Here’s a Christmas collaboration that seems almost impossible on paper: legendary crooner Bing Crosby joining forces with the ever-innovative David Bowie for the hauntingly beautiful “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy.” After a brief comedic intro, the duo delivers a slow, mesmerizing take on “Little Drummer Boy,” with their voices intertwining—Bowie rising into a soaring tenor while Crosby anchors the piece with his rich baritone. Then comes the twist: Bowie’s “Peace on Earth” lyrics weave seamlessly over Crosby’s “Little Drummer Boy,” creating a mashup that feels astonishingly natural. Though recorded all the way back in 1977, the performance has only recently gained renewed attention thanks to its inclusion in the Bing Crosby’s Christmas Gems compilation. You can watch the magic unfold in the video below.
The backstory of this unusual pairing is just as intriguing. Bowie, never one to conform, appeared on Crosby’s TV special alongside his wife Angie, both sporting matching bright red hair and full makeup. Nathaniel Crosby later recalled that the producers nearly halted the session, insisting Bowie remove his lipstick and earring—a striking contrast to Crosby’s classic elegance.
Bowie wasn’t done shaking things up. Originally, Crosby’s musical directors Ian Fraser and Larry Grossman had planned a straightforward rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.” Bowie, however, wasn’t impressed. “I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?” he reportedly asked. Rising to the challenge, Fraser, Grossman, and scriptwriter Buz Kohan wrote the “Peace on Earth” section on the spot—in just over an hour. Bowie was satisfied, and the two legends recorded the final version flawlessly within the same hour, a remarkable feat in the era of tape-to-tape recording. Kohan later said Crosby embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, managing to transform the song while keeping all the signature Crosby charm intact.
The resulting duet became a massive hit, reaching number three in the UK and cementing its place as one of Bowie’s biggest successes. Just a month after the recording, Crosby passed away from a heart attack, making this unforgettable performance a poignant final chapter. The Washington Post would later call it “one of the most successful duets in Christmas music history,” and it remains a timeless holiday classic to this day.