ADVENT CALENDAR: Dec 19th: David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

As a massive David Bowie fan, I used to class this as one of his most bizarre and surreal moments. I still do, in fact. But I never used to like it. Now however, Christmas just ain't complete without Bowie 'n Bing. The most unlikely thing for the Godlike polymath to have done right in the middle of his cocaine period, and after releasing 'Low' and 'Heroes' would have been to sing a Christmas song with Bing Crosby. And yet that's EXACTLY what happened back in 1977. Bowie's voice during the 'Peace On Earth' part = bliss. Very possibly paying homage to Crosby with his vocal delivery too. You simply cannot fail to love the awkwardly scripted introduction either... 'Little Drummer Boy' was written in 1941, while the 'Peace on Earth' tune and lyrics, written by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman, and Alan Kohan, were added to the song specially for Bowie and Crosby's recording.

The track was recorded on September 11, 1977 for Crosby's then-upcoming television special, 'Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas'. Bowie recalled that he only appeared on the show because "I just knew my mother liked him". Crosby died on October 14, nearly five weeks after recording the special at Elstree Studios near London.

http://www.davidbowie.com/