" It’s just the four of us and my band, singing and playing. [We’re] singing the background ourselves and playing ourselves, but somehow, when she started to sing, there was the Wall of Sound. "- Paul
She's actually singing it a half step higher than the original here, the original is Ebmaj and this is Emaj. In later years she would drop the key quite a lot but this is remarkable.
I watch about 10 - 15 versions of Darlene on Dave's old shows for the last dozen years or so...now Darlene is part of tradition...what a great way to start Christmas Day...🙂
Since Dave’s Late Night show ended. I been watching Darlene Love sing this Christmas classic song online. Letterman’s show made it a tradition for the holidays. It feels good rewatching Darlene sing this classic holiday tune. I made this a tradition for my holidays. I am rewatching every Letterman show where Darlene performs the song. I love it. Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 To you all.
Just watch as the years go by and see how elaborate her stage has become...backup singers...choir!!...more instruments...really quite fantastic...sure miss Letterman...and those Christmas shows...also...it was years before I realized she was Danny Glover's wife in the Lethal Weapon movies...had kept thinking watching the movies...this woman looks so familiar!!!!
I just watched a clip of a mashup of all the Letterman appearances. And yea it become more and more elaborate. But this one right here is the best. You can tell the band is pumped to be backing Darlene. Paul’s playing parts with 4 hands
Nice - -today is December 22, so now I have to find the Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger story (one of the early ones - -before they got too "show-biz-y"). Watching Letterman around 12/23 was ALWAYS one of my Xmas traditions.
Yes. Every year it was a bigger and more spectacular production, and I feel Darlene and her song got a little lost in it. THis one, if I may, is pure music and song, and the perfect version.
THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR THIS!!! This is a historic performance! The first of what is now a Christmas Tradition. It's Not Christmas till Darlene sings this song! Now Christmas can officially begin!
Not really. Her first was here, 1986. Her next was in 1994, and then every year following that until 2014 - except for 2007, when there was a writers strike and thus no show. So 21 times total. Here’s the complete collection: ua-cam.com/video/8V2IrH1owdw/v-deo.html
I just watched the Darlene's farewell performance on Dave's final season. She kills everytime. I'll bet she still kills it. What a voice. This well done small group playing the same arrangement with a huge band years later is very comparable - that voice!
This one of the greatest, most spontaneous performances of any song ever. Forget Christmas - this is timeless, joyous, a veritable career resurrection that occurs right in front of you. Dave goes for severe understatement with, "Sounded very nice." Yeah. "Very nice" doesn't earn you a continuous multi-decade gig that has Darlene performing on Letterman and many other places. They captured lightning in a bottle and they knew it. And FYI one of the backup singers on the original album was Cher (!) who just released a duet with Darlene on this same song 60 years later. But the best backup singers were the Late Show Band. They simply gave it every last ounce of effort for Darlene. You can tell they would have done anything for her.
I have watched all the Darlene Love on Letterman Christmas youtube videos and they are all wonderful. I don't have a favorite as it would be impossible to choose. I really like this 86 version because even though it's just Paul, the band, and Darlene's big voice they play it with such great enthusiasm and energy just like the bigger Darlene Christmas productions that would be done years later on Letterman.
@@jnadle1 thanks for the "correction" - i hope you realize my comment was originally made in jest but no reason not to give Sid his due - i looked at his Wikipedia bio and wow - Dude had a career! Major props - i had no idea - and i'm very thankful for your properly identifying him. Always loved the Darlene Love holiday tradition (we were all so young then!) and always had a special appreciation for Letterman and his producers for making it happen and continuing it through the years. So thanks again and good health and cheer and Happy Holidays to you!
It is an ABSOLUTE JOY to have had Mariah take this classic and just belt her way into our hearts with it 🥹🥹🥹 Mimi SLAYED it…. ….But M A N. When DARLENE LOVE sings this joint, it just adds such a aching, soulful flavor!
The version that I wish I had downloaded off UA-cam was a live version she sang at some party at a club in NYC in the early 80s - they might have been the first people to track her down and get her to come back and sing and I can't find it on UA-cam anymore!
When they returned from commercial Dave says “Maybe you can come back next year & sing it again. Tomorrow night on the show, Jay Leno!”. A premonition followed by a bit of irony. Merry Xmas everybody!!
