Darlene Love “Christmas (Baby ... )“ Collection on Letterman, 1986-2014 (st.)

Darlene Love performed her 1963 single, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),“ twenty-one times on Dave’s shows. The first was on Late Night in 1986. The remaining twenty were on Late Show, every year from 1994 until 2014.* *Except for 2007, when there were no new shows due to the months-long writers strike. In 1993, the first Late Show Christmas holiday song honors went to Andy Williams, who performed “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.“ Here are all of Darlene’s Late Night and Late Show performances. Note that the key was lowered from E on Late Night to D to C, and, in several performances, to B, on Late Show as the years rolled by, reflecting the natural deepening in a remarkable artist’s vocal range. The story begins in early 1984, when the musical production “Leader of the Pack“ debuted at The Bottom Line in New York City on Friday, January 20. It was conceived and produced by songwriter Ellie Greenwich, and it starred Karla De Vito, Rory Dodd, Ula Hedwig, Bobby Jay, Darlene Love, and Hank Martin. Jimmy Vivino was the show’s musical conductor and arranger. Paul Shaffer served as musical consultant. The show ran for just two nights, closing on Saturday, January 21. It was revived for an extended run on April 27 and, after a few “special return engagements,“ it ended up playing a full month until May 27. The cast was larger, now consisting of Ellie Greenwich, Jon Fiore, Annie Golden, Ula Hedwig, Bobby Jay, Darlene Love, Peter Neptune, Pattie Darcy, Chrissy Faith, Charles Pistone, and Paul Shaffer, who portrayed Phil Spector and again served as musical consultant. The musical conductor and arranger was again Jimmy Vivino, and the assistant vocal arranger was Marc Shaiman. It was on Thursday, May 10, when Dave and most of the Late Night staff saw the show, and it was the first time Dave had heard Darlene sing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).“ The following year, the production then moved to the Ambassador Theatre, premiering on April 8, 1985.** Among the cast members were Ellie Greenwich, Darlene Love, Annie Golden, and Jasmine Guy. Again conducted by Jimmy Vivino. Paul was not involved in this production. **I uploaded a tv ad for this production here: The videos. Late Night: 0. Brief clips from Late Night on Paul’s involvement with “Leader of the Pack“: April 26, May 3, 7, and 24, 1984; and then December 10, 1986, when Dave asked Paul about the song the band had just played during the show’s first break. After identifying the song and the singer, Paul then suggested that Darlene Love herself should come perform it on the show. 1. December 16, 1986. Six days later, Darlene performed the song for the first and only time on Late Night. Late Show: 2. December 23, 1994. Plus “A Fine Fine Boy“ during the break. 3. December 22, 1995. 4. December 20, 1996. Plus a dash of “Da Do Ron Ron“ during the break. 5. December 23, 1997. 6. December 23, 1998. 7. December 23, 1999. 8. December 19, 2000. 9. December 19, 2001. 10. December 20, 2002. 11. December 23, 2003. 12. December 23, 2004. 13. December 23, 2005. 14. December 22, 2006. --. 2007 writers strike 15. December 23, 2008. 16. December 23, 2009. 17. December 23, 2010. 18. December 23, 2011. 19. December 21, 2012. The first year with Aaron Heick succeeding Bruce Kapler on baritone saxophone. 20. December 20, 2013. 21. December 19, 2014. Bonus clip: “The Making of ’Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).’“ Prepared as a Late Show web exclusive in December 2011, it was updated shortly before the show ended in May 2015. Included here is the updated version.