The Secret of Christmas

"The Secret of Christmas" is a popular Christmas song written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen for the 1959 film Say One for Me. In the film, the song is performed first by Ray Walston, and then by Bing Crosby accompanied by Debbie Reynolds and Robert Wagner with orchestra conducted by Lionel Newman.

The soundtrack album by Columbia Records did not include the version from the film, but a solo recording Crosby made with Frank De Vol and his Orchestra.[1] Columbia also released the recording as a single that year, the B-side to "Just What I Wanted for Christmas" (Columbia 4-41496). Crosby recorded the song again in 1964 with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians for the Reprise Records album 12 Songs of Christmas.[1] This version also saw a single release as the B-side to "The White World of Winter" (Reprise 0424).

The song has also been recorded by other artists. Contemporary recordings include:

More recent covers include:

References

  1. ^ a b "Commercial Recordings - Post Decca". BING magazine. The International Club Crosby. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  2. ^ "45cat - Ella Fitzgerald - The Secret of Christmas / The Christmas Song - Verve - USA - V-10186X45". 45cat. n.d. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  3. ^ Christmas Greetings: Volume 4 (liner notes). Columbia Special Products. 1973. P 11987. The new recordings by Debbie Reynolds, Julie Andrews, The Johnny Mann Singers and Andy Williams were made expressly for volume 4 of A&P Christmas Greetings.
  4. ^ A Concord Jazz Christmas at AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Harmony: The Christmas Songs at AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2017.