On the eleventh day of the Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Sunday, December 24, 2017, the song of the day is “White Christmas.”
About This Song
Today’s song was written in 1940 by Irving Berlin. “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,” expressing that longing for a traditional back-home Christmas. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1942 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
Tony Bennett recorded this very fine recording of “White Christmas” in 1987 for his album of songs by Irving Berlin: Bennett/Berlin. Dexter Gordon is featured on tenor saxophone.
“White Christmas,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.
About Today
Here’s Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas” from the 1942 movie Holiday Inn.