Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star: The War Years, 1940-1946

by Gary Giddins

"The best thing to happen to Bing Crosby since Bob Hope," (WSJ) Gary Giddins presents the second volume of his masterful multi-part biography.

Bing Crosby dominated American popular culture in a way that few artists ever have. From the dizzy era of Prohibition through the dark days of the Second World War, he was a desperate nation's most beloved entertainer. But he was more than just a charismatic crooner: Bing Crosby redefined the very foundations of modern music, from the way it was recorded to the way it was orchestrated and performed.

In this much-anticipated follow-up to the universally acclaimed first volume, NBCC Winner and preeminent cultural critic Gary Giddins now focuses on Crosby's most memorable period, the war years and the origin story of White Christmas . Set against the backdrop of a Europe on the brink of collapse, this groundbreaking work traces Crosby's skyrocketing career as he fully inhabits a new era of American entertainment and culture. While he would go on to reshape both popular music and cinema more comprehensively than any other artist, Crosby's legacy would be forever intertwined with his impact on the home front, a unifying voice for a nation at war. Over a decade in the making and drawing on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented access to numerous archives, Giddins brings Bing Crosby, his work, and his world to vivid life -- firmly reclaiming Crosby's central role in American cultural history.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, History, Film, World War II

736 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Rick Riordan]

This is a biography I picked up for no apparent reason, as I had no special affinity for Bing Crosby or his music, and knew little about him other than his most famous song "White Christmas." Nevertheless, I found it strangely compelling. I also read the first volume of Giddins' set, "Pocketful of Dreams", and both books were well written and easy to follow.

I doubt there is a huge interest in the general readership for these books, but that in itself is one of the most relevant points Giddins highlights. Bing Crosby was by FAR the most popular and successful singer and actor in the United States for almost thirty years. He was Taylor Swift, the Beatles, Elvis Presley and every A-list actor you can think of, all rolled into one. He had the most recognizable voice in the world. He was the biggest cultural touchstone in America during the Depression and World War II. And yet here we are, just over fifty years after his death, and how many people remember him? It is a good reality check, and very humbling, to think how fleeting fame can be, and how quickly cultural amnesia erodes even the most powerful memories of past generations.

Whenever I read a good history book, I am reminded of how little changes from decade to decade. Really, nothing is new under the sun. Bing Crosby handled fame well, but he was not immune to all the things celebrities deal with today: stalkers, getting 'cancelled' (thanks to a few unfortunate quotes taken out of context), dealing with the impossible expectations of fans, balancing his private life and public life which really could not be separated. He cultivated a happy-go-lucky attitude, calling himself the "laziest man in Hollywood," but he worked incredibly hard and always had multiple projects going at once. He was a product of his times, definitely not perfect, but he was fascinating, multi-talented, and passionate about his fans and his art.

A few miscellaneous things that stood out to me: A quote from a historian named Fussell: "To understand the past, we must forget the present." In other words, we cannot judge another time period based on our own. We have to understand the people of the past based on the context in which they lived. I think there are qualifications and limits to that idea, but it's good to bear in mind.

Also, there was a mystery author during the 40s named Craig Rice (a woman) who was wildly popular and successful, the first mystery author ever to appear on the cover of TIME magazine. And now she is almost totally forgotten. I had never heard of her, and I wrote mysteries! I loved 1940s mysteries. How can a whole life and career just disappear like that? Again, it is humbling to consider, but it's also comforting in a strange way. There is only so much we can control. No matter how famous or successful we become, it doesn't really matter in the long run. It won't outlive us for long. The waves we make in the world are tiny, so perhaps, rather than focusing on fame and success, we should focus on living a good life and making others happy? Don't mind me, I'm just rambling....

At any rate, if you are interested in the first half of the 20th Century and American popular culture, this offers a really interesting window into that time period. It made me go back and listen to some of Crosby's music and watch some of his films. Some of it is incredibly dated, yes, but some of it holds up surprisingly well.

