Selections from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas – 1954
Selections from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a studio album of phonograph records featuring songs 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. It is one of the last 78 rpm albums Decca ever produced.
An original soundtrack recording has never been released. This was because Crosby had a recording contract with Decca Records and Rosemary Clooney was signed with Columbia Records and contractually could not record together. This album, Decca DL 8083, was issued alongside Columbia’s Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. In this album, Lee recorded the parts that Clooney sang in the movie. This was Crosby’s third Decca LP album, recorded and originally released in 1954 and advertised as the main soundtrack for White Christmas. Decca also released the album as a 5-disc 78rpm set (A-956) and as a 3-disc EP set (ED 819). For the 78rpm set, the three song medley “Blue Skies / I’d Rather See a Minstrel Show/ Mandy” running to 3 minutes 53 seconds was a little too long for a 10″ 78 so “Blue Skies” was edited out.
The music and lyrics were written by highly celebrated songwriter Irving Berlin. The album was released on CD by MCA in 1994, but is now out-of-print. In the UK, 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.
Though Clooney and Crosby were unable to make an album together at this time, subsequently the two made the albums Fancy Meeting You Here, How the West Was Won , and That Travelin’ Two-Beat later on in their careers. They also co-starred in a network radio show and frequently appeared together on television during the 1950s and into the 1960s.
Many reissues of the song “Sisters” incorrectly attribute the performance to both Lee and Stevens, in fact both parts are sung by Peggy using overdubbing.
Personnel
Bing Crosby – vocals
Danny Kaye – vocals
Peggy Lee – vocals
Trudy Stevens – vocals
The Skylarks – vocals
Joseph Lilley – arranger, conductor
Track listing
Track # Song
(all songs by Irving Berlin) Performed by Time
1 The Old Man/Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye with Orchestra and Chorus 2:48
2 Sisters 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 / I’d Rather See a Minstrel Show / Mandy 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 a General? Bing Crosby with Orchestra 2:55
10 White Christmas (Finale) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Peggy Lee, Trudy Stevens with Orchestra and Chorus 3:17