@ObamaFromKenya Ah...good stats there! And yes...I was basing my comments on her quote from her appearance with Dave, Paul and Barbara a few days ago. Thanks!
It's a hell of a task to recreate the "wall of sound" with only 4 guys, and they KILLED it!.. Man Darlene sounded powerful here. In the top 3 greatest secular Christmas tunes of all time.
I don’t understand why I rarely hear this song on the radio, in stores, in every tv special and hallmark movie because it’s clearly the best Christmas song ever. Thank god for David letterman for making it a tradition that lives on.
Unfortunately, it may be because of the toxicity of being associated with the name Phil Spector. But yeah, it shouldn’t detract from the brilliant Darlene Love
You don’t hear it on the radio? That’s unfortunate. On the Christmas station in my area, I hear it at least once a day. I also frequently hear Darlene’s version of “Marshmallow World.”
@@logann7942 well… to be fair… I don’t listen to the radio anymore 😂 but I used to… and rarely heard this one. I was in a restaurant earlier this week, and the radio played Christmas Time by the Beatles… TWICE within twenty minutes… plus the Mariah one and the George Michael’s one that’s awful…. But no love for Darlene Love…
I work on a classic rock radio station, so we play the U2 version, but our sister station plays Darlene's. By far our most requested Christmas song is Cheech and Chong - "Santa Claus and His Old Lady."
Saw Darlene perform live two weeks ago and even in her early eighties her voice and her personality rocked the rafters! She definitely kicked off the holiday season for all of us who attended that evening.
I know in the subsequent appearances each Christmas the band and background singers would grow in numbers, but this first performance of Darlene with just Paul, Will, Sid & Anton is pure magic.
Thank you for sharing this video! Between Darlene singing and Jay Thomas throwing balls to knock off the meatball, you always had the BEST Christmas show!!! ❤❤❤
Do a search for Don Giller Darlene Love on TH-cam and you’ll find a complete compilation. Don posted unofficially a lot of great anthologies of Letterman material that are still available. It would be great if this official channel (which Don is now affiliated with, I believe) posts the complete set, too.
That lady is the epitome of joy. Much love from Australia, where even some of us tuned in for the tradition of hearing Darlene sing it every year (except the years of writers strikes). And in a reference Darlene might hopefully enjoy "We're not too old for this sh&t"
Ahh yes, The one that started it all. It and the one the other day are great bookends for the 28 no, now 29 times Darlene has made my Christmas. I hope this tradition never ends.
@@dongillerNow my Christmas is really made. The Great Don Giller of Don’s TV has replied to me. Btw. I thought it was less than 28. But now it’s 22? Correct? Finally. Personally Don, thank you so much for all of your Letterman videos for all these years on YT. Your Darlene Love compilations are so meaningful to me. Christmas was my Mom’s favorite time of year, she and I watched Dave Letterman on the Tonight Show. I’m 60. She would let me stay up to watch him. Mostly because she wanted to laugh out loud with someone while the rest of the house slept. She even let me stay home from school on his morning show debut. Thanks again, Merry Christmas Don!
I always thought there was an additional one that never made the broadcast. In 1989 Love is singing backup for Dr John, at the end of the performance the band strikes up to play Christmas, baby..... and goes to break. Coming out of the break the final notes are played and it seems like Darlene had sung. Thanks for the sterling work and entertainment your work and channel have provided over the years Donz!
@@raywil1000 I checked that out a few weeks ago. It appears to me from the outtro, as the band is back from commercial, that Darlene wasn’t on stage singing with them. First, we hear Paul playing the melody rather than Darlene singing. And second, if she _had_ been singing with them, Dave would have mentioned it, and Hal would have directed a camera to see her. And thanks!!
I owned the "Phil Spector's Christmas Album" and made sure I recorded this Darlene Love performance on my VCR in Dec. 1986, and every year thereafter. "Late Night's" annual Christmas gift to the fans.
I must have missed this when it initially aired. Great to see how the tradition started. A bare bones treatment, compared to the holiday extravaganzas that were to come, and yet such a huge sound! They were clearly enjoying themselves.👏👏👏
Holy crap -- she really knocked it out of the park! The audience reaction seemed good but still a bit subdued (including Dave), I guess because in later years the tradition took on momentum and built more anticipation. My only disappointment is that they didn't get somebody to play saxophone!
This past week, I've noticed a lot of Christmas programming on TV winding down. WHY? This is the time when people want to watch it. Not in October before Halloween and all month long in November.
...and she would come back every Christmas for the following 27 years to perform it on the show. Thank you Darlene...and Dave.
@ObamaFromKenya Ah...good stats there! And yes...I was basing my comments on her quote from her appearance with Dave, Paul and Barbara a few days ago. Thanks!
@ObamaFromKenyaYou are so right! There are separate ones of her on TH-cam. Good going!
