A Railroader's Bride I'll Be" Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:443. "Nine Hundred Miles" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:03Desperadoes4. "Billy the Kid" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:445. "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me!" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:586. "Jesse James" Jimmie Driftwood Traditional 1:55Settlers and Civilization7. "Skip to My Lou" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:308. "Crawdad Song" The Tarrytown Trio Traditional 1:319. "Careless Love" Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:4510. "Hell in Texas" Sam Hinton Traditional 2:2611. "Jennie Jenkins" Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney Traditional 1:53Side four No. Z Song Title Performer(s) Writer(s) TimeCowboys - The Last Frontiersmen1. "Streets of Laredo" Bing Crosby Frank H. Maynard 2:542. "Down by the Brazos" Sam Hinton Traditional 2:053. "Git Along, Little Dogies" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:194. "Buckskin Joe" Bing Crosby Jimmie Driftwood 2:065. "Red River Valley" Bing Crosby Traditional 2:06The Mormons6. "The Handcart Song" The Deseret Mormon Choir John D. T. McAllister 2:067. "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning" The Deseret Mormon Choir W. W. Phelps 2:298. "Come, Come, Ye Saints" The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir William Clayton 4:17
CD Bing's songs from the album were released on CD as Lillis, Love and a Little Covered Wagon (catalog number HLVCD-004). In 2007 the complete album was re-released on CD by Bear Family Records (BCD-16634-AR).
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