I don't quite agree with Linda that Evans/Evans rules out that Bix wasn't on "Cradle Of Love" by saying that he was hundreds of miles away when the recording was made.
"Cradle Of Love" was recorded on January 24, 1929.
What does Evans/Evans say about this period of time in Bix's life?
January 20 (Sun)- Paul Whiteman opened at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland (...)
January 21 (Mon) - Cleveland Press, reviewing Whiteman's opening night: "One of his best musicians is absent." The reference is to Bix who suffered a physical breakdown in his room.
January 25 (Fri) - From the Cleveland Press:"Paul Whiteman ... hopes to have Bix Beiderbecke ... back in time for opening of Old Gold broadcast series Feb. 5." Paul left Bix in Cleveland to recuperate.
January 26 (Sat) - Paul Whiteman closed at the Palace (...)
Furthermore, Evans/Evans mentions that Bing did recording dates with Sam Lanin (January 25) and the Dorsey Brothers (January 26)
February 3 (Sun) - Paul Whiteman returned to New York. Bix had preceeded the band, and was found in his hotel room having been beaten and badly slashed by unknown assailants. Whiteman sent him home to Davenport on full salary.
The recording dates of Bing mentioned in Evans/Evans are the following:
SAM LANIN'S FAMOUS PLAYERS AND SINGERS: Sam Lanin dir: probably: Phil Napoleon and another, t / Tommy
Dorsey, tb / Jimmy Dorsey, Andy Sannella, cl, as / Merle Johnston, cl, ts / Arthur Schutt, p / Tony Colucci, bj / Jimmy
Mullen, bb / Stan King, d / Bing Crosby, v. New York, January 25, 1929.
401555-B I'm Crazy Over You - vBC
OK 41228, Od ONY-41228, Od 193314, Par E-6148, A-2747
401556-B Susianna - vBC
OK 41228, Od ONY-41228, Od A-221129, Par R-339, A-2790, Ar 4364
401557-C If I Had You - vBC
OK 41188, Par E-6148, A-2737, Od A-189234
With the Dorsey Brothers
401560-B The Spell Of The Blues - vBC
OK 41181, Par R-385, A-2738, Od 193287, A-189235, A-221169
401561-B Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) - vBC
OK 41181, Pan R-331, Od 193287, A-189235
401562-C My Kinda Love - tTD / vBC
OK 41188, Par R-374, R-2475, A-2858, B-27044, Od 221145, A-189234
The question is if Bing was in in New York on January 25 and January 26, why shouldn't Bix be in Chicago on January 24? Evans/Evans doesn't say clearly when Bix left Cleveland...
Furthermore, Evans/Evans is not the bible as Albert states sometimes... It's a great book and probably the best source about Bix but what's written in that fantastic work is not carved in stone. There are mistakes in Evans/Evans as well, such as the date when the famous "Young Man With A Horn" photo of Bix was taken. The photo wasn't taken in 1921 but in 1924.
Like many others I heard the B take of "Cradle Of Love" first, before hearing the other 2 takes. You can listen to this take on my youtube channel:
On this take, the second horn player sounds like Bix to me. No other suspect recording ("Waiting At The End Of The Road" is not a suspect recording, it's with Bix) sounds so close to Bix like this one. I wouldn't call it the solo of the century. Muggsy plays better than the second horn player... However, it sounds like Bix... The phrasing, the tone, simply everything...
The solo on the other 2 takes (take A (listen to it on redhotjazz)) and the one on the German Brunswick without vocals are not that Bixian.
Just listen to those 2 takes and you'll agree... It's most probably not Bix on "Cradle Of Love".
One question remains... Who played the solo, which sounded exactly like Bix at least on take A of "Cradle Of Love".
I guess we will never find out.
Emrah
BTW:
If you want to hear Bix on "Sugar" just listen to my restored version on youtube:
I guess it sounds better than the one on Bix Restored.
As Brad Kay stated numerous times, Bix is on that recording but he doesn't solo. Just listen to the ending of the recording and hear Bix doodling around.