The song of the day for Saturday, Mary 14, 2016 is “White Christmas.”

About This Song

“White Christmas” is one of America’s most beloved Christmas songs. In the not-often heard verse of the song, we hear that “the sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway, there’s never been such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A. But it’s December the 24 …” And indeed, Irving Berlin was in Los Angeles when he wrote “White Christmas” in 1940, expressing that longing for a traditional back-home Christmas. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1941 and completely dominated the music charts for weeks. Crosby’s single of “White Christmas” is the biggest-selling single record of all time, worldwide, at over 100-million copies.

About This Version

I adore this version of “White Christmas” from Bennett/Berlin, recorded in 1987. The song features the great Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone, along with the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. This is one of the finest jazz recordings of a holiday song that I’ve ever heard.

“White Christmas,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It was 90 degrees when I was driving home today and then and there I decided that today was the day to feature “White Christmas,” as no tribute to the music of Irving Berlin would be complete without acknowledging this song.

There is a lovely video of “White Christmas” featuring Tony, Dexter Gordon, and the Ralph Sharon Trio, stopping in an inn on a snowy Christmas Eve and singing this song. Alas, it seems to have disappeared off the Internet. Instead, here’s Tony Bennett singing it live at Rockefeller Center in 2011. May all your Christmases be bright.