For this special holiday episode of Let’s Face The Music, we discover the origin of the happiest sad Christmas song. First introduced by Judy Garland, the song was recorded three times by Frank Sinatra — most shockingly for a war film, soundtracking a brutal execution scene.

Sources:
Philip Furia, Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist, 1996
Charles Waring, ‘Cheek To Cheek: Celebrating The Perfect Partnership of Ella and Louis,’ April 9, 2010
Tad Hershorn, Norman Granz: The Man Who Used Jazz for Justice, 2011
Michael Feinstein, The Gershwins And Me, 2012
Tom Maxwell, ‘The Story of Ella and Louis: 60 Years Later,’ Nov 7, 2016

Audio
Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, Fresh Air, NPR 1989
Hugh Martin, Fresh Air, NPR 2006

Judy Garland Lux Radio Theater, December 2, 1946
Judy Garland The Judy Garland Show, December 22, 1963
Frank Sinatra ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ 1949
Frank Sinatra ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ 1957
Frank Sinatra ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ 1963
Dave Brubeck ‘The Trolley Song,’ 1955
Percy Faith, ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ 1966

Theme Songs
‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance,’ Ella Fitzgerald, 1958
‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance,’ Nelson Riddle, 1966