Alright, let’s dive into this gem of an album—Ol’ Man River In A Little Spanish Town by Bing Crosby with The Buddy Cole Trio. It’s jazz, baby, but not the kind that tries too hard to impress you. This one sneaks up on you like a lazy Sunday morning where everything just feels… right.
First off, shoutout to Brunswick for putting this out in the UK. The vibe? Smooth as melted butter on warm toast. Now, there are only two tracks here—“In A Little Spanish Town” and “Ol’ Man River”—but man, do they pack a punch. Let’s break it down.
“In A Little Spanish Town” hits you first, and oh boy, does it stick around. There’s something about how Bing delivers those lines—it’s like he’s whispering secrets from another time. You can almost picture cobblestone streets bathed in golden sunlight while guitars strum softly in the background. The Buddy Cole Trio adds this subtle layer of cool; their piano work is so smooth it feels like sliding your hand across silk sheets. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to get lost in a little Spanish town after hearing this?
Then we’ve got “Ol’ Man River,” which is basically legendary at this point. But here’s the thing—Bing makes it his own. His voice carries this weight, this raw honesty that pulls you in deep. He doesn’t scream or shout; nope, he lets the words sit heavy in the air, letting them sink into your soul. And when the trio joins in, it’s like the river itself starts flowing through the song. You feel its strength, its patience, its endless journey forward. Honestly, every time I hear it, I’m reminded why classics never fade—they’re timeless because they hit different every single time.
Now, sure, the album’s short—just two tracks—but sometimes less really is more. These songs don’t need bells and whistles to grab your attention. They’re confident enough to stand alone, unapologetically themselves. That’s rare these days, isn’t it?
Here’s the kicker though—after listening to this record, I couldn’t help but think: what if Ol’ Man River met that Spanish Town? Would they swap stories under the stars? Maybe share a laugh over how life keeps moving whether you’re ready or not? Weird thought, yeah, but hey, music does that to ya. It plants seeds in your brain that grow into wild, unexpected ideas.
So yeah, give this one a spin if you haven’t already. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself daydreaming about rivers and towns long after the last note fades away.