[Chris D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first volume of Giddins' biography of Bing Crosby, I was looking forward to reading the second installment. This did not disappoint, just as the first volume gave the reader a great comprehension of the complete man that was Crosby, this book continued the story as we follow Bing during World War II.

It covers his personal and professional life, Giddins tells us what made Crosby great and also gives us the entire man with wonderful access to letters and dictabelt recordings made by Bing which brings extra insight. Especially we see the impact Crosby made on the soldiers of World War II with his tours around the country and especially his overseas trip to the war zones.

Highly recommended for those interested in this twentieth century singer, actor and businessman.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong 4.5 stars and maybe more. Very readable, very interesting, and certainly comprehensive and detailed. I wondered at first if I really wanted this much detail about six years of Bing Crosby's life, but the presentation was so bright that it was not in the least bit tedious. Best of all, unlike some bios of celebrities, in one direction it didn't gloss over the warts and in the other it didn't seem to trade in unsubstantiated gossip. It was sympathetic and admiring without being sycophantic.

The Wall St. Journal review that got me interested in this wondered if very many folks who cared about Bing Crosby still were alive, or something to that effect. Can't answer that question, but this book has plenty to interest anyone who wants to know more about life during WWII, as Crosby was such an important factor in American culture. Hard to believe any celebrity today has as much impact in such a broad variety of fields -- broadcasting, recorded music, film, sports, business, and charity. We're talking about a man who was THE top star for many years and the man who, perhaps more than any performer, revolutionized the broadcasting business by pushing for prerecorded shows.

The book has good notes, tons of in-depth research and sourcing, many candid photos, and a giant bibliography that has added to my to-read list . . . as if it needed to get any longer.

I put aside all other reading to attack this, as I was the first one to get it from our local library and I feared I couldn't renew it. However, it took a while to read 1) because it's LONG but mostly 2) because I wanted to listen to as many songs as I could when they came up in the text. Thank you, YouTube and "MusicProf 78" (now called “The 78 Prof”) for making that possible. Nearly all songs referenced are available, and listening to them while reading about them was great fun. Now, I need to watch some of the movies -- may prove more difficult to track some of them down . . . black-face not being popular these days, don't ya know!

After returning the book to the library, I discovered that some of Crosby's radio shows over the years are available on Dumb.com's old-time radio site listed, strangely enough, in the "Comedy" (not "Variety") section under "Bing Crosby," not by the names of the shows, e.g., Kraft Music Hall. Sometime I may try to get the book again and listen to some of the shows referenced, although most were never recorded.

Two minor quibbles:

1) Giddins, a long-time writer on the music field, often uses technical music terms that were unfamiliar (to me) without then providing what I would call adequate explanation or context. Ok, thanks to the Wonderful World Wide Web I could look some of them up, e.g., "upper mordents" -- too bad it still didn't mean much to me. But at least I know that Bing had SUPER upper mordents on a good day.
2) Giddins also tossed in a few fairly gratuitous political remarks on occasion -- sorry, I didn't write down an example -- but it wasn't often and it didn't really detract from the total package. But gratuitous is gratuitous.

I'm not tempted to read Giddins's earlier volume in his long-running Bing biography, and I doubt I'd look up the next volume . . . if it ever comes out . . . but I really enjoyed this one.

11/28/23 update — watched the classic “Holiday Inn” over Thanksgiving (in color this time) and went back to this book to read about the film’s production. Very interesting. Learned that Fred Astaire rehearsed for two months before Bing broke a sweat. Also that the Negro newspapers complained about the use of the word “darkies” but not about the blackface.

12/4/update -- Listened to some of Bing's late-1944 Kraft Music Hall radio broadcasts (after his return from USO tour of European front), so went back to book and read section(s) dealing with his WW II experience, especially the USO tour and his correspondence with families of soldiers he had met. Extremely clear that Bing deserved to be the #1 star for many years, as he was.

