I'll Be Home for Christmas

• Date: 1953
• Composer: Walter Kent
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

Composed in the summer of 1943, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" by Walter Kent and James Gannon was first recorded by Bing Crosby on October 4 of that year. Within a month, it had peaked at number three on the charts. It was re-released the following year and reached number 19 on the charts, earning Crosby his fifth gold single. Kent and Gannon's "I'll Be Home for Christmas," like Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" before it and Blane and Martin's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" after it, touched the hearts of Americans separated by World War II. With its combination of nostalgic lyrics, an easily sung melody, and cloying harmonies, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" quickly became an American Christmas classic covered by Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and even Elvis Presley. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
A Cabaret Christmas
A New Century Christmas	2000
A Norman Rockwell Christmas
Always in My Heart: Classic Songs from World War II, Vol.2
Best of Christmas in Vienna [2002]	2002
Christmas	2009
Christmas All over the World	2002
Christmas Favorites [2CD Madacy]	2002
Christmas Favorites from the World's Tenors	1995
Christmas Is...	1966
Christmas Joy [Madacy 2 Disc 2002]	1996
Christmas Piano Favorites	1996
Christmas Traditions: Americana Collection	2004
Christmas Treasures, Vol. 5	1997
Christmas in London [Silva]	2001
Christmas with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	1998
Christmas with the Stars [Elektra/Asylum]	1998
Christmas with the University of Texas at Austin Trombone Choir
Christmastime Is Here	2006
Disney's Christmas Lullaby Album	2003
Holiday Homecoming	2003
Holiday Pops	2003
I'll Be Home for Christmas [Decca]	2007
I'll Be Home for the Holidays	1999
Joy Of Christmas	2001
Joy to the World [Reader's Digest]	1999
Mistletoe Sax	2002
Noel Patrie: The Christmas Album, Vol. 1	2005
Our Favorite Things [SACD]	2001
Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna	2001
Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna [DVD Video]	2001
Reader's Digest: A Glorious Christmas	1992
Signature Series: A Hometown Christmas, Vol. 2	2003
Silent Night (Box Set)	1999
The Best of Christmas	1995
The Christmas Angels	2006
The Glorious Sounds of Christmas
The Most Beautiful Sounds of Christmas
The Sounds of Christmas on Guitar	1995
The Three Tenors Christmas	2000
The Three Tenors Christmas [CD & DVD]	2004
The Three Tenors Christmas [SACD]	2000
The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas: 2 CD Collection [2001]	2001
Totally Christmas, Vol. 1	2004
Very Best Of Tiri Te Kanawa	2003
Voices of Christmas
We Three Kings	2003
Weihnachten mit Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo	1992
What If Mozart Wrote "White Christmas"	2009
What If Mozart Wrote "White Christmas"	2009
What if Mozart Wrote 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'
While She Was Out	2008