An absolute LEGEND being able to sing this superior let alone at the age of 45!! Britney Spears, Taylor Swiftand and the rest of the audio tune playback gang should take notes and use this performance as a humbling anti-Icarus experience
Thanks for the upload here - its nice to remember this tradition now that it is no longer on the air. Do you happen to have any of the late show performances that have never been seen on youtube, I think 1996,7 & 9 have still to be seen. Would love to see that 1985 clip of River Deep Mountain High, her voice on that song must be pretty epic at that point in her life
Thank you so much for that great vid It is amazing how much this yearly performance came to mean something so special to a lot of people. Myself included. Looking forward to seeing everything that your channel has to offer, thanks again!
" It’s just the four of us and my band, singing and playing. [We’re] singing the background ourselves and playing ourselves, but somehow, when she started to sing, there was the Wall of Sound. "- Paul
True LOVE right there. Such a kind Soul and that glorious smile! 🙏♥️🙏
My God! That was awesome! Darlene is crushing it, from the first note out of her mouth. Wow!
Truer words never spoken!! D.L. brangin THAT Love!!❤❤❤❤
No One does that song like Darlene Love....no One! Merry 🎄 🎅
With all 29 years Darlene doing this on Letterman. This is my favorite version.
She's 80 years old now and still belting it out
The beginning of the greatest, most joyous holiday tradition ever! Love Darlene, love this song, and love you Dave! Thanks for the memories! 💕
45 years old when she did this, 45 back then was like 55. She looks AMAZING and her voice is kick ass
45 was the same back then as it is now. It’s old 😂
The productions got more elaborate over the next 28 years. But, there was always that voice.
Amen, that voice never changed through the years either, pretty damn awesome. Love her energy
69dude
Back when ppl could actually sing live. What a voice ❤🎄🎅🏻
Okay boomer
@@space9277 she ain’t wrong
@@zman8340I love the “boomer” comments like they think it’s a insult lol
People can still sing live, maybe you can’t
She is singing in the same note that the song was recorded in 1963, and she's 45 here. Legendary.
Wait til you see how she does for the next 25 years!
She's actually singing it a half step higher than the original here, the original is Ebmaj and this is Emaj. In later years she would drop the key quite a lot but this is remarkable.
The same key?
Awesome!
From such humble beginnings a Christmas tradition began. Definitely not Christmas until I hear this.
I watch about 10 - 15 versions of Darlene on Dave's old shows for the last dozen years or so...now Darlene is part of tradition...what a great way to start Christmas Day...🙂
An American treasure
A Christmas classic
Since Dave’s Late Night show ended. I been watching Darlene Love sing this Christmas classic song online. Letterman’s show made it a tradition for the holidays. It feels good rewatching Darlene sing this classic holiday tune. I made this a tradition for my holidays. I am rewatching every Letterman show where Darlene performs the song. I love it.
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 To you all.
There’s a compilation of her performances on Dave all in one place.
You just gave me a new Christmas Tradition!!! Thanks New Family Member!!
I watch Jay Thomas tell the Lone Ranger story then this. ❤
Darlene Love and the World's Most Dangerous Band. Legends.
What a voice!
DAMN, THAT GIRL CAN SING!
God damn, this woman can sing... Whew... I need a cold shower
What a voice.
I miss The World's Most Dangerous Band.
+TimSPC And WIll and Sid had great harmonies on this backing Darlene up. They almost sounded like Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
What a voice!! Darlene Rocks
For 20 years my wife and I have seen Ms. Love perform this on Letterman. We have a saying in our house:
It aint Christmas until we hear Darlene sing!
That's Will Lee doing the high backing vocal part - wild! I loved this show every year. This is the simplest version, and I think it's my favorite.
Just watch as the years go by and see how elaborate her stage has become...backup singers...choir!!...more instruments...really quite fantastic...sure miss Letterman...and those Christmas shows...also...it was years before I realized she was Danny Glover's wife in the Lethal Weapon movies...had kept thinking watching the movies...this woman looks so familiar!!!!
She's The Real Queen of Xmas...absolutely a perfect 10+ !
@@breahsaldana3728 I absolutely agree with you. Darlene is THE Queen of Christmas! 👏💃🎄👑#️⃣1️⃣
I just watched a clip of a mashup of all the Letterman appearances. And yea it become more and more elaborate. But this one right here is the best. You can tell the band is pumped to be backing Darlene. Paul’s playing parts with 4 hands
Nice - -today is December 22, so now I have to find the Jay Thomas' Lone Ranger story (one of the early ones - -before they got too "show-biz-y"). Watching Letterman around 12/23 was ALWAYS one of my Xmas traditions.
