White Christmas

Words and Music by Irving Berlin, 1942

First recording 1947:

With Mixed Chorus and Lloyd Shaffer's Orchestra

Recorded at RCA Victor Studio 2, New York City

Recording Time 3:27

Recorded July 10, 1947 ~ Matrix No. D7VB-1272

Single release: RCA-78RPM-20-1970-B

Single release: RCA-45RPM 47-2971-B WP161 ( 1949 )

Single Flip Side: "Silent Night"

US Chart Position No. 23

UK Single release: HMV-78RPM-B-10374 ( November 1952 )

Single Flip Side: "Silent Night"

Original issue: replaced "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in some subsequent album sets and singles

Original 78RPM Musical Smart Set "Merry Christmas Music" P-161 1946/47

Original 45RPM Musical Smart Set "Merry Christmas Music" WP-161 1949 & EPB-3023 1952

Album issue: RCA-LP10 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" LPM-51 / LPM-3023 MONO 1951/52

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" LPM-1243 MONO 1956

Album issue: RCA-45RPM DOUBLE EP "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" EPB-1243 MONO 1956

Album: RCA-UK EP "Christmas With Como" RCX-164 MONO 1958

Re-issue: Camden-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" CAL-660 MONO 1961

Re-issue: Camden-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" CAS (e)-660 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1964

Album issue: Pickwick-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" CDM-1030 MONO 1969

Re-issue: Pickwick-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" CDS-1045 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1972

Re-issue: Camden-LP12 "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" CAS (e)-660 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1987

Re-issue: Special Products-LP12 "Christmas with Perry Como" Noel-5211 ELECTRONIC STEREO 1987

Merry Christmas Music ~ LPM 3023 circa 1951

Merry Christrmas Music ~ 1961 Camden alternate cover

Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music - UK Camden 1969

Merry Christmas Music ~ 1964 Camden Reissue

1947 Version | Lyrics | CD-Finder |

Note: a number of Perry's original RCA Camden albums were later issued in Electronically Reprocessed Stereo during the mid-1960s when it became important for recordings to be available in a stereo format. Generally speaking, results were not very good but this was largely dependent on the remastering engineer. Oddly, a number of recordings previously recorded in real stereo were also remastered in this "fake" stereo for reasons assumed to be associated with the project budget but, nevertheless, in direct contradiction to RCA General Manager George R. Marek's original mission statement for RCA Camden recordings in 1958.

Second recording 1959:

Arrangements by Joe Lipman and Jack Andrews

With Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra

Produced by Charles Grean and Lee Schapiro

Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Recording Time 3:09

Recorded July 15, 1959 ~ Matrix No. K2PB 4552 Take 8

Orchestra

MORNING 10:00AM TO 2:00 PM

1 HOUR OVERTIME ENTIRE ORCHESTRA EXCEPT TRUMPETS

Conductor: Mitchell Ayres

Contractor: Henry "Hank" Ross

Musicians AF of M Contract #8132

Choir Contractor: Ray Charles

Choir ~ Ray Charles, Lois Winter, Margaret Wright, Nancy Price, Rae Whitney, Rosemarie Jun, Bernice Massi, Joyce DeYoung, Ann Ryan McCord, Dean Parker, Bob Miller, Alan Sokoloff, Dave Starkey, Bob Harris, Tom Motto, Ed Lindstrom, Herb Davidson, Bob Hartman, David Vogel, Leonard Stea, Ray Drakley

Stereo Compact 33 Double release: RCA VP-3-2066 ( M2PO-5360 1S )

Single Flip Side: "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Seasons Greetings from Perry Como" LSP-2066 STEREO 1959

Album issue: RCA UK-LP12 "The Songs of Christmas" SF-5045 STEREO 1959

Album issue: RCA-COMPACT 33 DOUBLE "Seasons Greetings from Perry Como" VP-2006 STEREO 1961

Album issue: RCA-CAMDEN-LP12 "Christmas Greetings" PICKWICK UK CDS-1113 STEREO 1972/76

Album issue: Pure Gold-LP12 "Season's Greetings" CANADA KNL1-7045 STEREO 1976

Album issue: RCA-JAPAN-LP12 "The Perry Como Christmas Album" SRA-5032 STEREO 1976

Album issue: Pickwick-LP12 "The Christmas Collection" PDA-027 STEREO 1979

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever" AYL1-4526 STEREO 1982

Album issue: Box Set Bonus "Christmas With Perry Como" RD US STEREO RDA-144/A 1983

Season's Greetings from Perry Como ~ 1959

The Songs of Christmas - UK Release 1959

Christmas Greetings from Perry Como ~ UK Camden

Season's Greetings Pure Gold ~ circa 1976

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever ~ 1982

Christmas With Perry Como ~ Reader's Digest 1983

1959 Version | Lyrics | CD-Finder |

Third recording 1980 'Live' Medley version ~

Arranged and Conducted by Nick Perito

with Vocal Arrangements by Ray Charles

Live recording on location produced by Mike Berniker

Time 31:36 Side A and 28:42 Side B applause and talk included

Recording Engineer: Mike Moran

RCA Mobile Unit: Ron Olson and Tom Brown

Mastering Engineer: Mike Posner

Recorded 'Live' at the Mill Run Theatre, Niles, Illinois, July 29th, 30th, 31st, 1980

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "Perry Como Live On Tour" AQL1-3826 STEREO 1981

Notes: ~ This song was included within a tribute to Bing Crosby which Perry performed several times in live performance and on his well known television specials throughout the 1980s. The tribute was again featured in live performance on a 1989 PBS television special with the Boston Pops and John Williams which included an encore performance with Perry singing "The Wind Beneath My Wings" interspersed with Crosby and Como video footage from their 1960 television shows where each was the guest of the other. This PBS Special was repeated many times during the years following.