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For my entire adult life, I have been a huge fan of David Letterman. For the past 17 years (most recently, on December 22, 2006), Dave has featured the one and only Darlene Love on his television show (these days, The Late Show) singing Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home), what Dave has described as the best part of Christmas. I look forward to that segment every December. So when I learned that Love has a brand new holiday release entitled It's Christmas, of Course, I knew that (of course) I had to get my hands on it.

Fortunately, I recently received It's Christmas, of Course, and it is great fun having Love singing in my living room, but not emanating from my television set. Although Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) is not on the album (it appears on A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, originally released in 1963 and issued on CD in 1990), Love does embrace here a dozen Christmas classics that originated in the 70s and 80s. It is quite the eclectic collection, and Love cruises through them with her patented powerhouse vocals, dimmed ever-so-slightly with age, but still sensational. This is rock 'n roll of the traditional variety, and her gutsy, gravelly voice make the journey extremely worthwhile.

The whole album is a winner, but two tracks in particular speak volumes for me. First, Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto is a James Brown anthem, and in Love's capable hands, it's a super cool gut-grabber with the title refrain repeating rhythmically over and over. The other track that sticks with me is Chrissie Hynde's (of Pretenders fame) amazing 2000 Miles. The song is about separation and loss at Christmas, and Love pumps palpable anguish into this number like nobody else could. This track alone is worth the price of admission. Wow. Just amazing.

You don't have to be a fan of David Letterman to love Darlene Love. You should, however, be a fan of hard rockin' rock 'n roll of the vintage variety. Love's It's Christmas, of Course is a terrific blast from the past that will carry long into the future. Sensational stuff!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:
Gerry Leonard: Guitars
Zev Katz: Electric and Acoustic Bass
Billy J. Stein: Piano, Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, Rhodes and Synthesizers
Nir Z: Drums and Percussion
Patti Darcy Jones and Ula Hedwig: Background Vocals
Cissy Houston: Guest Vocalist on "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"

Horns arranged by Steve Bernstein
Steve Bernstein: Trumpet
Paul Shapiro: Alto and Tenor Sax
EricLawrence: Tenor and Baritone Sax

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City

Produced by Shawn Amos and Kevin Killen
Engineeered and Mixed by Kevin Killen

Meet the voice behind one of our most famous and beloved Christmas songs. For seventeen years straight, Darlene Love has sung her Spector-produced classic, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," on "The Late Show With David Letterman." Now she updates the holiday songbook with fresh versions of 70s and 80s neoclassics originally recorded by The Pretenders, XTC, James Brown, Tom Petty, John and Yoko, and more.

Darlene Love

It's Christmas,
of Course

Artist link

Track List