Holiday Inn

Song Hits from Holiday Inn is a studio album of phonograph records by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire released in July 1942 featuring songs presented in the American musical film Holiday Inn. These are the longer studio recorded versions of the songs presented in the film. For the songs that were actually in the film, see Holiday Inn (soundtrack). This album is not only notable because it is one of the greatest works of the highly regarded songwriter Irving Berlin, but it is only Crosby's third studio album. This was also the first release of Crosby's signature song "White Christmas" on shellac disc record. The 1942 version would be released only one more time, in 1945's compilation album, Merry Christmas, before the song was re-recorded in 1947 (because the original master recording wore out). The later version became the standard. Reception Billboard was very enthusiastic saying: Decca has scored a terrific scoop in packaging 12 songs from the Irving Berlin score for Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby's movie Holiday Inn, which is already flashing on the country's screens. The album is the entire weekly release from the wax factory—and apart the music it contains, it's more than just another album, it's almost a transposition on wax of the screen score all capably executed by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire....Plattermate is the ballad hit from the picture Be Careful It's My Heart, Crosby singing it softly and rhythmically. Trotter's soft strings and woodwinds paint the orchestral background…Album finishes in a blaze of vocal glory, most impressive in Bing Crosby's plaintive appeal for a White Christmas, assisted by the Ken Darby Singers and Trotter's music…" Original track listing These newly issued songs were featured on a 6-disc, 78 rpm album set, Decca Album No. A-306. Discs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are sung by Bing Crosby while Disc 5 is sung by Fred Astaire. On Disc 4, both sing on the track "I'll Capture Your Heart". All songs by Irving Berlin.