"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a pop song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 compilation album A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records (later renamed A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector). The song was written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and Phil Spector.
| "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) | |
| Single by Darlene Love | |
| from the album A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records | |
| B-side | "Harry And Milt Meet Hal B." |
| Released | December 1963 |
| Studio | Gold Star |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:49 |
| Label | Philles |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Phil Spector |
Upon release, the song did not find commercial success, but in later years it has gone on to become a Christmas standard. It charted for the first time on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2018 and has since peaked at number 15. It has also been listed on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart, peaking at number seven. The song has been covered by U2, Mariah Carey, Cher, Death Cab for Cutie, and Michael Bublé, among others.
Background and release
editLove was given a demo of the song over the phone and went on to record the song.[1] The song was released as a single in 1963[2] and in 1964 (Philles X-125).[3] Upon release, the song was not a huge success but it has gone on to become a Christmas standard.[4]
In 1963, Spector decided that the song was strong enough to warrant a non-seasonal version and wrote a version titled "Johnny (Baby Please Come Home)", which Love also performed.[4] This version was released to the public in 1976 as the final track on the Spector compilation album, Rare Masters Vol. 2.[4]
Cher performed background vocals on the 1963 version, which six decades later came full circle when Love duetted on Cher's 2023 version of the song.[5]
Chart performance
editDespite not charting on its first release, the song has found commercial success in later years. The song charted on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart at number 99 on the week ending December 13, 2014,[6] reaching a peak position of number 7 seven years later (on the week ending December 4, 2021).[7] On the week ending December 29, 2018, the track entered the main Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time at number 50,[8] and attained an all-time peak position of number 15 on the week ending December 31, 2022 (following its fourth chart re-entry).[9] On the official UK Singles Chart, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" made its first appearance on the week of January 5, 2017 at number 74. The song re-entered the same chart one year later at number 77, and again on the week of December 20, 2018 at number 80, eventually reaching its all-time peak position of number 22 two weeks later. It has re-entered the UK Singles Chart each December since.[10]
Live performances
editDarlene Love performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman (NBC) in 1986. She then sang it annually for 20 years (1994–2014) on the episode before Christmas on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), 21 times in all. The exception was in 2007 when Love was unable to perform due to the Writers' Strike and a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.[11] She performed the song with Paul Shaffer and the show's house band (The World's Most Dangerous Band at NBC, the CBS Orchestra at CBS).[12] She gave a surprise performance of the song with Shaffer in a video uploaded to Letterman's YouTube channel in December 2023.[13]
Love also performed the song on December 24, 2013, in front of traders at the New York Stock Exchange as the market closed for the day.
Beginning in 2015, the tradition of Love's annual performance of the song moved to The View (ABC, 2015–2023), where it has continued during its last edition before Christmas until 2023.[14] only skipping out the 2021 edition due to being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case resulting in a quarantine; a compilation of her previous performances was shown instead.[15]
In 2024, after a prolonged negotiation, Love brought the annual tradition to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; she performed the song on the December 18 episode, backed by Paul Shaffer, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.[16]
Legacy
editIn December 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" first on its list of The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs, noting that "nobody can match Love's emotion and sheer vocal power."[17] The song has also been used in several movies.[18]
Cover versions
edit_(cropped).jpg)
The song has become a Christmas standard and has since been covered multiple times by prominent artists. Love has noted that her two favourite covers of the song are Mariah Carey and U2's for their originality and vocal harmonies respectively.[19]
- The song was covered by rock band U2 in 1987 during a sound check in Glasgow, Scotland during their Joshua Tree Tour.[20] It was released on the compilation A Very Special Christmas the same year and on the album Unreleased & Rare in the digital box set The Complete U2 in 2004; Love performed backing vocals in this recording.[21]
- In 1994, Mariah Carey recorded a version for her album Merry Christmas.[22] Carey's version reached number 59 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart in 2011 and number 20 on the US Holiday 100; the latter being the second highest position for the song on the chart after the original.[23] She first performed her version in 2008 at The Grammy Nominations Concert Live.[24] The song was added to the setlist for her concert residency All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity (2014–2019).[25] In 2021, Carey covered the song again for her Christmas special Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues and has included it on her Christmas tours: Merry Christmas to All! Tour and Merry Christmas One and All!.[26][27]
- In 2010, Josh Ramsay from the Canadian band Marianas Trench covered the song for 604 Records' Christmas compilation album.[28]
- In 2011, Michael Bublé covered the song for his album Christmas.[29] In 2021, he performed the song live with Hannah Waddingham on his Christmas in the City NBC special celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Christmas album.[30]
- In 2021, Keke Palmer and the cast of Sing 2 covered the song for a Christmas commercial from Comcast's Xfinity and Sky Group and as a bonus track from the original motion picture soundtrack of the same name.[31] Palmer and Tori Kelly performed the song live on The Voice season 21 finale with the top 13 acts.[32]
- The song has also been covered by Foo Fighters,[33] Jon Bon Jovi[34] and Alexia.[35]
- In 2023, Cher recorded a duet version with Love for her album Christmas, after originally singing backing vocals for Love's version in 1963.[36] Italian singer Annalisa released a cover version of the song that same year, which featured in the Prime Video's Christmas comedy Elf Me;[37] the song peaked at number 10 on the Italian singles chart.[38]
- In November 2024, country singer Mason Ramsey covered the song on his Christmas EP, Merry Christmas, Baby.
