Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas song of the day: " The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth" David Bowie & Bing Crosby


This clip from a 1977 Bing Crosby Christmas special always makes me smile for the cross-generational aspect AND the surprising ease that Bowie and Crosby seemed to have in the performance.

As the story goes, Bowie didn't think "Little Drummer Boy" was a good fit for him. From the Washington Post:

The original plan had been for Bowie and Crosby to sing just "Little Drummer Boy." But "David came in and said: 'I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?' " Fraser said. "We didn't know quite what to do."

(Writers) Fraser, Kohan and Grossman left the set and found a piano in the studios' basement. In about 75 minutes, they wrote "Peace on Earth," an original tune, and worked out an arrangement that weaved together the two songs. Bowie and Crosby nailed the performance with less than an hour of rehearsal.

The recording was released for sale in 1982 and remains in heavy rotation on radio during the holidays.


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