You can now pre-order the vinyl reissue of Selections From Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, featuring performances by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Peggy Lee, and more. This collection includes classic songs from the beloved 1954 film, like “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” and the iconic title track.
The story behind “White Christmas” is fascinating. Bing Crosby originally recorded the song in May 1942 for Decca, but the version on this new release is from 1947. The original master tape had worn out due to high demand, so Crosby recorded a nearly identical version.
Irving Berlin, born Israel Berlin in Belarus, wrote the song. He was a famous American songwriter who also created “God Bless America.” Interestingly, Berlin couldn’t read or write music. He would hum melodies and dictate lyrics to his musical secretary. When asked how a Jewish man could write “White Christmas,” he simply said, “I wrote it as an American.”
Berlin moved to the U.S. with his family when he was just five years old. When Crosby received the song, he recorded it in just 18 minutes. The 1954 film White Christmas featured an updated version of the title track, which Crosby had first introduced in the 1942 film Holiday Inn. The movie and its soundtrack were huge hits, making it the highest-grossing film of 1954 and the top musical film of its time.
Don’t miss out—shop for Bing Crosby’s music on vinyl or CD today!