Personnel
edit- Lead vocals by Darlene Love
- Backing vocals by: Cher and The Blossoms (Fanita James, Darlene Love, Gracia Nitzsche, Edna Wright, and Carolyn Willis)
- Instrumentation by The Wrecking Crew:
- Jack Nitzsche – arrangements, percussion
- Steve Douglas – saxophone
- Jay Migliori – saxophone
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Louis Blackburn – horns
- Leon Russell – piano
- Roy Caton – trumpet
- Sonny Bono – percussion
- Frank Capp – percussion
- Ray Pohlman – bass
- Irv Rubins – guitar
- Barney Kessel – guitar
- Bill Pitman – guitar
- Tommy Tedesco – guitar
- Nino Tempo – guitar
- Johnny Vidor – strings
- Larry Levine – engineer
Charts
edit
Darlene Love versioneditWeekly chartsedit
All-time chartsedit
Mariah Carey versioneditWeekly chartsedit
All-time chartsedit
|
Michael Bublé versioneditWeekly chartsedit
All-time chartsedit
Leona Lewis versionedit
Annalisa versionedit
Various artists versionedit
|
Certifications
editDarlene Love version
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[95] Digital sales since 2011 |
Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[96] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Mariah Carey version
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[97] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[98] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[99] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[100] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[101] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Michael Bublé version
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[102] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[103] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ Darlene Love on Phil Spector, Elvis, '20 Feet from Stardom' | Episode 26 | Music Is My Life Podcast, 30 June 2019, retrieved 2019-09-02,
27:53
- ^ "Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)". 45cat.com.
- ^ "Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)". 45cat.com.
- ^ a b c "Did Phil Spector Do a Non-Christmas Version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"?". Entertainment Legends Reveal. 4 December 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Greene, Andy (2023-10-23). "Darlene Love on Her 60-Year Friendship With Cher, New 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' Duet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
- ^ "Holiday 100 (Week of December 13, 2014)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Darlene Love Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "The Hot 100 (Week of December 29, 2018)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Darlene Love Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "God save the Queen – she's on YouTube!". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ "Late Show with David Letterman - Making of 'Christmas' with Darlene Love & Paul Shaffer". Archived from the original on 2016-03-15 – via YouTube.
- ^ Letterman, David (2023-12-19). Dave, Paul and Darlene Love's "Christmas" Reunion (Video). Retrieved 2024-12-20 – via YouTube.
- ^ Scoop, T. V. "Scoop: Upcoming Guests on THE VIEW, 12/10-12/14 on ABC". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
- ^ Monteil, Abby (17 December 2021). "'The View' Concludes 2021 Season with Traditional Darlene Love Performance — With a Twist". Decider. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Riccardo, Nick (2024-12-19). "Darlene Love's 'Christmas Baby' Comes Home: Watch Her Late Night Return". LateNighter. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Greene, Andy. "The Greatest Rock and Roll Christmas Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ^ "Darlene Love - List". WhatSong. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ "Darlene Love Reveals Her Favorite Covers of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Rossen, Jake (21 December 2017). "The Bittersweet Story Behind a Very Special Christmas". Mentalfloss.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
[Music producer Jimmy Iovine] flew to Glasgow to record U2's rendition of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" while the band was performing a sound check before a concert
- ^ "A Very Special Christmas, Album Track Listing". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ^ "Mariah Carey's Best Christmas Songs (Critic's Picks)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
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- ^ "Mariah Carey "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
- ^ Goodman, Jessica (October 9, 2015). "Mariah Carey announces second annual Christmas concert series". E! News. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ^ "Billboard's Holiday 100 shows people stick to what they know and love". Times News. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Yates, Jonny (November 16, 2023). "Mariah Carey's Christmas Tour: Setlist, Dates and Ticket Info". PinkNews. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "A 604 Records Christmas". Amazon. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Christmas Album Tracklisting Revealed | Michael Buble Official Site". Michaelbuble.com. September 20, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ "Video: Hannah Waddingham & Michael Bublé Sing 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'". Broadway World Music. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ Iahn, Buddy (November 3, 2021). "'Sing 2' soundtrack features U2, Tori Kelly, Elton John & others". The Music Universe.
- ^ "The Voice: Tori Kelly, Keke Palmer And The Top 13 Perform". Yahoo. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (2017-12-17). "See Foo Fighters Turn 'Everlong' Into Christmas Medley on 'SNL'". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – Please Come Home For Christmas". TV90s. 15 December 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ "Alexia, il suo Natale è con Christmas (baby please come home): il video". Sky TG24. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Greene, Andy (2023-10-13). "Darlene Love on Her 60-Year Friendship With Cher, New 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' Duet". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "Annalisa, la cover del brano natalizio Christmas Baby Please Come Home". Sky TG24. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
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- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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- ^ "HRT Airplay Radio Chart No. 1060 - Issue Date: January 2nd 2023" (PDF). Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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- ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week 52/2023". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 52. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ "2019 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 22.12.2023–28.12.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 51 52. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
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- ^ "British single certifications – Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Mariah Carey – Christmas". Music Canada. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Mariah Carey – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". Radioscope. Retrieved December 13, 2024. Type Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) in the "Search:" field.
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- ^ "British single certifications – Michael Buble – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
External links
edit- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Allmusic listing
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Reason To Rock critique