I put together a four-part compilation of all of Jay’s appearances on Dave. You’ll find what you’re looking for there.
Of all the times Darlene did this, this is still my favorite. Love it!
Yes. Every year it was a bigger and more spectacular production, and I feel Darlene and her song got a little lost in it. THis one, if I may, is pure music and song, and the perfect version.
Darlene is incredible. Great classic Christmas song. So iconic.🎄🎅🏻
THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR THIS!!! This is a historic performance! The first of what is now a Christmas Tradition. It's Not Christmas till Darlene sings this song! Now Christmas can officially begin!
I think they started this in the mid-80s.
Absolutely! Couldn't agree more! Gives me chills every time! 😅
Happy birthday Darlene
No one can do it like Darlene Love!
From the 60s till for ever I am Darlene love fan got her music and her book
She performed this song for Dave--from 1986 till 2014----Two networks --29 times !!
Not really. Her first was here, 1986. Her next was in 1994, and then every year following that until 2014 - except for 2007, when there was a writers strike and thus no show.
So 21 times total.
Here’s the complete collection: ua-cam.com/video/8V2IrH1owdw/v-deo.html
@@dongiller Sound more like 10 times total.
@@dirktyler3643 Count it again.
@@dongiller 1986 + 1994 to 2014 - 1 = 10. What am I getting wrong?
@@dirktyler3643 1. 1986
2. 1994
3. 1995
4. 1996
5. 1997
6. 1998
7. 1999
8. 2000
9. 2001
10. 2002
11. 2003
12. 2004
13. 2005
14. 2006
(No 2007 due to writers strike)
15. 2008
16. 2009
17. 2010
18. 2011
19. 2012
20. 2013
21. 2014
Clear enough?
Very nice nothing,
IT WAS DAMN GREAT 💯
I just watched the Darlene's farewell performance on Dave's final season. She kills everytime. I'll bet she still kills it. What a voice. This well done small group playing the same arrangement with a huge band years later is very comparable - that voice!
Watching in 2021 hoping for a Christmas miracle 💜
Darlene and four musicians , That's all you need !
Thank you!
I remember how excited my Dad was that this was on and it started a tradition that is so dear to me now that I've lost him.
Wow me too.
This one of the greatest, most spontaneous performances of any song ever. Forget Christmas - this is timeless, joyous, a veritable career resurrection that occurs right in front of you. Dave goes for severe understatement with, "Sounded very nice." Yeah. "Very nice" doesn't earn you a continuous multi-decade gig that has Darlene performing on Letterman and many other places. They captured lightning in a bottle and they knew it. And FYI one of the backup singers on the original album was Cher (!) who just released a duet with Darlene on this same song 60 years later. But the best backup singers were the Late Show Band. They simply gave it every last ounce of effort for Darlene. You can tell they would have done anything for her.
Did you see the reunion with Letterman? ua-cam.com/video/Shr8aESYZcY/v-deo.htmlsi=Tb4YGrFazZTx3EC6
That’s just beautiful
I’m old enough to to have seen all of Darlene’s performances! Excellence wire to wire! Merry Christmas to all!
Very true! If this performance of Her's doesn't get you rockin you're no longer alive. :) A Merry Christmas to you as well.
This is the best take ever!!!
She's such a beautiful, and lovely woman!!!
LOVE IT, I'll sit around during the Christmas season and watch Darlene belt out her many versions of this song 💗
10 out of 10 score here for this! One of my favorite Christmas songs still!
Joyous… watching them perform is the definition of joy
So much 80's awesomeness.
Incredible voice, bravo Darlene.
The best she’s great
Oh my god here voice is so great it sounds just like listening to a recording. Amazing
The song I wake up to on Christmas Morning.
Love her voice,...love her song...!!
thank you, David. Darlene is a once in a while gift
She sounded terrific here! What a legend. Many don't realize she also sang songs like "He's a Rebel," which was incorrectly credited to The Crystals.
A world shaker!!!
WOW, Darlene just sang the tears right up from my dry eyes.
That's good medicine.
Honor and Respect 🪶
An absolute legend. Keep on bringing it to us Babe
Love!
This is so good and charming.
God bless the guy singing that high note "Christmas" all song long. Jesus i was tired for him.
The great Will Lee.
