White Christmas / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The 1947 reissue of 'White Christmas', featuring its newly re-recorded version, backed with 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. The version was released after the record stamp of the 1942 original recording had worn out. Most later pressings of 'White Christmas' on singles, albums, and compilations use this 1947 recording, and is thus the most familiar version to audiences worldwide. Also, due to World War II not many countries saw the release of the 1942 original. Initial copies of this release had standard record company sleeves, but from 1955 onwards most repressings used the same cover photo as the Merry Christmas album. Repressings by MCA during the 1970s are recognizable by their 'rainbow' labels.
The versions of "White Christmas" are often mixed on Decca 23778. Some issues have the original 1942 first version, while others (mostly those stamped with the words "album A-550 8 sides - 3" indication at 9:00 on the label) have the later 1947 version. At just above 9:00 on the label, the matrix number will help clarity the version of the song. Those stamped with "DLA 3009" are the 1942 first version while those stamped with "WL 4374" are the 1947 second version. Decca record number 18429, however, only contains WLA 3009 as it was released in 1942 and that number was not reused for later versions/pressings. It is not known if a "single" version of Decca 23778 with matrix WL 4374 exists. If it does, the words "Album A-550 8 Sides - 3" would be omitted from the label.
Other releases:
1942 original: White Christmas / Let's Start The New Year Right
1959 reissue: White Christmas / Silent Night
1970 reissue: White Christmas
1980 reissue: White Christmas (3-track EP)
1989 reissue: White Christmas (various B-sides)