Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Song by Darlene Love from the album A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records
Released	November 22, 1963
Genre	Christmas, Baroque pop
Length	2:49
Label	Sony Legacy / Philles
Composer	Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
Producer	Phil Spector
A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records track listing
"Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" (10) "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (11) "Here Comes Santa Claus" (12)

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes. According to Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector was not able to put as much emotion into the song as needed. Instead, Love was brought into the studio to record the song which became a big success over time and one of Darlene Love's signature tunes.

In December 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" first on its list of The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs, saying that "nobody can match Love's emotion and sheer vocal power."^[1]

In Other Media

Darlene Love has performed the song every year since 1986 on the final new episode before Christmas of Late Night with David Letterman (NBC 1986-92) and the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS 1993-present). One exception was 2007, when Love was unable to perform due to the Writers' Strike,^[2] with a repeat of her 2006 performance shown instead.

On Letterman, the song is always performed with Paul Shaffer and the show's house band (The World's Most Dangerous Band at NBC, now the CBS Orchestra). The band has been augmented over the years by additional strings and other instruments, as well as a full choir. In 2000, the US Air Force Singing Sergeants were the choir.

The song was also used during the main titles for the film Gremlins. It also appears in a memorable scene in the film GoodFellas, when some of the members of the crew foolishly spend money from the Lufthansa Heist on lavish items, thereby drawing unwanted attention.

Cover versions

The song was not widely recognized after its initial release; however, it has since been covered many times by different artists over the years. The first cover was recorded by Quiet Jungle in 1968 for "The Story Of Snoopy's Christmas" LP. The second and most widely known was recorded by U2 in July 1987 during a sound check at a stop during their Joshua Tree Tour in Glasgow, Scotland. Darlene Love provided backing vocals for U2, and the song was eventually released on the A Very Special Christmas compilation album in 1987, and later on the Unreleased & Rare album on "The Complete U2" digital box set in 2004. Bruce Springsteen covered the song at many of his Christmas shows in New Jersey, however none of the concerts have officially been released.

The following other artists have also covered the song on the respective albums/singles:

• Anberlin — Happy Christmas Vol. 4 (2005), and Lost Songs (2007)
• Arab Strap — BBC Evening Session; unreleased
• Asteria — Myspace; unreleased (2008)
• Jon Bon Jovi — A Very Special Christmas Live (1999)
• Michael Bublé — Christmas (2011)
• David Campbell — The Spirit of Christmas 2006 (2006)
• Mariah Carey — Merry Christmas (1994)
• The Catskills — Christmas in Stereo (1997)
• Cher — A Rosie Christmas (1999)
• Deacon Blue — B-side to their "Cover from the Sky" single (1991)
• Death Cab for Cutie — Maybe This Christmas (2004)
• The Desires — Rock for Tots (1998)
• Diesel — The Spirit of Christmas 1995 (1995)
• Dion — Rock 'n Roll Christmas (1995)
• Flash Cadillac — Ghost of Christmas Past (1996)
• Forgive Durden (Thomas Dutton and Lonnie Angle) — online website release (2009)
• Hanson — Snowed In (1997)
• Husky Team — Christmas in Memphis (2002)
• Joe Iconis — Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular (2008)
• Josh and the Empty Pockets — Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home (2008)
• Dustin Kensrue — This Good Night Is Still Everywhere (2008)
• Last Train Home — Holiday (2003)
• Jade MacRae (with the Wolfgramm Sisters) (as part of "Christmas Medley") — RocKwiz Christmas (2007/2008)
• Leighton Meester — A Very Special Christmas 7 (2009)
• The Mighty Echoes — Doo Wop Around the Christmas Tree (2006)
• New Bomb Turks — Pissing Out the Poison: Singles and Other Swill (1995)
• Norm — Irie Island Christmas (2000)
• Overboard — Tidings (2008)
• R.E.M. — "Fan Club Christmas Single" (2010)
• Joey Ramone — Christmas Spirit...in My House (2002)
• Josh Ramsay — A 604 Records Christmas (2010)
• The Raveonettes — Wishing You a Rave Christmas (2008)
• Reina — This Is Reina (2004)
• Sha Na Na — Rockin' Christmas (2002)
• Slow Club — Christmas, Thanks For Nothing (2009)
• Smash Mouth — The Gift of Rock (2005)
• Brenda K. Starr — Free Style Christmas (1995)
• Jon Stevens — The Spirit of Christmas 2004 (2004)
• Straight No Chaser — Holiday Spirits (2008)
• Theo Tams — Christmas Dream (2008)
• KT Tunstall — Have Yourself a Very KT Christmas (2007)
• U2 — A Very Special Christmas (1987)
• The Violet Burning — divine (2008)

References

1. ^ Greene, Andy. "The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/the-greatest-rock-and-roll-christmas-songs-20101216/darlene-love-christmas-baby-please-come-home-0546795. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
2. ^ http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_7798837?nclick_check=1

External links

• Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) — Allmusic listing
• Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) — Reason To Rock critique