WHITE CHRISTMAS 1954 Genuine Sound Track from pre-recordings

Several years ago I compiled a genuine sound track album of music from the beloved 1954 Paramount VistaVision motion picture, "Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS", featuring vocals by the film’s stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and the vocal dubs for Vera-Ellen which were sung by Trudy Stevens. Most of the songs in this collection are from the actual prerecording tracks for the film, recorded in late 1953 at Paramount Studios, and are either mixed exactly as presented in the film or in some cases, more complete versions of numbers edited down in the finished film. Also presented here are outtakes which were not heard in the film, including the original "Santa Claus is Here" opening number, which was eliminated in favour of a shorter dance number. An alternate, slightly longer version of the "White Christmas" finale, which appeared on the Decca LP with Rosemary Clooney’s voice replaced by Peggy Lee’s, is also included here with Clooney’s voice restored. This version was re-edited in the film as a slightly shorter finale with a different, much more dramatic orchestral ending. Both finales are included here. Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye’s short rendition of "Blue Skies", which also was on the Decca LP, was recorded as part of a montage sequence and is included alone here as the rest of the montage numbers were recorded in bits and pieces and make no musical sense away from the film.. Two reprises of songs, which were only partially used in the film, are heard here complete. The short reprise of "Sisters" was partially used in the scene where Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen were performing to an almost empty room at the General’s Vermont Inn. Only a brief portion of Danny Kaye and the chorus’ reprise in the party scene of "The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing" was used in the film. This more complete version was also used on the Decca LP in place of the first, longer song and dance version in the film. The only surviving track of the song and dance version of "The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing" was a music and effects track, which unfortunately also includes the sound effects of the dance steps. To offset this, the opening dialogue leading into the number is included for a more coherent musical presentation of this number. The same is true of the later reprise of "The Old Man" near the end of the film. In this case, the only surviving element is the final mixed soundtrack version, which is remarkably free of any foley intrusions except for the audience applause in the early part of the song as the men march towards the General’s table. Except for the above two instances, everything else on this CD is mixed from the original music and vocal separations of the film. Time has not been kind to the sound track elements of "White Christmas" and despite the use of the latest remastering techniques, including Sony’s Direct Stream Digital process, which preserves the warmth and bass of analog recordings, some distortions inherent in the original recording and from deterioration of the preserved elements could not be completely removed. Nevertheless, this compilation is about the best and most authentic aural document of Irving Berlin’s fantastic song score from "White Christmas" possible and provides music lovers with the opportunity to enjoy a sound track album greatly anticipated and coveted but denied us for over a half century.

WHITE CHRISTMAS sound track remix (New Hi Rez 320 kbps link)
https://mega.nz/#!M0pEwKrZ!FlTrl6qZWJpIFPF4C5–qXgiRQe-78ICxCZqDWmMR5s

The tracks on the album are:
1. MAIN TITLE; THE OLD MAN (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye & Chorus)
2. SANTA CLAUS IS HERE [outtake] (Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye)
3. WHITE CHRISTMAS (Bing Crosby)
4. SISTERS (Rosemary Clooney & Trudy Stevens)
5. THE BEST THINGS HAPPEN WHILE YOU’RE DANCING (Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen & Chorus)
6. SNOW (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye & Trudy Stevens)
7. I’D RATHER SEE A MINSTREL SHOW; MANDY (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney & Chorus)
8. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF SHEEP (Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney)
9. CHOREOGRAPHY (Danny Kaye & Chorus)
10. SISTERS [reprise] (Rosemary Clooney & Trudy Stevens) BLUE SKIES (Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye)
11. LOVE, YOU DIDN’T DO RIGHT BY ME (Rosemary Clooney)
12. THE BEST THINGS HAPPEN WHILE YOU’RE DANCING [reprise – extended version] (Danny Kaye & Chorus)
13. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A GENERAL? Outtake Original Version (Bing Crosby)
14. THE OLD MAN (reprise) (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye & Chorus)
15. GEE, I WISH I WAS BACK IN THE ARMY (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye & Trudy Stevens)
16. WHITE CHRISTMAS [Finale] (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, Trudy Stevens & Chorus)
17. WHITE CHRISTMAS [Alternate Outtake] (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, Trudy Stevens & Chorus)

BONUS TRACKS: Decca Album Versions
18. SISTERS (Peggy Lee & Trudy Stevens)
19. SNOW (Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye & Trudy Stevens)
20. LOVE, YOU DIDN’T DO RIGHT BY ME (Peggy Lee)
21. THE OLD MAN; GEE, I WISH I WAS BACK IN THE ARMY (Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye)
22. WHITE CHRISTMAS (Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye, Trudy Stevens & Chorus)
Music Supervised and Conducted by JOSEPH J. LILLEY

thanks for sharing

Thanks, steviefromalaska!

Interesting, thanks!

Awesome!!!

