Crosley, Doug - Let the Heartaches Begin

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Let the Heartaches Begin	03:18
	2	Where Would I Be	02:41
	3	Love Letters in the Sand	02:05
	4	The Last Waltz	03:16
	5	Everybody Knows	02:35
	6	Give Me Time	03:00

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	What Would I Be	02:36
	2	The Letter	02:04
	3	Goin' Home	03:19
	4	Any Way That You Want Me	02:52
	5	Edelweiss	03:03

Photos

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Information/Write-up

Canada’s smooth baritone and musical ambassador to television, stage, and record.

Doug Crosley was born in 1936 in Toronto and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, where his lifelong love of singing began in Sunday school and the St. Andrews church choir. While working at General Motors in the engineering department, he entered a local talent show and won over the crowd with “A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation).” That performance launched a professional career that would span more than four decades across Canada and the United States.

In the late 1950s, Crosley began appearing on national television, guesting on CBC programs such as Country Club, Holiday Ranch, Swing Easy, and The Canadian Hit Parade. By the early 1960s, he moved to Winnipeg to host Swing Along, a CBC television variety series. It was there he met his future wife, Jean (Gray), and began raising a family.

Crosley’s breakthrough in the U.S. came when he performed on The Bell Telephone Hour at the Brooklyn Theatre in New York City. This exposure led to a recording contract with RCA Victor, and in 1965 he released his debut LP New Star in Town, arranged by Jack Pleis, Charles Fox, and Marty Manning. The album showcased his romantic balladeer style and featured a blend of contemporary pop and American standards. His follow-up album, Let the Heartaches Begin (Arc AS 266), was released as part of the Arc Centennial Series and featured renditions of contemporary hits and originals.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Crosley remained a familiar face on both Canadian and American television. He made appearances on Juliette and Friends, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In the 1970s, he hosted his own nationally broadcast CBC series, The Doug Crosley Show, produced out of Winnipeg. He also emceed numerous industrial shows for General Motors and Chrysler across North America, further blending corporate performance with entertainment.

Crosley was also an accomplished stage actor, starring in lead roles in musical theatre productions including Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, and Brigadoon. His charisma and warmth made him a natural frontman, whether in the studio, on screen, or under the stage lights.

In addition to his commercial releases, Crosley contributed to several broadcast-only LPs produced by CBC Radio Canada. These include From CBC Toronto (LM 30), arranged by Doug Randle, and From CBC Toronto (LM 09) with the Pat Riccio Orchestra — both part of the rare LM series issued for internal broadcast use across the CBC network.

Later in life, Crosley continued to perform with big bands throughout the United States, particularly in Palm Springs and south Florida. He spent his summers in Lakefield, Ontario, overlooking Chemong Lake, with his longtime partner Mary Elliott. Even in his later years, friends recalled his voice as strong and emotive as ever, offering private concerts and musical storytelling to visitors.

Doug Crosley passed away on March 22, 2019, in Oshawa, Ontario, at the age of 83. He is remembered not only for his voice and poise, but for his generosity, humour, and enduring love of performance. His legacy lives on through his recordings, televised appearances, and the countless lives he touched on and off stage.
-Robert Williston

Produced by Tony DiMaria
Engineered by Sam Sklair
Executive Producer: Phil G. Anderson
Recorded at Bay Studios, Toronto, Ontario

Photography by Robert Title

Liner notes:
After thoughts...
When Phil Anderson asked if I was interested in producing and directing a recording session with Doug Crosley, I jumped at the chance. His career parallels my own—Doug Crosley is an established Canadian Star. His interest in good music and fine sound is genuine—whether from a creative or critical standpoint. The "electric" response evinced by many artists and wide acceptance of Crosley's recordings has made him a most welcome guest in innumerable homes throughout Canada.

One of the first ideas that came to this album began to formulate in my mind. But then I began to have second thoughts. I asked myself if our problem was how to find the chance to record Doug Crosley but rather how to find the right songs and the right musical support. It occurred to me that the best music for Doug should be in the middle tempo with lyrics to provide the right back-drop for that rich baritone style. Songs which work immediately recognizable, immensely exciting? No—not exactly. What we needed were selections which reflected the artist's innermost feeling, and the craftsmanship and good taste that is Doug Crosley.

After many conferences, a series of meetings were set up. The end result of these get-togethers was the actual production of this album. The great deal of appeal was based on the simple idea that this artist had very great charm and was a most unusual personality.

The actual recording sessions went well, followed immediately and as we listened to the first playbacks, we were very pleased. You got a feeling of satisfaction by all who had taken part. From the first notes on the album to the last, we all knew something very special had happened.

Each song was selected to showcase Doug's ability and his understanding of a lyric. His choice of material is carefully guided and his arrangements were designed to showcase the artistry of the performer and his supporting musicians. Doug Crosley is one of Canada's best known and most talented musical stars. His contributions to television, recordings, and stage are well known.

In the planning of this album, there was an air of anxiety pervaded but at each stage, the songs began to take shape, the final mixes, and the carefully prepared back-up tracks blended into an album that gives musical enjoyment and is fun to listen to.

To those of you who have purchased this album, listened to it, and now have it in your collection, I know you would appreciate hearing again—your "Crosley" moment.
-Tony DiMaria

Sound files and scans courtesy of Canadian Cult Classics (https://youtube.com/@Canadian_Cult_Classics)

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