[Judith McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Giddins has written a meticulously researched biography of one of the 20th century's finest singers, Bing Crosby. It is recommended that Volume I is read before "Swinging on a Star: The War Years 1940-1946" is read. This is not an authorized biography but has been written with the cooperation of the family of Bing Crosby and Mr. Giddins has had access to some fascinating archives. Highly recommended!

[Rich Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first book, ''Pocketful of Dreams,'' which carries us swiftly from Crosby's childhood to his early success, this is a rich tapestry of our culture, and for those of us who thought they knew something about Bing Crosby, a startling, moving revelation. As a singer myself who grew up beguiled by the beautiful voice, stylings and irresistible, easy going, jauntiness of the man, I am more deeply impressed than ever by his talent, versatility, and impact on our culture. The accounts of his World War 2 contributions are some of the most stunning in the book. This is a thoroughly engaging, deeply researched, totally honest exploration of a complex man, his art, and his era. I only wish the author, Gary Giddens, hadn't passed on before giving us a third volume, Bing's spectacular years in the 1950's, with ''High Society,'' ''The Country Girl,'' and 'White Christmas.''

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good work of non-fiction doesn’t require your interest in a subject. It requires a writer capable of making you interested in the subject. Gary Giddins is a terrific evangelist who never stoops to worship.

(Full disclosure: I’ve been waiting for this damn book for 16 years. It did not disappoint.)

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been looking forward to this book for 17 years, and it did not disappoint. I read it slowly, highlighting many passages along the way. I think there were two parts to the book that I especially enjoyed. The first was the behind-the-scenes look at the movie business in the 1940s. I really enjoyed the chapters that covered the making of movies such as Road to Morocco and Going My Way. The second was Crosby's tour through Europe during the war to cheer up the troops.

I try to take things from books like these, and two things about Crosby really stood out:

1. He was an incredibly hard worker, and if there is any lesson to take from his example, it is always come to the job prepared. Most of his costars, and others who worked with him spoke of how hard he worked, but also how prepared he always was for whatever it is he was doing.

2. He maintained a sense of empathy that often brought him to tears, especially when visiting the men overseas during the war. He made sure it was the enlisted men who got the best seats at the shows, not the officers and general staff. To Crosby, the VIPs were the men on the front lines. He answered so many letters himself, almost always with a surprising level of honesty and empathy for his correspondent.

Giddins did a marvelous job with this book. It was one of those books where the notes were just as fascinating as the main text, and I read the book with two bookmarks, one to hold my place in the text, the other for the notes so that I could more readily jump between. The level of detail is impressive. The first volume covered 1903-1939--a period of 36 years. This present volumes covers 1940-1946 inclusive and is at least as long as the first.

My only concern--a hope really--is that I don't have to wait another 17 years for a third volume. The next ten years (1947-1957) seems to me to be among the most productive of Bing's career, and includes additional Road movies, as well as classics like White Christmas and High Society. But I could find no hint of a third volume in the concluding pages of the book. Here's hoping it comes soon!

[Gary Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent follow up, 17 years later, to volume one. That book covered 36 years. This volume, equally long, covers six years! But they are crucial years in the life of our country as well as the life of this great entertainer. I just hope the wait is shorter for volume three.

[Pamela]

Just as much a history of arts and entertainments in the 40s as a biography of Bing Crosby.

[Sally Monaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding follow up to Volume I. Gary Giddins out did himself with this incredibly well-researched and well written book. I very much appreciate Gary putting to rest all of the "he was so cold and unfriendly" portrayals of Bing. Gary recites numerous co-stars, fans, and WWII vets and families, all of whom found Bing to be funny, warm, friendly, generous, sincere, and unfailingly kind. It made me cry to learn that he answered every letter from every fan, and took particular pains to track down families of soliders he met while touring battlefields.

