[78-L] the Road less traveled

[Rodger Holtin]

Recently picked up a copy of Bing Crosby singing "The Road to Morocco" on Decca 18514 (June 10, 1942).  This is not the more familiar one with Bob Hope on Decca 4000 (recorded 1944).

This solo effort seems like it was recorded before the film was made, or at least before it was finished.  The lyrics are almost totally different from the duet with Hope, which more accurately reflected the banter on the film.  Indeed, look the internet over for the lyrics (hundreds of sites posting lyrics, it seems) and the only version I found was the duet (including all the ad-lib chatter).  The words on the solo version seem rather dangerous to our ears today: "you can be the kidnapped girl and I can be the sheik" would certainly not pass the political-correctness cops today.  Been a while since I saw the movie, but I don't remember him singing anything like this to Dorothy, as these words would seem to further the story.  This is the first copy of the solo I've ever seen, vs lots of the duet.  Anybody else found one of these?  I can't imagine any Crosby record of the early 1940s being scarce, but this would be seem to be a possible
 candidate.  I've surely never seen it reissued (duet with Hope many times).  The band seems to enjoy this one more, too.  Well worth finding.  This is why we collect 78s.
 
Rodger


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