@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!
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.
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 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.
Do a search for Don Giller Darlene Love on RUclips 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 sharing this video! Between Darlene singing and Jay Thomas throwing balls to knock off the meatball, you always had the BEST Christmas show!!! ❤❤❤
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!!
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"
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.👏👏👏
I’ve watched this for years, but I just realized that for most of the song, Anton is playing jingle bells with one hand and all of the snare and cymbal parts with the other hand.
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 RUclips. Good going!
I miss them 😢 Always seemed like Christmas with David Letterman and Darlene Love 🌲✌️❤️🌼
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."
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.
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.
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.
One of my favorite Letterman Christmas traditions. Thank you, Darlene!
What a powerhouse voice.
Great raw footage at the end of Dave pre-taping his messages...thanks! That was great!
The greatest band with the greatest voice, thank you for posting this
The late night rerun bumpers are a nice gift, too!
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.
Her smile is beautiful and contagious
Deck them Halls😊
5 decades of Darlene on a Letterman/Barbara Gaines show: 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and now 2020s!
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 RUclips 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 sharing this video! Between Darlene singing and Jay Thomas throwing balls to knock off the meatball, you always had the BEST Christmas show!!! ❤❤❤
I love her. Best Christmas Song Ever.
A true legend, what a voice
Great actress as well 😊
Thank you for those promos at the end, too. My God those were funny.
One of the greatest Letterman musical moments ever!
it's 2023 and she seems to be having the time of her life. so happy for her!
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.
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!!
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"
One of best Christmas songs
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 :)
A Great start for many years to come
Thank you Darlene and specially thank you Dave !!! 🎄☺️
What a wonderful tradition to have,I enjoyed every single won.I miss your show Dave. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone.
Mrs. Murtaugh from Leathal Weapon killing it!
Always a thrill! Every time!!!
Long live Darlene! So happy she's still singing in 2023!
The band sings real well too....very cool. I assume that's Will on the high note. Impressive range
Darlene Love FOREVER!
Darlene Love and David Letterman, one of the greatest annual Christmas traditions in TV history, happy holidays.
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.👏👏👏
Had never seen this before, thank you! ❄️
Edit: LOL at the reruns part 😂
❤️💚Thanks for the bonus material!💚❤️
Just when you think she is in her top gear, she finds another one to show you. Energy and control on display.
What a talent. And the band sounding so good.
You can tell she's a great singer by her speaking voice! Like honey!
Thanks Darlene! Thanks Dave and Barbara.
And the best tradition/legacy began! Thank you.
I want to go back to those days❤
Best thing dave letterman made into a tradition!
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!" 😊
The only thing about Christmas that I truly love, DARLENE LOVE!
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.
Great song + voice, but I have never heard this song, ever, before! wow.
Darlene Love is a Christmas tradition at our house. It's various years on You tube now
Oooooh that song.
I’ve watched this for years, but I just realized that for most of the song, Anton is playing jingle bells with one hand and all of the snare and cymbal parts with the other hand.
Christmas isn't Christmas without Darlene Love with the Letterman band.
Bring back great memories
I would really like Paul to put the CBS Orchestra back together for next year's version.
THANKS DAVE!!!
Amazing!
What a gift
1:37 Will tunes his bass. Fantastic!
A staggeringly AWESOME talent. Peerless.
YAY!
Just the best
It was a great tradition!! 🎉🎉🎉
She could lead a chorus of angels.
The real queen of Christmas,🥰🥰🥰
Will and Sid gave her some Four Seasons/Beach Boys harmonies.
The greatest tv Christmas tradition ever.
It's really sad that somethings have to end.
Love you Dave.
I watched this episode in the barracks at NAS Jacksonville, FL.
I remember watching this when it first aired.
It’s officially Christmas!
Darlene has that powerhouse voice just like her little sister the late great Edna Wright of the honey cone
What a stunning voice! Darlene will always be Trish Murtaugh to me.
Great now and better with each passing year.
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...
My favorite gringa christmas song!
❤❤❤❤❤Fantastic!
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 could have stood on her own. But thanks for the side glimpses.
Hilarious LENO was a guest 😂
Just the beginning!
That's Mrs Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon
Great voice. Thank´s for this song the EAGLES. Wonderful ! Greetings from germany, I wisch a good new year 2024 ! Good luck !
Eagles?
Wow. Just wow.
Every year, Darlene sounded like a million bucks.
Jus did a reunion with Dave and Paul over 80 years old. 😊
I miss the David Letterman show, especially around the holidays
How is it Will had to do a tune up mid song (around 1.38)?? I wonder if he bumped the bass somehow?
First! Love this tradition!
🎄❤️🎄
THIS, friends, is why television was invented.
Darlene crawled so Wham! Could walk and Mariah could run.
Dave always get the last lauauggh
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.
Is this Giller's older upload ? 🤔
❤. How many years did she perform that’s onto the show?
I think 29.
I'm not cutting onions you are
I am. Why?
the golden triangle needs dave.
🎄🎄🎄😎😎😎
Jay Leno was on this show!
Lethal Weapon.