"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945. It was written in Hollywood, California during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions. Although the song's lyrics make no mention of Christmas, it is played on radio stations during the Christmas season and is often covered by various artists on Christmas-themed albums.
First recorded for RCA Victor in 1945 by Vaughn Monroe, it became a popular hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Best Sellers music chart in late January and through February, 1946. Woody Herman's competing recording, featuring himself on vocals and a notable trumpet solo by Sonny Berman, peaked at #7 on the Billboard chart.
Other notable recordings:
1959 — Dean Martin, on his album A Winter Romance. This version has easily become the most well-known and popular adaptation of the song, as well as the holiday number most associated with Martin.
1950 — Frank Sinatra, released as an A-side single in 1950 with the song "Remember Me in Your Dreams." and also included in his 1994 reissue of his compilation album Christmas Songs by Sinatra.
1962 — Bing Crosby, on his album I Wish You a Merry Christmas. Crosby's version is also played on the Disney's Sing Along Songs video: "Very Merry Christmas Songs" released in 1988.
1964 — Doris Day, on her album The Doris Day Christmas Album.
1995 — Glen Campbell, on his album Christmas with Glen Campbell.
1998 — Martina McBride, on her album White Christmas.
2004 — Jessica Simpson, on her album Rejoyce: The Christmas Album.
2005 — Carly Simon, on a CD single. Her version is unusual in being sung from the point of view of the host instead of the guest. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
2007 — Lucas Grabeel recorded a version of the song on her holiday album Disney Channel Holiday.
2010 — Kylie Minogue recorded a version of the song, which was later included on her 2015 holiday album Kylie Christmas.
2011 — Deana Martin recorded her version of the song, which was included in her 2011 album White Christmas released by Big Fish Records.
2012 — Rod Stewart, on his album Merry Christmas, Baby. Stewart's version reached No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in December 2012. The song remained in the No. 1 spot for a total of five weeks, tying it for the longest leading rendition of a holiday title in the history of the chart.
2013 — British female vocalist Kim Wilde recorded a version of the song on her holiday album Wilde Winter Songbook.
2013 — Bella Thorne recorded a version of the song on her holiday album Disney Holidays Unwrapped.
2016 — Country music artist Kacey Musgraves recorded a version of the song on her holiday album A Very Kacey Christmas.
2016 — Sarah McLachlan recorded a version of the song on her holiday album Wonderland.
2016 — Laura Pausini, on her album Laura Xmas.
Vaughn Monroe's later recording of the song for Dot Records plays at the end of the 1988 film Die Hard and that film's 1990 sequel Die Hard 2.
Dean Martin's version plays at the start of the 2015 BBC Two comedy-drama A Gert Lush Christmas and in the 2010 video game Mafia II.
