Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 359 - A Christmas Gift For You...

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who visited Soundtrack4life over the past year. Hopefully you have found something here that has given you a great listening experience.

Also would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas time. I hope you enjoy today's choice as much as I have.

A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records - Various Artists
Philles Records
Produced by Phil Spector
Released 22nd Nomember 1963

US Chart #13

Tracklisting

Side 1

Side 2

1972 Reissue

Apple Records

US Billboard Christmas Albums Sales Chart #6

UK Chart #19*

* It did enter the UK Charts in 1972 but I do not know at what position. #19 was its placing when it re-entered the chart in 1983!

Single from the Album

Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) / Harry And Milt Meet Hal B.

Phillies Records (119)

Produced by Phil Spector

Released December 1963

Did Not Chart

Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) / Winter Wonderland

Phillies Records (X-125)

Produced by Phil Spector

Released November 1964

Did Not Chart

*****************

So, for Christmas Eve I thought there can only be one Christmas Album worth playing. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am not a huge fan at all of Christmas music especially when it is played weeks and weeks before the event. But this year I have managed to survive without actually hearing an awful lot of Christmas music, having only really with purpose played Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody and The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's Fairytale Of New York (and a fine cover of it by Chuck Ragan and Emily Barker that I heard via my friend Rue yesterday) so far this year and so I can say with some sense of delight that I have really enjoyed listening to this classic album again without being worn down by the over abundance of Christmas tunes!

In 2003, the album was voted 142 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has cited this album as his favorite of all time. Which is quite funny as apparently he had wanted to play piano on Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town but was rejected for his low performing ability!

One of the things I find quite remarkable is that the only single released from the album, Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home), sung by Darlene Love never charted, both times it was released! Amazing and yet it is considered to be one of The Most Iconic Christmas Pop Songs of All Time. In 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."

According to Darlene Love the song was originally going to be sung by Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes. Ronnie didn't project the emotion the song required and so Darlene was brought into the studio to record her version and it is now one of her signature songs! You sometimes wonder what the history of the song would have been like if Ronnie Spector had been able to deliver the punch when required! History, and this particular album though will forever read that it is Darlene Love who recoreded it and I don't think anyone would have imagined what would happen to the song afterwards!

Beginning in 1986, and continuing for 29 years, Darlene Love performed the song annually on the final new episode before Christmas of Late Night with David Letterman (NBC 1986-92) and Late Show with David Letterman (CBS 1993–2014), 28 times in all. The exception was 2007, when Love was unable to perform due to the Writers' Strike; a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.

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). The band had been augmented over the years by strings and other instruments, as well as a full choir. In 2000, the US Air Force Singing Sergeants were the choir. One of the highlights of the performances was a sax solo by band member Bruce Kapler, who would make his entrance in entertaining ways, including being pulled in on Santa's sleigh, "flying" from the rafters on wires, walking down the steps of the audience risers, and appearing in a giant snow globe. It was known that Love's last appearance on Letterman's show would air on December 19, 2014, as Letterman had announced his retirement from hosting The Late Show. In addition to the publicity and anticipation for this final performance, Love's original version of the song reappeared on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 21 on the publication's Holiday Digital Songs chart.

Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Down through the years on Late Night and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Ten Cover Versions of Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - and none of them are by Mariah Carey, Little Mix or Michael Bublé!

Joey Ramone.

U2 (Darlene Love on Backing Vocals).

Lady Antebellum.

Sleeping At Last. 

Saves The Day.

Death Cab For Cutie.

Bruce Springsteen and Friends.

Anberlin.

Smash Mouth.

Dustin Kensrue.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Twenty Feet From Stardom Wins Oscar

At the 68th AcademyAwards Cermenony last night in Los Angeles 'Twenty Feet From Stardom' won the 'Best Documentary' category.

'Twenty Feet From Stardom' is the  untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century. Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, the film is both a tribute to the unsung voices who brought shape and style to popular music and a reflection on the conflicts, sacrifices and rewards of a career spent harmonizing with others. These gifted artists span a range of styles, genres and eras of popular music, but each has a uniquely fascinating and personal story to share of life spent in the shadows of superstardom. Along with rare archival footage and a peerless soundtrack are intimate interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, and Mick Jagger to name just a few. For a complete list of all who appear in the film click here.

Some of us don't even know the names of these back up singers and the film certainly sheds a lot of light that maybe many were unaware of. For instance, I did not realise before I watched the film that Darlene Love and her group The Blossoms had actually sung on 'He's A Rebel', released under the name of The Crystals! Apparently Darlene Love thought that she was signed to a deal with Phil Spector but ended up a victim to another "ghost release" with The Crystals follow up to 'He's a Rebel',  'He's Sure the Boy I Love'.

Official Trailer.

Darlene Love Sings her Oscar Acceptance Speech.

A couple of the other ladies in the film.
Merry Clayton on backing vocals with The Rolling Stones on the original recording of 'Gimmie Shelter'. She also sang backing on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Clayton has also sung with Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, and Linda Rondstat to name but a few.

Lisa Fischer has been singing back up vocals on every Stones tour since 1989. Here's one of the most amazing performances of 'Gimmie Shelter'. She also sings back up for Sting and has sung with Luther Vandross,Tina Turner, and last year she was touring as back up singer for Nine Inch Nails!.
 

Birthdays Today

Dobie Gray

Drift Away.

 The In Crowd.

Darlene Love

He's a Rebel - The Crystals.

Then He Kissed Me - The Cyrstals.

Da Doo Ron Ron - Bruce Springsteen and Darlene Love.

 Mick Jagger

Shine a Light - The Rolling Stones (with Bonnie Rait).

 

 

Miranda Joyce (The Belle Stars)

Sign of the Times.

 Indian Summer.

World Domination.