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EPISODIX:

Posted:

December 19, 2017

Music:

• Judy Garland “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Meet Me in St. Louis – Soundtrack (MGM) 1944
• Frank Sinatra “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra (Capitol) 1957
• Phoebe Bridgers “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Single (Self-Released) 2017
• The Pretenders “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Get Close (Sire Records) 1986

Notes:

After months of teasing, the Christmas season of 2017 is finally reaching its peak! In today’s episode, Jim and Patrick take a look at the classic holiday tune “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and how it has evolved over time.

Where credit is due: Original thumbnail picture by MGM.

FUN FACT: There is quite a credit controversy behind “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Songwriter Hugh Martin, who did the score for ‘Meet Me in St. Louis,’ said in his autobiography that even though Ralph Blaine is credited as a collaborator on the songs, “all of the so-called Martin and Blane songs, (except for Best Foot Forward), were written entirely by me (solo) without help from Ralph or anybody else.” With regard to giving Blane songwriting credit, Martin added, “I was reasonably content to let him receive equal screen credit, sheet music credit, ASCAP royalties, etc., mainly because this bizarre situation was caused by my naive and atrocious lack of business acumen.”

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