Darlene Love
Encyclopedia
Darlene Love is an American popular music
singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel
," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector
stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963.
. While still in high school
(1959) she was invited to join a little-known girl group
called The Blossoms
, who in 1962 began working with producer
Phil Spector
. With her powerful voice she was soon a highly sought-after vocalist, and managed to work with many of the legends of 1950s and 1960s rock
and soul
, including Sam Cooke
, Dionne Warwick
, The Beach Boys
, Elvis Presley
, Tom Jones
and Sonny and Cher; Darlene and the Blossoms sang back-up vocals on the Shelley Fabares
hit "Johnny Angel
", Sharon Marie (Esparza) (a Brian Wilson act), as well as John Phillips
' solo album John, Wolfking of L.A., recorded in 1969. They also appeared on Johnny Rivers
' hits, including "Poor Side of Town
" and Motown covers "Baby I Need Your Loving
" and "The Tracks of My Tears
". (The Blossoms recorded singles, usually with little success, on Capitol 1957-58 [pre-Darlene Love], Challenge 1961-62, OKeh 1963, Reprise 1966-67, Ode 1967, MGM 1968, Bell 1969-70, and Lion 1972.)
With The Blossoms, Love also sang backing vocals on many of the biggest hits of the 1960s, including Spector's own "Da Doo Ron Ron
" (allegedly recorded with her lead, which was later erased by Spector and re-recorded using Crystals' lead Dolores "LaLa" Brooks). Though credited by Spector as singles
recorded by The Crystals
, "He's A Rebel
" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love" actually featured Love singing lead, backed by The Blossoms. "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" was released as a single by Spector, and featured Love's name as the artist. She says that Spector offered $3,000 for her rights to the song. And though he said it was going to be a hit, she took the money. But, in spite of that decision, she said that she has continued to have a career because people have loved hearing her sing her songs. She was also part of a trio called Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
, who recorded a cover version of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
", an Oscar-winning song from the Walt Disney
film
, Song of the South
, which got into the Top 10 in 1963. The Blossoms landed a weekly part on Shindig!
, one of the top music shows of the era. They were part of the highly acclaimed Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special
, which aired on NBC
.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
" is a song by Darlene Love from the 1963 holiday compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Jeff Barry
and Ellie Greenwich
, along with Phil Spector, with the intention of being sung by Ronnie Spector
of The Ronettes
. According to Love, Ronnie Spector was not able to put as much emotion into the song as needed. Instead, Love was brought into the studio to record the song, which became a big success over time and one of Love's signature tunes.
, for the Cheech & Chong single "Basketball Jones
", which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart
.
that greased the wheels for her to come to New York and begin performing there in 1982, at places like The Bottom Line. In addition to singing the songs that made her famous, she has re-explored her gospel roots on several recordings.
In the mid-1980s she portrayed herself in the Tony Award
-nominated jukebox musical
Leader of the Pack
, which featured the iconic rock and roll song
s written
by Ellie Greenwich
, many of them for the young Love. The showstopping number of that show, "River Deep - Mountain High
", had been recorded by Phil Spector with Ike
& Tina Turner
and had been less than the success they had expected. Leader of the Pack commenced as a revue at the Greenwich Village
nightclub
the Bottom Line
, as did the later show about Love's life, Portrait of a Singer, which never made the move uptown. Portrait included covers
of "The Change Is Going to Come" and "Don't Make Me Over", as well as "River Deep, Mountain High" and original music
from some of the instrumental writers of early rock and roll, including Barry Mann
and Cynthia Weil
. Love contributed a cover of The Hollywood Argyles
song "Alley Oop
" to the soundtrack of the 1984 film Bachelor Party.
In 1987, Love sang back-up for U2
's cover of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
", while in 1990, Cher
invited Love and her sister Edna Wright as her background vocalists for the Heart of Stone
tour. She also released a minor single in 1992 with "All Alone on Christmas
", written and composed by Steven Van Zandt, which can be found on the Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
soundtrack. Love also contributed vocals to the soundtrack of the film Jingle All the Way
. In October 2007, Love released the holiday collection It's Christmas, Of Course, featuring her versions of classic yuletide tunes from the 1970s and 1980s.
She continues to do a Christmas
show every year in New York City, which is always capped by "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".
She also had a song "OOO Wee Baby" in the 1980 movie "The Idolmaker"
's wife in the four Lethal Weapon
movies. Love has performed in a number of Broadway
productions. She acted and sang in Grease
, in the short-lived musical adaptation of Stephen King
's Carrie
, and starred as Motormouth Maybelle in Broadway's Hairspray
from August 2005 till April 2008.
" every year since 1986 on the last episode before Christmas of Late Night with David Letterman
(NBC
1986 - 1992) and the Late Show with David Letterman
(CBS
1993 to present). The song is always performed with Paul Shaffer
and the show's house band
(The World's Most Dangerous Band at NBC, now the CBS Orchestra
), with the band being augmented over the years by additional strings and other instruments, as well as a choir.
