Darlene Love reminisces about her timeless holiday hit, 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'

Darlene Loves iconic holiday song, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), remains a central part of her life every festive season. She notes with amusement that the tune seems to be everywhere during the holidays from post offices to grocery stores and elevators. Its amusing how often my song pops up at Christmastime, she says with a laugh.

First released in 1963, Loves signature track has joined the ranks of holiday classics like Bing Crosbys White Christmas and Mariah Careys All I Want for Christmas Is You. Love performed Christmas on David Lettermans late-night show for many years and has continued to appear on programs such as The View and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she is scheduled to perform on December 18 alongside Steve Van Zandt and former Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer.

Interviewed at Sony Music Entertainment near Madison Square Park, the 84-year-old Love radiates a youthful energy, hinting that she could burst into the joyful notes of Christmas, Hes a Rebel, or Hes Sure the Boy I Love at any moment. Celebrated by multiple generations of musicians, Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and featured in the Oscar-winning documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom in 2013.

Born Darlene Wright in Los Angeles to a minister, Love had performed for years before signing with Phil Spector in 1962. Spector renamed her Darlene Love and launched her career as both a lead and backing singer, her powerful mezzo-soprano perfectly complementing his little symphonies for the kids. When Spector recorded a Christmas album, Love was featured on classics like White Christmas and Marshmallow World, as well as the original song that would become her hallmark. Christmas was created by Spector along with songwriting duo Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.

Love recalls the challenging studio session for the song, designed to simulate a winter atmosphere during summer. Phil brought in Christmas lights and a tree, and tried to make it freezing cold, she remembers. I warned him it would close our throats, so we just kept the lights, and everyone was in a great mood.

Her working relationship with Spector had its difficulties, including the early incident where he released her recorded song with another group, the Crystals, without her consent. In the 1990s, she successfully sued him for unpaid royalties. Despite these challenges, Love recounts moments of warmth and humor with Spector, teasing him about his hairpiece and shoes, or standing her ground during recording sessions.

Love also acted as a mentor and protector to younger performers, including Ronnie Spector and Cher, during their early years in the industry. She fondly remembers taking them out for hamburgers during studio breaks and encouraging them to stand up for themselves.

Loves collaboration with Cher continues; Cher sang backing vocals on Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and invited Love to perform on her own Christmas recordings. Love laughs about not recognizing Chers voice at first when she called. Cher says, Hey, doll, and I asked, Who? She said, Cher, bitch! and I knew it was her, Love recounts.

The album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, which includes hits like the Ronettes I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and the Crystals Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, initially faced tragic timing, releasing the day of President John F. Kennedys assassination. It took years for the album to gain recognition, while Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) became a staple through Lettermans show in the 1990s.

Love believes the songs lasting appeal comes from its simplicity and universal lyrics, which can speak to lovers, lost siblings, or departed friends. Asked if theres another holiday song she would sing as often, she immediately mentions Silent Night. She reflects, Its a song that can make you feel happy or sad. When you say Silent night, holy night, youre talking about stars, millions of them in the dark mountains. Its a clear night, and thats what makes it so special.

Author: Maya Henderson