Baby Please Come Home

A few days ago, I declared that there are only four good Christmas songs. Despite hearing from many who suggested other tunes I should give a chance, I stand by that. The best Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland. Accept no substitutes. 

The second best is "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love, and I have to explain that my opinion is completely colored by watching Love's many joyful, soulful performances of the song on David Letterman's late-night TV programs. First in 1986, and then from 1994 through 2014, Letterman ended his last show before Christmas break with Love belting out the song she first recorded in 1963.

Every year, Letterman's band and stage crew made each performance more spectacular than the last while staying faithful to the original song. To that end, Letterman's bandleader, Paul Shaffer, bought the baritone saxophone that Wrecking Crew session player Steve Douglas played on the original record from Douglas's estate. When Shaffer's saxophonist, Bruce Kapler, said he'd have his horn mechanic fix it up, Shaffer said, "Just don't take out any of the dents." Aside from not wanting to affect the instrument's unique sound, Shaffer explained that one of the dents was acquired when Elvis knocked it over during the filming of "Jailhouse Rock." When Kapler steps forward for his sax solo, that's the real deal.

The annual performance also gave Love, who in 1986 was largely forgotten, a new late-in-life career. She is currently 83 and still singing, acting, and receiving all the accolades she's due.

Historical trivia: one of Love's background singers in 1963 was a 17-year-old Cher.

Darlene Love with Cher in 1963.
The guy in the shades is producer Phil Spector.

On its own merits, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is the rare Christmas song that legitimately rocks. If you were in that theater, you'd be on your feet! It's got that hint of melancholy I appreciate, telling a story of lovers separated during the holidays. In addition, Love's Letterman performances are a link to half a century of popular music, plus a couple of decades of me sitting in front of a TV until 12:30 a.m. waiting for Darlene to announce that Christmas had truly begun.