I miss them 😢 Always seemed like Christmas with David Letterman and Darlene Love 🌲✌️❤️🌼
It's a hell of a task to recreate the "wall of sound" with only 4 guys, and they KILLED it!.. Man Darlene sounded powerful here. In the top 3 greatest secular Christmas tunes of all time.
I don’t understand why I rarely hear this song on the radio, in stores, in every tv special and hallmark movie because it’s clearly the best Christmas song ever. Thank god for David letterman for making it a tradition that lives on.
Unfortunately, it may be because of the toxicity of being associated with the name Phil Spector. But yeah, it shouldn’t detract from the brilliant Darlene Love
You don’t hear it on the radio? That’s unfortunate. On the Christmas station in my area, I hear it at least once a day. I also frequently hear Darlene’s version of “Marshmallow World.”
Believe it or not, just tonight I heard it inside my neighborhood supermarket.
@@logann7942 well… to be fair… I don’t listen to the radio anymore 😂 but I used to… and rarely heard this one. I was in a restaurant earlier this week, and the radio played Christmas Time by the Beatles… TWICE within twenty minutes… plus the Mariah one and the George Michael’s one that’s awful…. But no love for Darlene Love…
I work on a classic rock radio station, so we play the U2 version, but our sister station plays Darlene's. By far our most requested Christmas song is Cheech and Chong - "Santa Claus and His Old Lady."
And, thus, a wonderful tradition was born. Loved seeing Darlene reunite with Dave and Paul on the Barbara Gaines show this year!
How great was that?!?! Was so good to see Darlene, Dave and Paul back together.
What a powerhouse voice.
Great raw footage at the end of Dave pre-taping his messages...thanks! That was great!
Saw Darlene perform live two weeks ago and even in her early eighties her voice and her personality rocked the rafters! She definitely kicked off the holiday season for all of us who attended that evening.
One of my favorite Letterman Christmas traditions. Thank you, Darlene!
Her smile is beautiful and contagious
Deck them Halls😊
I love her. Best Christmas Song Ever.
The greatest band with the greatest voice, thank you for posting this
The late night rerun bumpers are a nice gift, too!
5 decades of Darlene on a Letterman/Barbara Gaines show: 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and now 2020s!
A true legend, what a voice
Great actress as well 😊
I know in the subsequent appearances each Christmas the band and background singers would grow in numbers, but this first performance of Darlene with just Paul, Will, Sid & Anton is pure magic.
That was so good! Glad Letterman understands that it should be as big as that Brenda Lee song.
Thank you for sharing this video! Between Darlene singing and Jay Thomas throwing balls to knock off the meatball, you always had the BEST Christmas show!!! ❤❤❤
Darlene Love FOREVER!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I hope you will post every year in chronological order. That would make my Christmas!
Do a search for Don Giller Darlene Love on TH-cam and you’ll find a complete compilation. Don posted unofficially a lot of great anthologies of Letterman material that are still available. It would be great if this official channel (which Don is now affiliated with, I believe) posts the complete set, too.
Thank you for those promos at the end, too. My God those were funny.
Long live Darlene! So happy she's still singing in 2023!
it's 2023 and she seems to be having the time of her life. so happy for her!
One of the greatest Letterman musical moments ever!
Always a thrill! Every time!!!
That lady is the epitome of joy. Much love from Australia, where even some of us tuned in for the tradition of hearing Darlene sing it every year (except the years of writers strikes). And in a reference Darlene might hopefully enjoy "We're not too old for this sh&t"
Didn’t call it the world’s most dangerous band for nothing… she had what she needed to really deliver a classic moment in TV history.
Darlene Love and David Letterman, one of the greatest annual Christmas traditions in TV history, happy holidays.
Ahh yes, The one that started it all. It and the one the other day are great bookends for the 28 no, now 29 times Darlene has made my Christmas. I hope this tradition never ends.
21 times. Not 28.
@@dongillerNow my Christmas is really made. The Great Don Giller of Don’s TV has replied to me.
Btw. I thought it was less than 28. But now it’s 22? Correct?
Finally. Personally Don, thank you so much for all of your Letterman videos for all these years on YT. Your Darlene Love compilations are so meaningful to me.
Christmas was my Mom’s favorite time of year, she and I watched Dave Letterman on the Tonight Show. I’m 60. She would let me stay up to watch him. Mostly because she wanted to laugh out loud with someone while the rest of the house slept. She even let me stay home from school on his morning show debut.
Thanks again,
Merry Christmas Don!
First, thanks!!
Second, yeah, I guess it’s now 22.
I always thought there was an additional one that never made the broadcast. In 1989 Love is singing backup for Dr John, at the end of the performance the band strikes up to play Christmas, baby..... and goes to break. Coming out of the break the final notes are played and it seems like Darlene had sung. Thanks for the sterling work and entertainment your work and channel have provided over the years Donz!