I have watched all the Darlene Love on Letterman Christmas youtube videos and they are all wonderful. I don't have a favorite as it would be impossible to choose. I really like this 86 version because even though it's just Paul, the band, and Darlene's big voice they play it with such great enthusiasm and energy just like the bigger Darlene Christmas productions that would be done years later on Letterman.
So much fun to bookend this and final performance in 2014!
Or you could watch them all. :) - ua-cam.com/video/8V2IrH1owdw/v-deo.html
Wow, she's backed by Paul and 3 musicians. Not even a sax solo. Still, I love it!
Any time the snow is falling, I could listen to this without pause. Such a good tune!
So amazing.
The first and the greatest!
Sangin her ass off. Can't beat it.
Legend
Beautiful!!
Incredible performance
Fabulous!!
BRAVO!!!!!
A couple of months later she got a role in the action blockbuster Lethal Weapon, as Murtaugh`s wife Trish...
Bravo!
That was AWESOME!
Thank you for this!!!
Wow - the start of a great tradition!
Gotta love Ross Geller there on guitar and background vocals.
Actually, Sid McGinis.
@@jnadle1 thanks for the "correction" - i hope you realize my comment was originally made in jest but no reason not to give Sid his due - i looked at his Wikipedia bio and wow - Dude had a career! Major props - i had no idea - and i'm very thankful for your properly identifying him. Always loved the Darlene Love holiday tradition (we were all so young then!) and always had a special appreciation for Letterman and his producers for making it happen and continuing it through the years. So thanks again and good health and cheer and Happy Holidays to you!
what a voice😍
wowwww what a set of pipes on that lady
OMG! LOVE her!
Brilliant
Iconic voice and talent.....
thanks again Don!
I remember this ♥️🎸
It is an ABSOLUTE JOY to have had Mariah take this classic and just belt her way into our hearts with it 🥹🥹🥹 Mimi SLAYED it….
….But M A N. When DARLENE LOVE sings this joint, it just adds such a aching, soulful flavor!
The version that I wish I had downloaded off UA-cam was a live version she sang at some party at a club in NYC in the early 80s - they might have been the first people to track her down and get her to come back and sing and I can't find it on UA-cam anymore!
I wonder if that might have been the “Leader of the Pack” musical at The Bottom Line in early 1984.
Darlene Love - perfecto - - PAUL and the band - also perfecto
GREAT!
What a voice
Her and her sister Edna Wright sang backup on Robert John's big hit "Sad Eyes"
When they returned from commercial Dave says “Maybe you can come back next year & sing it again. Tomorrow night on the show, Jay Leno!”. A premonition followed by a bit of irony. Merry Xmas everybody!!
I LOVE HER!!!!!
Great drummer and bass player.
DAMMMMMNNNNNN IT...THEY DID THAT
the 60/70s has the best christmas songs
💙💙💙💙💙
This looks like it’s on public access compared to where Letterman was at when he ended his network TV run.
Just Smiles!
I believe she played Danny Glover's wife the following year in the original "Lethal Weapon" flick..!
She did.
An absolute LEGEND being able to sing this superior let alone at the age of 45!! Britney Spears, Taylor Swiftand and the rest of the audio tune playback gang should take notes and use this performance as a humbling anti-Icarus experience
Thanks for the upload here - its nice to remember this tradition now that it is no longer on the air. Do you happen to have any of the late show performances that have never been seen on youtube, I think 1996,7 & 9 have still to be seen. Would love to see that 1985 clip of River Deep Mountain High, her voice on that song must be pretty epic at that point in her life
+Ray Wilson I have everything. :) As to some unseen-related stuff, enjoy this:
ua-cam.com/video/DwjOIw_z7CY/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for that great vid It is amazing how much this yearly performance came to mean something so special to a lot of people. Myself included. Looking forward to seeing everything that your channel has to offer, thanks again!
***** Yeah, that won't happen.
+Don Giller Since you got the chance to see this performed live with Paul Shaffer's re-created Wall of Sound, what kind of experience was that like?
Ray Wilson I never saw it live, sorry. Wish I had.
Can she sing!!!
Don Giller is a wizard
In the beginning.
wow. did you see how hard the piano guy was working on that. whew.
“The piano guy” is Paul Shaffer.
From when they used to sing
I’m here because of Paul Shaffer favorite staff moments
I uploaded all of her performances elsewhere here.
@@dongiller yeah I saw that too. I’m saving it for the weekend hehehe thanks so much 😊