Brand New Bing Crosby Orchestral Album Announced

On the anniversary of the untimely death of the world’s first ‘multimedia’ star Bing Crosby, October 14th sees his longtime record label, Decca, together with his widow Kathryn and their children, Harry, Mary, and Nathaniel Crosby, announce the November 22 CD and digital release of the brand new album, Bing at Christmas, via Decca/UMe.

Bing’s is the voice that is completely synonymous with Christmas. Now, Bing’s utterly distinctive original vocals are set to newly-recorded orchestral arrangements, performed by the UK’s most prestigious orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, on an album that breathes new life into the best Christmas songs in existence.

The new album gives the world the chance to hear these beloved tracks totally transformed, with today’s technical advances. Produced by Nick Patrick, who was behind the hugely successful Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Holly orchestral albums, Bing at Christmas boasts a unique sound and warmth that sets it apart from past Bing Crosby releases.

As Kathryn Crosby explains, “Hearing Bing’s voice with these completely new, beautifully recorded, orchestral accompaniments makes it seem as though he’s back after all these years. It’s magic.”

Included on the album is Bing’s biggest hit, the 1942 Decca recording of ‘White Christmas.’ This track is not only the epitome of Christmas in song, but the world’s best-selling single, with sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide and, more recently, achieving over 1.8 billion streams. With an average of 18 million streams on December 25th alone each year, 77 years since its original release the song remains essential listening at Christmas. It is also the most-recorded song of all time. Despite these staggering stats, the song has never been No. 1 in the UK. This year, the Crosby family wants to change that and, in Bing’s memory, get this newly-orchestrated version to its rightful place in the UK charts.

The song resonated especially strongly with listeners during World War II. It had a huge impact on people’s lives, including young soldiers serving in the forces as well as their families back home. Just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bing introduced a broadcast of the single on Christmas Day 1941, which led to The Armed Forces Network being flooded with requests for the song. He then gave a live performance to thousands of G.I.s, many of whom were to lose their lives only a few days later in the Battle of the Bulge. At a time when people needed it the most, this simple song was extremely powerful in its healing qualities – and has continued to provide comfort to people all over the world for nearly 80 years.

Joining Bing on an additional, special version of ‘White Christmas’ is the multi-Grammy Award®-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, whose voices fit perfectly with Crosby’s, their impeccable harmonies bringing further colour and depth to the track. Pentatonix has performed with some of the biggest names in the business, on the biggest TV shows, released several chart-topping Christmas albums and hosted their own Christmas TV specials for the last three years, so it is entirely fitting that they have been chosen for this collaboration.

The album also features exquisite arrangements of ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,’ ‘The Christmas Song,’ and ‘Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy,’ on which David Bowie joins in a duet recorded in September 1977, just a month before Bing died.

Bing at Christmas honors Bing Crosby’s unparalleled legacy across music and entertainment, combining the authenticity of his original tracks with sumptuous, state-of-the-art recordings, transforming his best-loved holiday songs and returning them to the UK charts.

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Photo Credit: Larina Marina