You probably know this song already, but it may be time to listen to it with new ears.
Darlene Love started as a professional singer in high school in the early 60s. In 1963 she recorded “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” which became her signature tune. The song was intended to be sung by Ronnie Spector for the compilation A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, but apparently Phil decided Ronnie didn’t have the “emotion” the song needed and Darlene got it. Instant classic, universal fame, end of story.
Obviously it’s not. Love continued singing, doing a lot of background work, but took time off to raise a family in the 70s and apparently just drifted away from the industry. As she tells the story in the wonderful documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, she eventually took a job cleaning houses, and one day she was cleaning someone’s home when “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” came on the radio. Hearing her own voice on the radio was a wake-up moment, which prompted her to return to singing; she’s been at it ever since.
Her warm, powerful voice, the “wall of sound” arrangement, the backstory—everything on this one comes together to make it one of my favorite songs in this list.
Notes:
David Letterman used to bring Love on his show every Christmas to sing this song. The Letterman Christmas show was always a joy, with Tom Dreesen telling stories and Jay Thomas knocking a giant meatball out of a Christmas tree with a football.
Darlene Love sang “Christmastime for the Jews” for an animated SNL short back in 2005.
I looooove this song and I looooove Darlene Love. I have a monstera plant named after her (as an oh-so-clever nod to "Monster Mash") -- her voice is just divine! I had no idea about her time cleaning houses though...that is wild!
That "wall of sound" -- It's like a whole symphony behind the singer. Bless Phil Spector's heart. I haven't heard this song in many years. Thanks.