Now, I have to go back and re-watch all of the Road movies, Going My Way, and Blue Skies. I watch Holiday Inn and Bells of St. Mary's all of the time, anyway. And, I have to listen to a lot of the songs, while reading Gary's discussion of each song. I really disagree with Gary's assessment of I'll Be Seeing You. He trashes it, and it's really one of my favorite Bing songs. I also disagree with the assessment that Frank Sinatra better conveyed the mood or feeling of the song. I much prefer all of Bing's versions of songs that they both recorded BECAUSE I think Bing tells the story and conveys the feeling much better. To me, Frank's versions are almost exclusively about the band and the music, not the words.

Highly recommended for fans of Bing, those interested in Hollywood during WWII, or those interested in WWII itself.

[Jay Gabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most moving revelation of Giddens's detailed accounts is that the scene depicted in White Christmas, with Crosby crooning "White Christmas" to exhausted troops on a makeshift stage with gunfire erupting all around, wasn't too far from the truth. No wonder the song earned a unique place in American culture. I reviewed Swinging on a Star for The Current.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second volume in what will hopefully be a three volume biography of bestselling entertainer ever. His Christmas album, Merry Christmas, is the second bestselling Christmas album, right behind Elvis Presley's. Crosby has had more number one selling singles, top ten singles and Top 40 singles than any other group or singer in history, including the Beatles or Elvis.

As the title says, this covers the war years of 1940 to 1946. Crosby often said he was the laziest man in Hollywood. But the truth is he was a savy businessman, accutely aware everything that going on around him, and worked hard, almost a work-aholic. During the time period here, he was under contract to Paramount Studios and usually made three films a year--sometimes more--in addition to his weekly radio show--the Kraft Music Hall--and his recordings at Decca records. Add into that his part-ownership in the Del Mar Race Track, owning several races horses, and multiple other business ventures. And when the war came he added touring to sell war bonds to his already busy schedule, and a USO tour of Europe. A South Pacific tour was planned but became pointless with the surrender of Japan in August 1945.

Giddins is one of the premier jazz critics in the country, as well as respected biographer who has also written definitive biographies of Charlie Bird and Louis Armstrong.

Giddins dives deep into Crosby's life and gives an honest look at one of the most beloved entertainers of his era, and perhaps in America ever. Besides looking at Bing's films and musical career, he also looks at Bing's home life, with his four sons and wife Dixie. He honestly looks at accusations of Bing as an abusive parent (mostly exaggerations), Dixie's alcoholism (ironically Bing dried up for her when they first met). Giddins also presents Crosby's ranch near Elko, Nevada. He kept it as a working ranch, with cowhands, not a dude ranch. It was his place to escape Hollywood, the streeses of his marriage. He also sent his boys to the ranch every sumer, to work, once they were old enough, and he paid them for their time there.

Giddins' critical eye and ear gives the reader a look into recording sessions and an honest appraisal of the results of those sessions. He also gives a critic's turn at Crosby's movies as well: the three Road Shows with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour made during this period. Most importantly perhaps his two most influential movies: Holiday Inn where he introduced Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Going My Way, which got Bing his only Oscar, for best actor., and established him as Father O'Malley.

Giddins also shows you the world Crosby worked in, showing all the directors of his films, the band leader on his radio show, and his song writers, co-stars, all shaped and influenced the world he moved and worked in.

It always takes me longer to work my way through biographies, even if they are dealing in the actual real world, rather than the fictional worlds of thrillers, science-fiction or fantasy. But I don't begrudge the two months it took me to read this book. Crosby has been a favorite performer--movies and music--of mine since I was a teen. I appreciated the chance to dive deeper into this world.

Giddins presents Crosby as a talented and savvy businessman, and performer in a real light, a saint by no means at all, but not an ogre or monster either.

[Bradthad Codgeroger]

I did not finish this book because it is about Bing's Hollywood career and not his musicianship, but I can't figure out how to remove something from my Currently Reading list. Anyway, Volume One is way better.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the singers from the golden age of the Great American Songbook. I've read biographies of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Johnny Mercer, Bobby Darin, Bob Hope (okay he's not remembered as a singer but you'd be surprised which well known songs were first sung by him). I was always curious as to why there didn't seem to be a current biography of the most influential of all singers from the beginning of the microphone era - Bing Crosby.

