Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy (with London Symphony Orchestra) - Bing Crosby & David Bowie - MP3 instrumental karaoke

In 1977, an unlikely collaboration graced television screens—a duet between the timeless Bing Crosby and the ever-evolving David Bowie. Originally filmed for Crosby's TV special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, the song melds the holiday classic "Little Drummer Boy" with the newly composed "Peace on Earth." The latter was penned by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman, and Buz Kohan, specifically tailored to Bowie's vocal strengths, after he expressed a distaste for "Little Drummer Boy." Airing after the sad demises of both Bing Crosby and Marc Bolan (a contemporary artist Bowie had recently worked with), the duet took on a poignant tone. It went unavailable for years until its commercial release in 1982. Peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, it became one of David Bowie's best-sellers with sales surpassing 400,000 in the United Kingdom. Both singers, from disparate musical realms, brought their unique flavors. David Bowie's experimental rock background contrasted yet complemented Bing Crosby's traditional pop sensibilities. The unexpected pair discussed holiday traditions and musical influences before delivering a performance that's since been etched into Christmas music history. In 2019, a remastered version featuring both singers' vocals with instrumentation by the London Symphony Orchestra appeared in the compilation Bing at Christmas.