@@raywil1000 I checked that out a few weeks ago. It appears to me from the outtro, as the band is back from commercial, that Darlene wasn’t on stage singing with them. First, we hear Paul playing the melody rather than Darlene singing. And second, if she _had_ been singing with them, Dave would have mentioned it, and Hal would have directed a camera to see her.
And thanks!!
Mrs. Murtaugh from Leathal Weapon killing it!
The band sings real well too....very cool. I assume that's Will on the high note. Impressive range
Give it up for Will and Sid on those high harmonies.
Thank God, in future years they will be less noticable.
I even overlooked Sid's pony tail :)
I owned the "Phil Spector's Christmas Album" and made sure I recorded this Darlene Love performance on my VCR in Dec. 1986, and every year thereafter. "Late Night's" annual Christmas gift to the fans.
A Great start for many years to come
Thank you Darlene and specially thank you Dave !!! 🎄☺️
I must have missed this when it initially aired. Great to see how the tradition started. A bare bones treatment, compared to the holiday extravaganzas that were to come, and yet such a huge sound! They were clearly enjoying themselves.👏👏👏
Best thing dave letterman made into a tradition!
What a wonderful tradition to have,I enjoyed every single won.I miss your show Dave. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone.
Had never seen this before, thank you! ❄️
Edit: LOL at the reruns part 😂
Just when you think she is in her top gear, she finds another one to show you. Energy and control on display.
❤️💚Thanks for the bonus material!💚❤️
THANKS DAVE!!!
What a talent. And the band sounding so good.
Oooooh that song.
And the best tradition/legacy began! Thank you.
What a bonus at the end seeing Dave recording those rerun intros! I remember those so well.
I wonder how many people that attended that taping thought "They should this every year!" 😊
Bring back great memories
You can tell she's a great singer by her speaking voice! Like honey!
A staggeringly AWESOME talent. Peerless.
The greatest tv Christmas tradition ever.
Tip of the hat to Will Lee, singing the (really really) high part from beginning to end… Amazing.
I remember him singing the really high parts on MacArthur Park during Letterman's last shows.
The real queen of Christmas,🥰🥰🥰
Great song + voice, but I have never heard this song, ever, before! wow.
Just the best
1:37 Will tunes his bass. Fantastic!
Christmas isn't Christmas without Darlene Love with the Letterman band.
Love you Dave.
I want to go back to those days❤
It was a great tradition!! 🎉🎉🎉
Darlene Love is a Christmas tradition at our house. It's various years on You tube now
It's really sad that somethings have to end.
Amazing!
What a gift
YAY!
I would really like Paul to put the CBS Orchestra back together for next year's version.
Great now and better with each passing year.
It’s officially Christmas!
What a stunning voice! Darlene will always be Trish Murtaugh to me.
My favorite gringa christmas song!
I watched this episode in the barracks at NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Will and Sid gave her some Four Seasons/Beach Boys harmonies.
Wow. Just wow.
Hilarious LENO was a guest 😂
Darlene has that powerhouse voice just like her little sister the late great Edna Wright of the honey cone
Great voice. Thank´s for this song the EAGLES. Wonderful ! Greetings from germany, I wisch a good new year 2024 ! Good luck !
It's May 2nd 2024 , I can die happy ; it's finally Christmas again 😊
Just the beginning!
Darlene could have stood on her own. But thanks for the side glimpses.
❤❤❤❤❤Fantastic!
Holy crap -- she really knocked it out of the park! The audience reaction seemed good but still a bit subdued (including Dave), I guess because in later years the tradition took on momentum and built more anticipation. My only disappointment is that they didn't get somebody to play saxophone!
Great performance! Got slightly distracted by the spectacular mullet the guitarist was rocking...
THIS, friends, is why television was invented.
Every year, Darlene sounded like a million bucks.
Jus did a reunion with Dave and Paul over 80 years old. 😊
First! Love this tradition!
This past week, I've noticed a lot of Christmas programming on TV winding down. WHY? This is the time when people want to watch it. Not in October before Halloween and all month long in November.
Darlene crawled so Wham! Could walk and Mariah could run.
And yet, Darlene Love, was never invited by NBC to sing her Christmas hit at Rockefeller center...Cher asked her to duet in 2023 at the tree lighting.
Dave always get the last lauauggh
I miss the David Letterman show, especially around the holidays
🎄❤️🎄
That's Mrs Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon
How is it Will had to do a tune up mid song (around 1.38)?? I wonder if he bumped the bass somehow?
I'm not cutting onions you are
I am. Why?
the golden triangle needs dave.
Is this Giller's older upload ? 🤔
Lethal Weapon.
Legendary.
🎄🎄🎄😎😎😎
Jay Leno was on this show!
❤. How many years did she perform that’s onto the show?
I think 29.
The 🎤 was for show, Darlene's voice needs no amplification.
The Wall of Sound??? Naw... it was Darlene all the time.
Even the awful reggae thing Paul plays at the end couldn’t ruin this magical moment
Oh, Phil Spector. You silly rascal.