Yesterday, I started working on a seasonal column. It was a wish list chock-full of earnest pleasantries. I stopped at the mid-way point to continue writing it this morning.
Then, last night while watching Letterman, I changed my mind. Lemme s’plain why.
Along about 1972 I bought a Christmas album. It was a reissue of a 1963 release called A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. It featured songs by acts that Spector and his trademarked “wall of sound” had made famous: Darlene Love, the Ronettes, the Crystals and others. I was a huge fan of those girl groups of the early 60s and the album was a big hit at parties with its rockin’ take on Christmas classics as well as some new tunes.
The very first CD I ever bought (before, in fact, I even owned a CD player) was a boxed set of Spector-produced tunes called Back To Mono. I was delighted to find that along with dozens of famous songs by the Righteous Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner and many others, was a CD version of the Christmas album.
My favourite tune on the album was one by Darlene Love called Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). For the last several years, Letterman has had Love on his Christmas show, usually closing it by singing that song.
Last night I was privileged to see and hear her do it again. The woman defies time. She just gets better and better. Now, through the magic of computers and YouTube, we can all enjoy it.
So here’s my revised Christmas wish:
I wish you’d all turn up your speakers’ volume to Very Loud and let your spirits be lifted by the joyful sound of human voices raised in song.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everybody.
10 comments:
Although I miss Letterman more and more often and less and less, I am happy that you shared this with me.
Merry Christmas to all yours, and to all yours, a very happy and prosperous, on each one's own terms, new year!
Ho, ho , ho , ho ,ho! Merrrrrrrry Christmas.
(Santa exits stage up left. Way up.)
I saw this live last night and kept it on the DVR to play and play and play over and over
I adore Dave and I love his wonderful sense of tradition - the meatball tree topper, Jay Thomas and the football and the Lone Ranger story and then of course the amazing Ms. Love
Her voice should be harnessed for clean energy
Happy Merry Everything Frank
and a huge hug to sweet Benny
A nice way to share your season's greetings. :)
Enjoy Christmas with your boys and family, as I will with mine but don't forget to save a big Christmas hug for me.
That was great Frank, thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Back atcha Bruce. All the best to you and yours.
Yeah Dianne, I thought Jay Thomas might miss the meatball this year. And that Lone Ranger story is a killer. :)
I'll save you a whopper Hil. :)
Glad you enjoyed Reb. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. :)
Shoot. I watched this a couple days ago when you posted it, and then I forgot to come back and comment. I don't even remember what I was gonna say.
How 'bout 'Merry Christmas', Frank?
Thanks Ray. It was. Hope yours was great too. :)
I just went to Youtube and watched Letterman 2006 with Darlene. Wow! Merry Be-lated Christmas and Happy New (moo!) Year. Next year is the year of the cow, btw.
Happy New year to you Frank. It's a nice wish. I think there is a lot of people out there singing loudly these days and I think there are also a lot of people writing their own songs now too.
Hope you had a pleasant Holiday Season.
Same back atcha Terrie. Thanks. :)
It was very pleasant indeed Natural. And not over yet! :)
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