I was pleased to find this book at the library and can understand why it only covers a seven year period. There is a lot to the Bing Crosby story. The author previously wrote a book covering Crosby's life from his birth in 1903 until 1940. My guess is that he will write another book or two to finish the Crosby story. It may be a while, there is a nine year gap between the first two books.

While most everyone recognizes Bing Crosby as the singer who sings White Christmas and many other perennial holiday tunes, those same people would be surprised to know that Crosby was the highest paid entertainer of the 1940's. He was a top draw at the movies, outselling legends like Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and Gary Cooper. He sold more records than any other singer. His weekly radio program was the top rated in the country.

Apart from covering his movie, song, and radio work, this book also covers the extensive work Crosby did for the war effort. His war bond tours sold what would be the equivalent of billions of dollars today. On a weekly basis he was entertaining troops all over the country. He regularly visited military hospitals to speak with and sing to the wounded. In the fall of 1944 he went to England and France to entertain the troops. One day when his driver got lost, he even ended up behind enemy lines for a short while until he realized where he was and quickly turned back. He made an effort to write back to any servicemen or families who wrote to him.

He was married to a wife with a bad drinking problem and his heavy work load took him away from his four boys more than he'd like. He was a tough disciplinarian and his son Gary wrote a damaging book about his father after he died (he had to add the negative stuff because the publisher didn't want the original version that did not have it). His other sons did not share the criticism of their upbringing. (Although sadly, two would commit suicide as adults).

After completing this book, I have more appreciation and insights for the movies he made and the songs he recorded that remain highly listenable to this day. I think modern audiences can enjoy his movies (especially the Road pictures) and his extensive musical library which is easily accessible on Spotify and YouTube.

Thanks Gary Giddins for writing an excellent, much needed biography.

[Michael Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5. I find it very sad that Bing Crosby's place in the popular memory has dimmed so much in recent decades. Crosby was THE preeminent entertainer from the Jazz Age to the Rock 'n Roll Era. He dominated every medium, from radio to records to movies. Yet today he is remembered mostly as the guy who sings 'White Christmas' every December. This excellent, exhaustively researched and detailed bio chronicles Bing's unparalleled career as it reached its zenith during the years of World War II. Also detailed is the important role Crosby played in bringing black music and performers to the forefront of American entertainment, and his tireless work to support Allied troops and to raise the morale of the folks back home. An extraordinary book about an amazing performer who deserves a permanent place in the pantheon of American entertainment with Will Rogers, Al Jolson and other giants.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a tedious biography and this was definitely one of them. I read part one, A Pocketful of Dreams, seventeen years ago. This is part two which covers the war years. Excellently written, intensely detailed, and fascinating to read. It covers Bing’s life and career during the years of 1940 to 1946. He was it during those years. Recording artist, radio host, movie star, and troop entertainer - he did it all and did it well.

[Frederic · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent second volume of the monumental biography by Giddins which also serves as a fascinating look at the home front during WWII...

[Marc Posner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. There’s a lot more to this guy than White Christmas and Fr. O’Malley

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary, I can't wait another 17 years for the next one.

[Phil Atteberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece, but it’s not for everyone. It’s almost 600 pages of small print, with about 70 pages of notes, many of which need to be read carefully because they contain interesting supplementary information. Unless you have a strong interest in Bing Crosby and American popular culture from 1940 to 1946, reading this book requires more time and effort than you will want to invest.

However, if you are interested in the topic, this book is not to be missed. It is not just the second volume of a Bing Crosby biography (the first volume was published in 2001), it is an exploration of American popular and entertainment culture during the early and mid 40’s. The book discusses the evolution of popular recordings and the rise of Decca records, the evolution of the movie industry and the role the entertainment industry played in the war effort. At the center of these discussions is how Bing Crosby both shaped and reflected American values and attitudes during these years.