Fantastic! Thank you!

Fascinating to be able to hear the original pre-recordings of this classic! Thanks a lot.

Thank you, steviefromalaska for this unique post. This has become one of my favorite Holiday movies over the years.

Thank you!!!

Thank you so very much, steviefromalaska! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

oh yes

Thank you very much, this is fantastic!

Muchas gracias.

Thank you!!!!!

This is indeed a treasure. "White Christmas" has a special place in my heart. A film that made you feel better after you have seen it! Awesome Job, steviefromalaska!

Thank you share!

You are a legend! Thank You!

Thanks a lot!

Thank you

thank you Steve

Thanks, Steve.

thanks

Thank you!

Thanks a lot for this!

Might grab the movie, too.
I love the classics.

You are a god!!!!!!!! I’m in heaven. Thanks ever so much!!!!!!!!

Terrific! Thank you again!

Excellent!
Thank you, Stevie!

a Merry Christmas indeed, thanks Stevie!

My wife LOVES White Christmas — particularly the music box accompanied version at the beginning of the film. When she heard that without the explosions in the background, she just about cried so, really — truly — thanks for this great share; it made her day.

Thanks a lot!!!!!

Such a great classic, thank you for posting this!

A little early in the year but never too early to get a great soundtrack…
Many Thanks !

could someone reup this? thanks!

appreciating also reup. thank many!

A reup would be really appreciated, thank you!

could someone reup this? thanks!

Here is a new link to the file, which will be up for a limited time. The initial post has also been updated with this new link. Happy Holidays!

https://mega.nz/#!M0pEwKrZ!FlTrl6qZWJpIFPF4C5–qXgiRQe-78ICxCZqDWmMR5s

Here is a new link to the file, which will be up for a limited time. The initial post has also been updated with this new link. Happy Holidays!

https://www.sendspace.com/file/chtwx4

thank you thank you thank you!!!

Thank you!!!!

Gracias

Terrific! Thank you!

Thanks

thank you so much

thank many!

great Jewel!!! thank you!

Here is a new link to the file, which will be up for a limited time. The initial post has also been updated with this new link. Happy Holidays!

https://www.sendspace.com/file/chtwx4

It truly will be a white christmas thanks to you!

Now my Christmasses will be always white, thanks to this lovely download. It’s a treat to hear the complete soundtrack versions, with Van Cleave’s sparkling orchestrations, plus a few surprises like a short sequence in the "Mandy" number that didn’t make the final cut. Many thanks!

Thanks!

Hello again….steviefromalaska! This is Rick….also known as whiteshirtandtie. You have so many uploads that I want and I know I’ve told you this before. You are amazing!

May I please have the link to White Christmas as the sendspace link does not seem to work.

Thank you.

Rick

Hello again….steviefromalaska! This is Rick….also known as whiteshirtandtie. You have so many uploads that I want and I know I’ve told you this before. You are amazing!

May I please have the link to White Christmas as the sendspace link does not seem to work.

Thank you.

Rick

Hello. I second that.

Hello again….steviefromalaska! This is Rick….also known as whiteshirtandtie. You have so many uploads that I want and I know I’ve told you this before. You are amazing!

May I please have the link to White Christmas as the sendspace link does not seem to work.

Thank you.

Rick

New limited time link to White Christmas soundtrack:
https://mega.nz/#!M0pEwKrZ!FlTrl6qZWJpIFPF4C5–qXgiRQe-78ICxCZqDWmMR5s

All previous links have been also updated.

Thankyou!

Thank you very much!

Thank you so much….stevie! You always come through for me!

Have a wonderful remainder of this weekend….and a special upcoming weekend!

Rick
whiteshirtandtie

This needs a Holiday BUMP! if you don’t have it, get it!

This needs a Holiday BUMP! if you don’t have it, get it!

Here is a new link to the file, which will be up for a limited time. The initial post has also been updated with this new link.

https://mega.nz/#!M0pEwKrZ!FlTrl6qZWJpIFPF4C5–qXgiRQe-78ICxCZqDWmMR5s

awesome!!! Thanks!!!

Ohhhhh, wow. I have been looking for these for years. Thank you, so very much.

very nice!

Here is a new link to the file, which will be up for a limited time. The initial post has also been updated with this new link.

https://mega.nz/#!M0pEwKrZ!FlTrl6qZWJpIFPF4C5–qXgiRQe-78ICxCZqDWmMR5s
FLAC NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS TITLE.

Awesome, thank you so much! Do have also a lossless version? WAV or FLAC?

I second that! Won’t touch mp3’s.

thank you very much indeed

My remaster of WHITE CHRISTMAS is not available in a lossless format. MP3 (320 kbps) is the highest resolution of this title I feel comfortable sharing on line.

Thanks and Happy Christmas!

A great many thanks for your repost of White Christmas and for the obvious effort and dedication required to assemble it!