White Christmas (song) - Other Versions

Other Versions

"White Christmas" is the most-recorded Christmas song; there have been more than 500 recorded versions of the song, in several different languages.

• 1942: Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra (with Bob Carroll on lead vocal) released a version of the song that reached number 16 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1942: Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra (with Garry Stevens on lead vocal) released a version of the song that reached number 18 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1942: Freddy Martin and his Orchestra (with Clyde Rogers on lead vocal) released a version of the song that reached number 20 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart (this same version charted on the Billboard pop singles chart again in December 1945, reaching number 16).

• 1944: Frank Sinatra released a version of the song (with backing orchestration by Axel Stordahl) that reached number 7 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart (this same version charted on the Billboard pop singles chart two more times: in December 1945, reaching number 5, and in December 1946, reaching number 6).

• 1945: On December 23, Kay Thompson performed her version of the song on the CBS radio program Request Performance backed by the Kay Thompson Rhythm Singers and an orchestra conducted by Leith Stevens. A recording of this radio performance has survived and can be heard on Sepia Records' 2009 3-CD compilation Think Pink! A Kay Thompson Party produced and annotated by Sam Irvin, author of Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise published by Simon & Schuster in 2010.

• 1946: Jo Stafford (with backing vocals by the Lyn Murray Singers and backing orchestration by Paul Weston) released a version of the song that reached number 9 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1947: Eddy Howard and his Orchestra released a version of the song that reached number 21 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1947: Perry Como (with backing orchestration by Lloyd Shaffer) released a version of the song that reached number 23 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1948: R&B vocal group The Ravens released a version of the song that reached number 9 on Billboard magazine's Rhythm & Blues Records chart in January 1949. Their version was released as the flip-side of a single that included their version of "Silent Night".

• 1949: Country singer Ernest Tubb (with female backing vocals by The Troubadettes) released a version of the song that reached number 7 on Billboard magazine's Country & Western Records chart.

• 1952: On July 15, singer Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra & chorus recorded a version of the song at Manhattan Center, New York City, New York. The song was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4910 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10779 and JO 420.

• 1952: Mantovani and His Orchestra released a version of the song that reached number 23 on Billboard magazine's pop singles chart.

• 1954: The Drifters released a cover version of the song that showcased the talents of lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the bass of Bill Pinkney. Their recording of the song peaked at number 2 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart in December 1954 (it also returned to the same chart in the next two years). In December 1955, "White Christmas" became the Drifters' first of 34 singles to register on the mainstream Billboard Top 100 singles chart, reaching number 80. For decades, the Drifters' version of the song was primarily heard on R&B radio stations, getting little exposure elsewhere. The song received a boost in the early 1990s, when it was prominently featured in the film Home Alone during a scene in which the lead character Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is applying his father's aftershave while mouthing the lyrics. Radio stations formats as diverse as oldies, adult contemporary, Top 40, and country began playing the Drifters' version of the song, which was also featured in the 1994 films "Mixed Nuts" & The Santa Clause.

• 1957: Elvis Presley recorded the song for his first holiday album, Elvis' Christmas Album.

• 1961: Mitch Miller included the song on his album Holiday Sing Along with Mitch. Instead of the lyrics, Miller printed a disclaimer on the album cover stating "The publisher assumes everyone knows the lyrics to this song!"

• 1961: Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., mostly known as David Seville, covered the song for the first holiday album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, Christmas with The Chipmunks.

• 1961: Haunani Kahalewai sang the song, including some lyrics in Hawaiian language, on the holiday album A Merry Hawaiian Christmas by the Hawaii Calls Orchestra and Chorus.

• 196?: Before he emigrated to the USA, Italo-American tenor Sergio Franchi recorded an Italian language version of the song titled "Bianco Natale." It was recorded in Italy and produced in Canada (Durium DC 26099).

• 1963: Andy Williams recorded a version of the song that was included on his first holiday album, The Andy Williams Christmas Album. This version of "White Christmas" was also released as a single, and reached number 1 on Billboard's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Singles chart (the B-side of the single contained Williams's version of "The Christmas Song"). This same version of "White Christmas" charted again on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart again in 1967, reaching number 22.

