Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Encyclopedia
Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas was one of two albums featuring some of the cast from the 1954
movie White Christmas
. Among the featured artists are Bing Crosby
, Danny Kaye
, and Trudy Stevens (who dubbed for Vera-Ellen
in the movie), with Peggy Lee
, who was not in the movie, singing some parts.
This was one of two albums of songs from the movie, neither of which qualifies as an original soundtrack recording, that were released, because Bing Crosby (who had a recording contract with Decca Records
) and Rosemary Clooney
(with a Columbia
contract) could not record together. This album, therefore, was issued by Decca, while Columbia issued an album called Irving Berlin's White Christmas
. In this version, Peggy Lee recorded the parts that Clooney did in the movie.
This was Bing Crosby's
third Decca
long play album, recorded and originally released in 1954 advertised as the main soundtrack for White Christmas
.
The music and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin
.
The album was released on CD by MCA in 1994, but is now out-of-print. In the U.K.
it was released in 2002 as part of a 2-on-1 CD with the studio recordings of the songs from Holiday Inn
(1942). A special edition, combined with the DVD of the film, was sold in Starbucks
stores during the holiday season in 2006.
Oddly, though Clooney and Crosby were unable to make an album together at this time, subsequently both signed with RCA Victor Records, and the two made some albums together for RCA. [See Fancy Meeting You Here
(1958
), How the West Was Won
, (1959
), and Rendezvous (1969
).] They also both signed with Capitol Records
and made albums together for that company. [See, for example, That Travelin' Two-Beat
.]
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
movie White Christmas
White Christmas (film)
White Christmas is a 1954 Technicolor musical film starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas"...
. Among the featured artists are Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
, and Trudy Stevens (who dubbed for Vera-Ellen
Vera-Ellen
Vera-Ellen was an American actress and dancer, principally celebrated for her filmed dance partnerships with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye and Donald O'Connor.-Early life:...
in the movie), with Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
, who was not in the movie, singing some parts.
This was one of two albums of songs from the movie, neither of which qualifies as an original soundtrack recording, that were released, because Bing Crosby (who had a recording contract with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
) and Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
(with a Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
contract) could not record together. This album, therefore, was issued by Decca, while Columbia issued an album called Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Irving Berlin's White Christmas was an LP album of songs by Rosemary Clooney from the movie White Christmas, released by Columbia Records in 1954....
. In this version, Peggy Lee recorded the parts that Clooney did in the movie.
This was Bing Crosby's
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
third Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
long play album, recorded and originally released in 1954 advertised as the main soundtrack for White Christmas
White Christmas (film)
White Christmas is a 1954 Technicolor musical film starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas"...
.
The music and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
.
The album was released on CD by MCA in 1994, but is now out-of-print. In the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it was released in 2002 as part of a 2-on-1 CD with the studio recordings of the songs from Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn (film)
Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with music by Irving Berlin. The film has twelve songs written expressly for the film, the most notable being "White Christmas"...
(1942). A special edition, combined with the DVD of the film, was sold in Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
stores during the holiday season in 2006.
Oddly, though Clooney and Crosby were unable to make an album together at this time, subsequently both signed with RCA Victor Records, and the two made some albums together for RCA. [See Fancy Meeting You Here
Fancy Meeting You Here
Fancy Meeting You Here is a 1958 studio album of duets by the American singers Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, arranged by Billy May....
(1958
1958 in music
-Events:*February - 45,000 peoplein one week watch performances of "rokabirī" music by Japanese singers at the first Nichigeki Western Carnival....
), How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won (Bing Crosby album)
How the West Was Won was an album released by RCA Victor Records in 1959. It was recorded in July 1959. It featured Bing Crosby, and on several tracks Rosemary Clooney as well...
, (1959
1959 in music
-Events:*January 5 – The first sessions for Ella Fitzgerald's George and Ira Gershwin Songbook are held.*January 12 – Tamla Records is founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan....
), and Rendezvous (1969
1969 in music
-Events:Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event...
).] They also both signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and made albums together for that company. [See, for example, That Travelin' Two-Beat
That Travelin' Two-Beat
That Travelin' Two-Beat was a duet album by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, released on Capitol Records in 1965. With its world tour theme, it was a revisitation of the concept explored in the duo's acclaimed RCA Records album, Fancy Meeting You Here, released in 1958...
.]
Personnel
- Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
- Vocals - Danny KayeDanny KayeDanny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
- Vocals - Peggy LeePeggy LeePeggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
- Vocals - Trudy Stevens - Vocals
- The SkylarksThe SkylarksThe Skylarks were a cult alternative rock band from Liverpool, England-History:The Skylarks formed in 1996 by Paul Molloy and Vinny McPoland. In 1997 they were joined by Dave Dutton and Michael Fitzgerald on drums. In 1999 Michael Fitzgerald left and was replaced by Dave Baker. The Skylarks gained...
- Vocals - Joseph Lilley - Arranger, Conductor
Track listing
| Track # | Song (all songs by Irving Berlin Irving Berlin Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous... ) |
Performed by | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Old Man/Gee I Wish I was Back In The Army | Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye with Orchestra and Chorus | 2:48 |
| 2 | Sisters Sisters (song) "Sisters" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1954.The song appeared in the movie White Christmas where it was sung by Rosemary Clooney and Trudy Stevens .... |
Peggy Lee with Orchestra and Chorus | 2:26 |
| 3 | The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing | Danny Kaye with The Skylarks, Orchestra and Chorus | 2:34 |
| 4 | Snow | Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Peggy Lee, Trudy Stevens with Orchestra and Chorus | 2:40 |
| 5 | Blue Skies Blue Skies (song) -History:The song was composed in 1926 as a last minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical, Betsy. Although the show only ran for 39 performances, "Blue Skies" was an instant success, with audiences on opening night demanding 24 encores of the piece from star, Belle Baker. During the final... /Mandy Mandy (1919 song) "Mandy" is a popular song by Irving Berlin, published in 1919."Mandy" was originally used for an Army relief show called "Yip Yip Yaphank" during World War I . For the number, soldiers in the show dressed in blackface and in drag... |
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye with Orchestra and Chorus | 3:50 |
| 6 | Choreography | Danny Kaye with The Skylarks and Orchestra | 2:41 |
| 7 | Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep | Bing Crosby with Orchestra | 3:04 |
| 8 | Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me | Peggy Lee with Orchestra | 3:00 |
| 9 | What Can You Do With The General? | Bing Crosby with Orchestra | 2:55 |
| 10 | White Christmas (Finale) White Christmas (song) "White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as... |
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Peggy Lee, Trudy Stevens with Orchestra and Chorus | 3:17 |