When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (album)

{{Infobox album

| name = When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: A Collection of Old and New Songs of Erin

| type = compilation

| artist = Bing Crosby

| cover = When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (album).jpg

| alt =

| released = 1952

| recorded = 1947–1951

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Popular

| length = {{duration|m=23|s=21}}

| label = Decca

| producer =

| chronology = Bing Crosby

| prev_title = Bing and Connee
(w/ Connie Boswell)

| prev_year = 1952

| next_title = Themes and Songs from The Quiet Man
(w/ Victor Young)

| next_year = 1952

}}

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a Decca Records album by Bing Crosby of songs with an Irish theme. It was issued as a 10” LP as catalog No.DL 5403.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=http://www.discogs.com/Bing-Crosby-When-Irish-Eyes-Are-Smiling/release/6515634|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} Some of the songs had earlier been issued as a 3-disc 45rpm set (9-89).{{cite web|title=45cat.com|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/nc604480us|website=45cat.com|accessdate=December 18, 2015}}

A later 12” LP version with the same title was issued in 1956 as DL8262 with a different selection of songs.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=http://www.discogs.com/Bing-Crosby-When-Irish-Eyes-Are-Smiling/release/4338774|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=December 18, 2015}}

Background

The maternal side of Crosby’s family had come from Ireland in the 19th century and he had grown up hearing traditional Irish songs. The first Irish song he recorded was “Did Your Mother Come from Ireland?” in 1940{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/crosby1bDecca.html|website=A Bing Crosby Discography|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} and from then on, songs related to the Emerald Isle were a regular part of his catalog. The success of an earlier Crosby album of Irish songs encouraged Decca to put together another album of similarly themed tracks. This included two new songs which were reviewed by Billboard{{cite magazine|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|date=March 24, 1951}} as follows:

St. Patrick’s Day Parade - Bing, in high spirits, turns on his winning Irish brogue for a sparkling etching of a new St Patty’s ditty of superior quality. Add another solid standard item to the lengthy Crosby list.

With My Shillelagh Under My Arm - Performance-wise, the same level of spirit and vigor is accomplished here but the song isn’t quite as strong as topside’s.