• 1963: Darlene Love recorded the song for the Phil Spector-produced holiday album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records.

• 1963: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles recorded the song for their holiday album, Christmas with The Miracles.

• 1963: Jimmy McGriff recorded the song for his holiday album, Christmas with McGriff.

• 1963: Jim Reeves recorded the song for his holiday album, Twelve Songs of Christmas.

• 1964: Doris Day recorded the song for her holiday album, The Doris Day Christmas Album.

• 1965: The Supremes recorded the song for their holiday album, Merry Christmas.

• 1965: Bob Marley recorded the song with The Wailers and released it as a single. This version later appeared on his compilation album, Destiny: Rare Ska Sides from Studio 1.

• 1966: Dean Martin recorded the song for his holiday album, The Dean Martin Christmas Album.

• 1966: Eydie Gorme, backed by Trio Los Panchos, recorded "Blanca Navidad", a Spanish-language version of the song.

• 1967: Barbra Streisand's version of the song, recorded for her first holiday album A Christmas Album, contains the seldom-heard verse.

• 1968: Otis Redding's version of the song was released as a single (posthumously), and reached number 12 on Billboard magazine's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Singles chart in December of '68.

• 1968: Lana Cantrell released a version of the song on the various artists holiday album, Christmas Day with Colonel Sanders. This version was later included on other various artist Christmas albums.

• 1971: The Partridge Family recorded a version of the song for their holiday album, A Partridge Family Christmas Card.

• 1972: Keith Lamb recorded a reggae version of the song with his band Hush in December 1972 (EPW 263) for Warner for an EP entitled "Hush Power".

• 1973: Shu-Bi-Dua, Denmark, released a rock version of the song under the title "Rap Jul" ("Quack Christmas") with Danish lyrics depicting a duck (that turns out to be none other than Donald Duck) not looking forward to Christmas, because all humans tend to eat duck at Christmas Eve.

• 1979: Stiff Little Fingers covered the song and released it as part of the "Silly Encores" B-side to their UK 7" single, "At the Edge". This version also appeared as a bonus track on the American 2005 CD reissue of the band's 1980 live album, Hanx!

• 1981: Boney M. covered the song creating a reggae-version in the process and included it on their album, Christmas Album.

• 1984: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton recorded a version of the song for their holiday album, Once Upon a Christmas.

• 1985: The Canadian Brass recorded an instrumental version for their holiday album, A Canadian Brass Christmas.

• 1989: New Kids on the Block recorded a version of the song for their holiday album, Merry, Merry Christmas.

• 1991: Marco T. La Voz del Rock and Roll in Colombia recorded the song for his album Pequeño Pueblo de Belen is an Elvis cover in Spanish.

• 1992: Neil Diamond recorded a doo-wop version of the song for his first holiday album, The Christmas Album.

• 1992: Michael Bolton recorded the song for his non-holiday album, Timeless: The Classics. This version of the song reached number 73 on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart in January 1993.

• 1992: Garth Brooks covered the song for his first holiday album, Beyond the Season. This version of the song reached number 70 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in January 1995.

• 1993: Shu-Bi-Dua, Denmark, this time under the synonym "Shu-Bi-40" (parodying British based reggae-band UB 40), recorded a Christmas album containing reggae versions of well-known Christmas songs including "White Christmas" making it their second cover version of the song (see also 1973).

• 1994: Kenny G recorded an instrumental version of the song for his holiday album, Miracles: The Holiday Album.

• 1996: Michie Tomizawa (as Sailor Mars) covered the song on the holiday album, Sailor Stars Merry Christmas!

• 1998: Martina McBride covered the song for her holiday album, White Christmas. This version of the song charted twice: reaching number 75 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in December 1999, and number 62 on the same chart in December 2000.

• 1998: Chicago recorded the song for their first Christmas album, Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album.

• 1999: A1 released an a cappella version of the song that was included on their "Ready or Not/Everytime" CD single.