Most impressive about the book is the thoroughness of the research and quality of the source material. In addition to hundreds of interviews, the author draws upon many sources that have heretofore been unknown. Bing Crosby’s widow, Kathryn, who is in her mid 80’s, has been sitting on a treasure trove of Bing Crosby documents for decades. She has refused writers and scholars access to these because she has been unhappy with the quality and accuracy of material written about Bing since his death. However, after reading volume one of Giddins’ biography (A Pocketful of Dreams), Kathryn gave Giddins access to all this material, which included much correspondence, the dictabelts used to record Bing for his 1953 autobiography and a particularly interesting diary he kept while in France during the war (something no one knew even existed until now). All of these sources and more enable Giddins to write a balanced, insightful and fascinating book about Bing Crosby during the War years. I await the next volume with anticipation.

[Mark Luebker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume of Gary Giddins' biography--"Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams-the Early Years, 1903-1940"--was the best biography I'd ever read: meticulously researched, a wealth of detail, and engagingly written. It was a tough act to follow, but "Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star: The War Years, 1940-1946" does all of that and more.

It's an even more intimate look at Bing Crosby and his family this time around--Giddins got direct access to Bing's papers from his wife Kathryn--and the wealth of detail and color that info adds is amazing. I'm not sure whether the addition played a part in the shorter span of years this volume covers, but these years were arguably Bing at the peak of his powers and his popularity, so there's a lot to tell.

Giddins doesn't skimp--this volume clocks in at 768 pages (including notes and appendices)--and he tells the stories well. Bing's first wife's decline into alcoholism and depression unfolds throughout the book, as does Bing's increasingly successful professional partnership with Bob Hope. There's plenty of behind-the-scenes information about some of Bing's best-known movies and about some that aren't, and why. The tales from his USO tour in England and Europe are fascinating and often poignant.

We meet (and get some close-ups of) other members of the Crosby clan, along with extended family and friends, contemporaneous musicians and actors, and music- and movie-industry movers and shakers. We get to see Bing through the eyes of some of the biggest names of the era, as well as fans (including some pretty serious ones!), the servicemen and women whose lives he touched, and via exchanges with the families of some of those who didn't make it home.

I carried this book around with me on my phone, iPad and even my laptop, reading bits whenever I could. It still took me a full month to finish it--hey, it's a busy time of year!--and I savored every minute. My sister is getting a copy for Christmas, and I've recommended it without reservation to anyone I think might be even a little interested.

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a modern perspective, Gary Giddens' wonderful, epic, history of The Old Groaner, Bing Crosby, almost constitutes the unearthing of a secret history of the nation. To see how little Der Bingle is considered these days leaves one in awe as Giddens' books unveil what amounts to arguably the most important entertainment career of the twentieth century and certainly the most popular entertainer of its first half.
Over the course of this second volume, Bingo from Bingtown continues to revolutionize how recording and radio broadcasting work, redefines the idea of being famous, hoists a bunch of other careers on his back and carries them (Ginny Sims, Mary Martin, Dinah Shore), wins an Oscar while increasing the upper ceiling of movie profits over and over, entertains the troops tirelessly, accidentally RETAKES A FRENCH TOWN FROM THE NAZIS (for a few minutes) and outsells everybody. All the while dealing with an extremely troubled home life and the constant threat of shifting musical trends.
Yes, this is the volume where we begin to deal with his son Gary's allegations of child abuse and no, the picture is neither clear or easy. There will surely be more on this in the third volume.
And this is the volume where he records the best selling single of all time.
And it's all fascinating.

[Alejandro Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary Giddins has been one of the greatest writers about music that you will encounter. You can read a column or his books about jazz and find yourself understanding music that you may have never heard. His fist volume on Bing Crosby did the same, especially when you consider the revolutionary role Bing had in modern music.

