Vaughn Monroe – The Vaughn Monroe Collection

The Vaughn Monroe Collection is designed expressly for listeners who want to go beyond the familiar hits and explore the breadth of Monroe’s recording legacy. Spanning 50 tracks across two discs, the set highlights the depth of his catalogue — from romantic ballads and novelty numbers to Western‑flavoured pieces, wartime favourites and lush orchestral showcases. It also shines a welcome light on the vocal groups and duet partners who helped shape the Monroe sound.

Disc One
The first disc opens with Whatever Happened to You and Under Your Window, immediately placing Monroe’s resonant baritone front and centre. His collaborations with Marilyn Duke add warmth and contrast on titles such as Requestfully Yours, Thumbs Up, One, Two, Three O’ Lairy and Doodle La Do Da.
The Moon Maids and Norton Sisters contribute their trademark blend to tracks like Just a Blue Serge Suit, Fishin’ for the Moon, Like We Used to Do, It’s Easy to Remember and There’s Music in the Land, enriching the arrangements with tight, period‑perfect harmonies.
Novelty and character pieces — Down in Chi Chi Hotcha Watchee, The Chocolate Choo‑Choo, Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long (with Ziggy Talent) — show Monroe’s lighter side, while selections such as Kokomo, Indiana, Because, Anniversary Song and My One Romance reveal his gift for romantic phrasing. The disc closes with atmospheric Western‑tinged material like The Phantom Stage Coach and A Little Golden Cross, plus the barroom‑flavoured The Beer I Left on the Bar.

Disc Two
The second disc continues the journey with Is It Love or Conscription, Hawaiian Sunset and Moonlight Masquerade, before moving into lively ensemble pieces such as The Window Washer Man (with Ziggy Talent and Marilyn Duke).
Sentimental ballads — Be Brave, Beloved, Something Sentimental, Just a Memory, If I Steal a Kiss — sit alongside playful numbers like Why Did I Teach My Girl to Drive. The Moon Maids return for If I Could Be the Sweetheart of a Girl Like You, Busy Doing Nothing and In My Dreams, while the Moon Men add their distinctive colour to A Little Golden Cross, Mule Train and Singing My Way Back Home.
The disc also includes Monroe’s evocative Ballerina, one of his most recognisable performances, alongside reflective pieces such as Roses for Remembrance, My Little Cousin and Our Very Own. The set closes with Violins From Nowhere, a fittingly atmospheric finale.

Altogether, The Vaughn Monroe Collection is a deep, rewarding exploration of Monroe’s artistry — a reminder of why his commanding voice, polished orchestra and distinctive musical personality made him one of the defining bandleaders of his era. It’s a set built for collectors, archivists and anyone who wants to hear Monroe far beyond the well‑worn hits.

Track Listing

Disc 1

1. Whatever Happened To You
2. Under Your Window
3. Requestfully Yours – with Marilyn Duke
4. Vesti La Giubba (Put On Your Clown’s Smock)
5. Just A Blue Serge Suit – with The Norton Sisters
6. Thumbs Up – with Marilyn Duke
7. Fishin’ For The Moon – with The Norton Sisters
8. Down In Chi Chi Hotcha Watchee – with The Norton Sisters
9. Like We Used To Do – with The Moon Maids
10. The Chocolate Choo – Choo – with The Moon Maids
11. One, Two, Three O’ Lairy – with Marilyn Duke
12. It’s Easy To Remember – with The Moon Maids
13. There’s Music In The Land – with The Moon Maids
14. Oh, Promise Me
15. Doodle La Do Da – with Marilyn Duke
16. Kokomo, Indiana – with The Moon Maids
17. Because
18. Anniversary Song
19. Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long – with Ziggy Talent
20. The Loveliness Of You
21. Bamboo – with The Moon Maids
22. My One Romance – with Marilyn Duke
23. The Phantom Stage Coach
24. A Little Golden Cross – with The Moon Men
25. The Beer I Left On The Bar

Disc 2

1. Is It Love Or Conscription
2. Hawaiian Sunset
3. Moonlight Masquerade
4. The Window Washer Man – with Ziggy Talent & Marilyn Duke
5. Be Brave, Beloved
6. Something Sentimental – with The Norton Sisters
7. Daddy – with Marilyn Duke
8. All At Once
9. So – o – o-o- o In Love – with Rosemary Calvin
10. No More Toujours L’ Amour – with The Norton Sisters
11. Just A Memory
12. If I Steal A Kiss
13. Why Did I Teach My Girl To Drive – with Ziggy Talent
14. My Isle Of Golden Dreams
15. If I Could Be The Sweetheart Of A Girl Like You – with The Moon Maids
16. Honey Dear – with Marilyn Duke
17. Busy Doing Nothing – with The Moon Maids
18. Ballerina
19. In My Dreams – with The Moon Maids
20. Roses For Rememberance
21. My Little Cousin – with Marilyn Duke
22. Mule Train – with The Moon Men
23. Our Very Own
24. Violins From Nowehere
25. Singing My Way Back Home – with The Moon Men