Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Dec 2017
When it comes to Christmas time, many of us can hardly wait to hear those classic Christmas songs we listened to growing up in the 50’s and 60’s. One of those classics was “White Christmas,” Bing Crosby’s Christmas signature song. However, in 1955, Bing Crosby introduced us to another Christmas song that is rarely heard today …
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One could argue that the 1955 Christmas song introduced by Crosby was lost in the shuffle because of “White Christmas.”
Although “White Christmas” was originally released in 1942 in the movie “Holiday Inn,” it enjoyed a meteoric rebirth in 1954 thanks to a movie by the same name, “White Christmas,” that starred Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen.
The version sung by Bing Crosby is the world’s best selling single with estimated sales in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. Other versions of the song, along with Crosby’s, have sold over 150 million copies.
So what about that 1955 Christmas release? Well, not much is known about this tune other than the fact that it was adapted from an old nursery rhyme from the mid 1880s by the multi-talented Frank Luther, an American country music singer, dance band vocalist, playwright, songwriter and pianist.
The song was recorded in Los Angeles by Crosby with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires and Buddy Cole and His Orchestra on November 22, 1955, and released in time for the holiday season that year.
It’s too bad that it was overshadowed by so many of the other Christmas classics that were out at that time.
Like the title of this song, one thing was for certain back then and still is today … “Christmas Is A Comin’,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube video of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb-Cn_sTwVQ
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