This second volume may disappoint those who expect more music analysis and history. Instead, Giddins focuses on the cultural impact of Crosby during a contentious time in our world's history. Because of the wonderful sources he has access to, Giddins spends a lot of time on the Crosby-Hope films and public interactions and the famous films of this era, most notably 'Going My Way' and 'The Bells Of St. Mary's' (as well as 'Holiday Inn' and 'Blue Skies' and a few other less important but interesting films, like 'Dixie'). He also takes you on Bing's trip to Europe in late 1944 to entertain Allied troops from England up to the front lines in France. It is a fascinating read and Giddins writes spectacularly well - keeping the reader engaged.

There is much less music analysis here but the rich content more than makes up for it. This is an important book to add to your U.S. history books of the Second World War era.

Highly recommended!

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Giddins' first Crosby bio years ago and loved it, after after just 50 pages into this one, I figured I'd give it 5 stars here. But, as this book covers five years (it goes just to the beginning of 1946) and is 700 pages (including references and notes), it winds up feeling like a bit of a slog through an unedited information dump. Especially trying is the long section on Crosby's 1944 USO tour through war-ravaged Europe--Giddins seems to report on virtually every show he did, and though I admire Crosby immensely for going through what he did to entertain American troops, the deep detail included here is truly wearying to go through. The same thing, to slightly lesser degree, happens with Giddins' coverage of Crosby's radio appearances on Kraft Music Hall and his recording dates for Decca Records. Having said that, I have to admire the research that Giddins did, and I enjoyed the book overall, despite winding up skimming through chunks of it. It was almost 2o years between the first book and this one. I sure hope Giddins can speed up the process for the final book, and find some editors who will help him winnow things down.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second volume in Giddins' authoritative biography of Bing Crosby (the first is "Pocketful of Dreams", covering birth to 1940), the focus is on the years just prior to and just after World War II. In addition to creating some of his best recordings, Crosby continued near-weekly live hour long radio broadcasts, while making classic "Road" movies with Bob Hope, and his Oscar-winning performance in "Going My Way", followed a year later by his Oscar-nominated movie with the same character, "The Bells of St. Marys." If this was not enough, he crisscrossed the country multiple times drumming up war bond sales, entertaining troops, and visiting the wounded in hospitals. No wonder his wife was falling apart in his absence, though this was simply the progression of the path she had long been set upon. In his telling, Giddins covers details of the major recording sessions, and shows us behind-the-scenes in the filming of the movies. The portrait that emerges is of a brilliant, seemingly approachable man who really drew close to very few. Fascinating reading that makes you look forward to the third volume.

[Charles James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continue on from the excellent Pocketful of Dreams . I started reading this series on the basis that I knew little or nothing about one of the biggest stars of his era .The first book was an unexpected delight detailing his rise to fame and bad behaviour . This book is focused on a much shorter period and as a result seemed to take a while to get going . However it rewards to reader with a thoroughly well researched piece giving a good insight into his personal and professional trials and triumphs .

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

Easily one of the most comprehensive, felicitously written, exhaustively researched biographies of an entertainment personality (or anyone else) written in the last several years. Had been awaiting the second volume for many years, and now awaiting the third.
Thank you Mr. Giddings, for a wonderful reading experience, on a par with the Caro LBJ with whose delightful disquisitions this work shares pleasant and worthwhile similarities. I am capable of no higher praise.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and riveting account of Crosby in wartime, when he was transformed into a paragon of American virtue— and was in many ways at the peak of his powers, despite personal and professional tensions. Giddins is a masterful biographer, matching Bing’s own robust vocabulary and imaginative turns of phrase, balancing narrative with astute criticism and commentary. More compelling than the first (very good) volume, and worthwhile even if you’re not a Crosby diehard.

[Patrick Macke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bing is omnipresent during this period with songs and movies and overall productivity that boggles the mind ... a very enjoyable account, the only flaw being minute details that at times make it feel like a recounting of "everything I did every day of my life" ... still Bing is one of a kind and I dig him even more after reading this book

[Peter P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustive without being exhausting. Giddins has created a remarkable testimony to the impact of Bing Crosby in the "War Years" from 1940 - 1946. This is really intended for those with a great appreciation for Crosby, music, film and/or cultural and entertainment during that seminal period in American history. Loved it.