Inside Tracks #12: The 7 Covers of the David Bowie/Bing Crosby Christmas Duet, "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy"🥁

Following the RCA Records single release in 1982, we span the decades for seven of the subsequent covers, reaching from 1986 through November 2022!

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It took five years between the classic November 30, 1977 TV appearance of David Bowie’s duet with Bing Crosby for RCA Records to finally release a vinyl and CD version of “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth”!

“The Little Drummer Boy” was originally written by classical composer and music teacher, Katherine K. Davis in 1941 as “Carol of the Drum.” Bowie’s original “Peace on Earth” part was famously written by the Bing Crosby Christmas Special’s music and script staff of Ian Fraser, Buzz Kohan, and Larry Grossman…in about an hour!

One reason for the extended wait for official release was due to the master recordings from the TV show having been erased, as the song was never intended for release as a single, according to Drew Savage’s “Behind the Christmas Hits.” The song managed to live on in that half-decade, though, by its inclusion on various bootleg recordings.

According to Bowie biographer, Chris O’Leary, alternate takes picked up by boom mics used on set, were used by RCA for the official 1982 single release, which reached #3 on the UK pop chart:

Once the song finally hit official vinyl, and the complicated publishing rights machinations were sorted out and properly in place, cover versions could finally hit the market, and they did, especially in the 21st century. According to Secondhandsongs.com, there have been 39 recorded versions of the song (including Bing’n’Bowie’s) unleashed onto the planet, with a solid 3 dozen occurring after the turn of the century!

Apparently, millennials have become quite taken by La Bowie and der Bingle! And, we haven’t even counted the graduates of Boy Band University who’ve tackled this medley…and, there have been plenty!

That also includes five instrumentals, by the way, and two Gay Men’s Choruses (Washington, DC and Los Angeles), and a combo called The Friendly Beasts, who may or may not feature a member of either Chorus.

1. Elaine Paige with Tommy Körberg, 1986

First out of the cover gate was a decidedly Italian-leaning take by Caterina Caselli and Donatella Rettore for a 1983 duet, but in 1986, British singer/actress Elaine Paige teamed up with Swedish singer/actor, Tommy Körberg, for their powerful, international rendition.

Bowie’s longtime producer, Tony Visconti, produced, mixed, and arranged the strings. Former Apple Records artist, Mary Hopkin (“Those Were the Days”), joins in on backing vocals, while former King Crimson member, Mel Collins, plays tenor sax.

2. InPulse, 2004

Our first 21st century cover is a predictably hip-hoppy arrangement by a group of Minnesota lads, InPulse, who, for some reason, feel the need to mention they’re not a boy band. Nevertheless, these self-effacing, husky young gals use a fine acapella approach on their 2004 Holiday album, Shed a Little Light.

Sadly, though, a rather annoying drum machine (or worse, one of the members needlessly vocalizing that I’d-rather-hear-a-jackhammer sound) insists on chasing them throughout.

3. Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately, 2009

An unabashedly proud boy band member, Ronan Keating (left, above), joins his fellow Boyzone-er, Stephen Gately (r, with Boyzone, inset), on this stirring rendition from RK’s 2009 Winter Songs album. This performance holds a special place in Keating’s heart, as it was Gately’s last recorded performance: He passed away in October 2009 at his home in Spain at age 33.

As Ronan once told The News of the World: “What keeps me going is that Stephen is on this album. His vocal on ‘Little Drummer Boy’ is one of the most beautiful recordings. He is almost angelic – which is truly fitting as I believe my friend is an angel now.”

4. Joey McIntyre feat. Jordan Knight, 2011

More boy band royalty is afoot, with the inclusion of genre pioneers, Joey McIntyre (above right) and Jordan Knight (l), fresh-faced poster lads who once hung from many bedroom walls in the ‘80s and ‘90s as Columbia Records moneymakers, New Kids on the Block (later, NKOTB).

As you can imagine, these two older kids (and close friends) do a lot of harmonizing on this block, as well as honoring the original’s counterpoint by employing that keen approach of Bing and Bowie.

5. Matt Nathanson feat. Donovan Woods, 2020

As fresh as the last worldwide pandemic, Boston-area folky rocker, Matt Nathanson (above left) mic-ed up with Canadian folk’n’country singer/songwriter, Donovan Woods (above in wool cap), for this tasty 2020 take from Nathanson’s Farewell December album. Nice harmonies and bare accompaniment make for a calming, by-the-fire rendition.

6. ONR (Robert David Shields), 2020

The magic of multi-tracking brings us this “duet” with himself: Robert Shields aka ONR, direct from Renfrewshire, Scotland. As a teen in 2005, he signed a publishing deal in L.A, set up his own record label, and released an album.

He would later form a band called Finding Albert, and he composed music for various film and television projects including Sky Sports (a British group of satellite sports channels).

In mid-2016, he began releasing music under the ONR moniker through the L.A. indie label, Leftwing. After a brief stint with Capitol, he signed to Warner Records in 2019.

In August 2020, ONR released “Kill TV” on Warners, which featured legendary guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers (from ‘70s disco hitmakers, Chic).

The two struck up a friendship after meeting at Abbey Road Studios. Rodgers said of working with ONR: “It was almost like Daft Punk; I played one song and they were like, ‘Well, here’s another one and here’s another one’... after ‘Kill TV’ I said, ‘Wow, this guy has really got something!’”

Related: Nile Rodgers recently worked with young German musician, Marius Lauber aka Roosevelt:

Audio Autopsy, 2018: Roosevelt & The Airbrushed Synthpop of "Young Romance" Leads to Chic "Passion" of Nile Rodgers

7. Axelle Red (feat. Daughters Billie, Janelle, Gloria Vanes), 2022

A 54-year-old Belgian lass who answers to family members as Fabienne Demal, Ms. Red chose her artist name, Axelle Red, in tribute to Axl Rose, lead singer of Guns N'Roses (apparently a favorite of hers). She’s actually an attorney, having graduated from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) as a lawyer in 1993.

Something of a political activist, as well, in 2005 she worked with two rockers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting: She joined former Genesis lead singer (and solo star) Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour at the Geneva concert on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

Together with Bob Geldof (the Irish former lead singer of The Boomtown Rats, whom I met backstage in 1978 at their Houston club date), she is also the spokesperson for Live 8 in France and performed in July 2005 at the Palace of Versailles in front of 200,000 people during the benefit.

In 1998, Axelle married Filip Vanes (still her husband and manager at Music & Roses, her current record label). Her first daughter, Janelle, now 24, joins Axelle on this cover of the Christmas classic. Second daughter, Gloria, 19 (and 18-year-old Billie) all join in, too, on this family affair.