Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Encyclopedia
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
.
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 Columbia, while Decca issued an album called Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas
.
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
.]
The album was reissued, combined with the 1954
Rosemary Clooney album Red Garters (Rosemary Clooney album)
, in compact disc
format, by Collectables Records
on June 12, 2001.
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
of songs by 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 –...
from the 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"...
, released by Columbia Records
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...
in 1954
1954 in music
-Events:*January 14 - First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York, New York...
.
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
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....
(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 (with a Columbia contract) could not record together. This album, therefore, was issued by Columbia, while Decca issued an album called Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas
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 , with Peggy Lee, who was not in the movie, singing some parts.This was one of two albums...
.
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...
.]
Track listing
| Track number | Title | Songwriter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Christmas White Christmas A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere... |
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... |
| 2 | 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... |
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... |
| 3 | Snow | 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... |
| 4 | Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army | 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... |
| 5 | Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me | 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... |
| 6 | 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 .... (duet with Betty Clooney) |
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... |
| 7 | The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing | 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... |
| 8 | Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep | 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 reissued, combined with the 1954
1954 in music
-Events:*January 14 - First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York, New York...
Rosemary Clooney album Red Garters (Rosemary Clooney album)
Red Garters (Rosemary Clooney album)
Red Garters was an LP album of songs by Rosemary Clooney from the movie of the same name, released by Columbia Records in 1954....
, in compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
format, by Collectables Records
Collectables Records
Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
on June 12, 2001.