Friday Holiday Afternoon Videos: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

We're ending the week with one of our favorites – the odd 1977 pairing of classic crooner Bing Crosby and (at that time) glam-rocker David Bowie. As noted in the Chronicle yesterday, the producers of Bing's Christmas special wanted Bowie to sing "Little Drummer Boy" as a duet, but Bowie wanted a song that showcased his vocal range better, so the producers wrote "Peace on Earth" for him at the last minute. There were never plans to officially release the song, but that changed five years later after much public demand.

Before the special was put together, Crosby didn't know who Bowie was. They got along so well that Crosby gave Bowie his phone number and called him "a clean cut kid." Sadly, Bing Crosby died a month after the show was taped. The Christmas special didn't air until after his death.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and peace on Earth.