On the fourth day of the Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Thursday, December 17, 2015, the song of the day is “White Christmas.”
About This Song
Written by Irving Berlin in 1940, “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 has recorded “White Christmas” several times; for today, I chose his 1987 recording for his tribute album to Irving Berlin, Bennett/Berlin. This recording features Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone and the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.
“White Christmas,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.