Bing - His Legendary Years 1931-57 [4 CD Box Set];

Bing Crosby was a laidback swinger, and this four-CD box spends a fair amount of its time reminding us of an era when the emphasis was as much on the swing as on the lazy-lidded attitude. Never as angst-ridden as Sinatra could be, and consequently not as multilayered, Crosby is nonetheless not a singer to be missed. The quarter century surveyed here includes cultural touchstones ("White Christmas," "Don't Fence Me In") and obscurities. All deserve to be heard by fans of the American song book and stylish performances. --Rickey Wright