Judy Garland first sang this Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane composition in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Then in 1957 Frank Sinatra released the definitive version on A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra. This version has the most common set of lyrics, having been modified by Hugh Martin at Sinatra’s urging. “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” was changed to “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” Even Ms. Garland sang the modified lyrics in subsequent performances.
In 1987, The Pretenders released my favorite version of the song on the LP A Very Special Christmas to benefit Special Olympics. Chrissie Hynde captures the original melancholy and the beautiful hope of the song, bring the best of Sinatra and Garland’s take on the song. The music is simple and straight forward, eschewing the heavy orchestralization found on many versions of the song.
Inertia Satori 