Never thought I’d be one of those hiding in the shadows

Another little symphony for the kids us old folks. 

From the forthcoming Darlene Love album, produced by Little Steven and written by Elvis Costello.

Very promising. And exciting.

If there was a way...

One year, say about 1991 or 1992, I was in the studio audience at David Letterman's old NBC show in Rockefeller Center and saw and heard the Greatest Christmas Song of All-Time,

On the show were Oliver Stone and Kirstie Alley.

And, of course, Darlene Love.

"Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" has been regaled by many for it's greatness. And justifiably so.

Despite the fact that Love says the song is an invitation for the lonely, and everyone else, to go home to be with their families for the holidays.

I don't think so.

This is a hymn for the dispossessed, the heartbroken, those souls from the island of misfit lonely hearts. Dressed up in a gorgeous melody meant to soften the naked and longing emotion that Love brings to the Phil Spector classic. Her "please, please, please," call and response is a lead up to both the most thrilling and gut-wrenching denouement in the history of rock and roll.

The song was released on Nov. 22, 1963, which just happens to be the same day that JFK was assassinated. The song, and the brilliant album it came from, flopped, Christmas was a cloud for many that year, and it was a song and album that had a muted arrival, even though Love's masterpiece had a message that was ironically appropriate for the end of Camelot.

Every holiday season, this song comes in like a blast, a glorious wall of sound reminder that Christmas is not always glad tidings of comfort and joy.

A Love So Fine

Saw “20 Feet From Stardom” yesterday, which was notable for two reasons: 1) it was the first grown-up movie I have seen in about 11 years in a theater, and 2) it was outstanding, hitting all the right notes on the challenges and triumphs of those who so often stand and sing from the shadows. I especially liked the background on Merry Clayton’s “Gimme Shelter” performance with the Rolling Stones, which stands as one of the greatest records and performances ever. And any Darlene Love is welcome. I was fortunate enough to see her do one of her annual Christmas appearances on the Letterman Show in the late 90s – what a powerhouse.

Love’s appearance has also reminded me of the brilliance of the best Spector records. He called them “little symphonies for the kids,” and while not every one went off the charts artistically, the best are monuments to the beauty and potential of pop music. “Da Doo Run Run,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” “Be My Baby,” “Black Pearl'" "A Fine Fine Boy" (below).

I am including the original as well as a 2009 version because I am amazed how the E St. Band was able to approximate the Wall of Sound. So close, in fact, I wonder if there was some studio trickery involved? Perhaps it is more an indication of how Phil Spector laid the foundation for the that classic E St. sound: the dense instrumentation, the horns, and the glockenspiel. Not to mention the passion.

And I still marvel at the vibrancy, the joy and the youthfulness in this music. Like Motown, this was also the Sound of Young America.

Whatever the Sound of Young America is today, I’m fairly certain it's not this brilliant.

It's Christmas. All You Need is Love

“It’s not Christmas until Darlene Love comes on my show to sing 'Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).'” So says David Letterman.

I agree.

Love will make her 24th consecutive holiday appearance tonight on his show singing The Greatest Christmas Song Of All Time. Watch this video from the Letterman Show in 2004; it’s a Yuletide extravaganza, and the very definition of a Rock and Roll Christmas.

Happy Holidays and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.