• 2000: Rockapella recorded the song for their holiday album, Christmas.

• 2000: Linda Ronstadt recorded the song for her holiday album, A Merry Little Christmas.

• 2000: country singer Billy Gilman recorded the song for his debut holiday album, "Classic Christmas".

• 2001: Mannheim Steamroller included the song on their holiday album, Christmas Extraordinaire.

• 2002: Crash Test Dummies included the song on their holiday album, Jingle All The Way.

• 2003: Bette Midler covered the song for her non-holiday album, Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook. This version of the song reached number 15 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in December 2003.

• 2003: Michael Bublé covered the song for his five-track holiday EP, Let It Snow!

• 2003: The Moody Blues covered the song on their seasonal album, December

• 2004: LeAnn Rimes recorded the song for her first holiday album, What a Wonderful World.

• 2004: Dionne Warwick recorded the song for her holiday album, My Favorite Time of the Year.

• 2004: Jazz guitarist Royce Campbell recorded the song for his holiday album, A Jazz Guitar Christmas.

• 2004: Tina Sugandh recorded the song for the Columbia/Sony film Christmas With the Kranks with Indian/Bollywood elements added to the song.

• 2005: Westlife covered the song and included it as a B-side on their single, "When You Tell Me That You Love Me."

• 2005: Dutch singer René Froger covered the song on his first holiday album, Pure Christmas (re-released as Happy Christmas in 2009).

• 2006: The song was covered by Twisted Sister featuring Doro Pesch and was released on their holiday album, A Twisted Christmas, with German/English lyrics.

• 2007: Taylor Swift recorded the song for her holiday EP, Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

• 2007: Frank Rendo recorded the song as part of a medley with "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" for his holiday album, Remembering Christmas.

• 2008: Rascal Flatts included a version of the song as a bonus track on a limited edition version of their compilation album, Greatest Hits Volume 1.

• 2008: Neil Sedaka recorded the song for his first-ever holiday album, The Miracle of Christmas.

• 2008: Al Jarreau recorded the song for his holiday album, Christmas.

• 2008: Edyta Górniak recorded the song for her holiday album, Zakochaj się na Święta w kolędach (Fall in love for Christmas in carols), with Polish/English lyrics.

• 2008: Italian singer Irene Grandi recorded an Italian version of the song, titled "Bianco Natale", for her Christmas album, Canzoni per Natale.

• 2008: Rick Astley sang the song at the DR Christmas Show.

• 2009: Andrea Bocelli recorded the song for his first holiday album, My Christmas. The song debuted at No. 30 on the Portuguese Singles Chart; it spent the following two weeks at No. 19, then rose to No. 18 in its fourth week, before reaching No. 16 in its fifth week. The song also debuted at No. 7 on the Hungarian Singles Chart.

• 2009: Boy George recorded a cover of the song that was released as a single in digital download format.

• 2010: In October, Argos released an advert appearing to show Crosby beatboxing to the tune of the song.

• 2010: Panic! at the Disco released their version of the song to their fanclub "Northern Downpour".

• 2011: Michael Bublé recorded the song again in a duet featuring Shania Twain, this time for his full-length holiday album, Christmas. This version is based on the 1954 arrangement by The Drifters.

• 2011: Jackie Evancho recorded the song for her holiday album, Heavenly Christmas.

• 2011: Lady Gaga recorded a version of the song for her holiday television special, A Very Gaga Thanksgiving, which was also included as one of four tracks on her holiday EP, A Very Gaga Holiday.

• 2011: Asker recorded and released a version for their holiday EP, A Yuletide Yell.

• 2012: Cee Lo Green recorded the song for his holiday album Cee Lo's Magic Moment.

• 2012: Rod Stewart recorded the song for his holiday album, Merry Christmas, Baby.

• 2012: The Glee cast members: Darren Criss and Chris Colfer recorded the song for Glee's Christmas episode " Glee, Actually ".

• 2012: Blake Shelton recorded he song for this holiday album, Cheers, It's Christmas.