Letterman has stated that the annual performance is his favorite part of Christmas. Due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, Love was unable to perform on the Letterman show in 2007; a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.
She was a special guest on the December 17, 2005, broadcast of Saturday Night Live
, singing "White Christmas
" with the SNL band and providing the vocals for a Robert Smigel
cartoon, "Christmastime for the Jews". Love was the musical guest on Late Show with David Letterman on May 7, 2007, performing "River Deep-Mountain High". Love performed with Bruce Springsteen
and the E-Street Band in November 2009 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden
.
. On March 14, 2011, Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with a speech by Bette Midler
.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel
He's a Rebel
"He's a Rebel" is a pop song credited to the girl group The Crystals, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in November 1962. Written by Gene Pitney and produced by Phil Spector, it is considered one of the definitive examples of the Spector-produced girl group sound.In 2004, the song was...
," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963.
Early career
Darlene Wright began singing with her local church choir in Hawthorne, CaliforniaHawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. While still in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(1959) she was invited to join a little-known girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
called The Blossoms
The Blossoms
The Blossoms were a backing group from California. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes were for Motown.-Early years:...
, who in 1962 began working with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. With her powerful voice she was soon a highly sought-after vocalist, and managed to work with many of the legends of 1950s and 1960s rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, including Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
and Sonny and Cher; Darlene and the Blossoms sang back-up vocals on the Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares
Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares is an American actress and singer. Fabares is known for her roles as Donna Reed's oldest child, Mary Stone, on The Donna Reed Show , and as Craig T. Nelson's love interest and eventual wife, Christine Armstrong Fox, on the sitcom Coach. She also was Elvis...
hit "Johnny Angel
Johnny Angel (song)
"Johnny Angel" is the debut pop single by Shelley Fabares released in 1962 on the Colpix label.It was the first single taken from her debut solo album Shelley! which was produced and arranged by Stu Phillips. "Johnny Angel" was written by Lyn Duddy and Lee Pockriss. The single premiered on an...
", Sharon Marie (Esparza) (a Brian Wilson act), as well as John Phillips
John Phillips (musician)
John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
' solo album John, Wolfking of L.A., recorded in 1969. They also appeared on Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
' hits, including "Poor Side of Town
Poor Side of Town (Johnny Rivers song)
"Poor Side of Town" is a song by Johnny Rivers that reached number one on the Hot 100 and on the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966.-Song:...
" and Motown covers "Baby I Need Your Loving
Baby I Need Your Loving
"Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top 20 hit, making it to number eleven on the Billboard Hot...
" and "The Tracks of My Tears
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
". (The Blossoms recorded singles, usually with little success, on Capitol 1957-58 [pre-Darlene Love], Challenge 1961-62, OKeh 1963, Reprise 1966-67, Ode 1967, MGM 1968, Bell 1969-70, and Lion 1972.)
With The Blossoms, Love also sang backing vocals on many of the biggest hits of the 1960s, including Spector's own "Da Doo Ron Ron
Da Doo Ron Ron
"Da Doo Ron Ron" is a 1963 hit single by The Crystals, produced by Phil Spector in his Wall of Sound style. The song was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Spector. The drummer was Hal Blaine....
" (allegedly recorded with her lead, which was later erased by Spector and re-recorded using Crystals' lead Dolores "LaLa" Brooks). Though credited by Spector as singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
recorded by The Crystals
The Crystals
The Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron " and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead...
, "He's A Rebel
He's a Rebel
"He's a Rebel" is a pop song credited to the girl group The Crystals, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in November 1962. Written by Gene Pitney and produced by Phil Spector, it is considered one of the definitive examples of the Spector-produced girl group sound.In 2004, the song was...
" and "He's Sure The Boy I Love" actually featured Love singing lead, backed by The Blossoms. "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" was released as a single by Spector, and featured Love's name as the artist. She says that Spector offered $3,000 for her rights to the song. And though he said it was going to be a hit, she took the money. But, in spite of that decision, she said that she has continued to have a career because people have loved hearing her sing her songs. She was also part of a trio called Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans was an early 1960s vocal group produced by Phil Spector, and was initially conceived as a vehicle for the lead vocals of Bobby Sheen, who took the stage name Bob B. Soxx...
, who recorded a cover version of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a song from the Disney 1946 live action and animated movie Song of the South, sung by James Baskett. With music by Allie Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song...
", an Oscar-winning song from the Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Song of the South
Song of the South
Song of the South is a 1946 American musical film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the Uncle Remus cycle of stories by Joel Chandler Harris. The live actors provide a sentimental frame story, in which Uncle Remus relates the folk tales of the...
, which got into the Top 10 in 1963. The Blossoms landed a weekly part on Shindig!
Shindig!
Shindig! was an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz....
, one of the top music shows of the era. They were part of the highly acclaimed Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special
Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special
Elvis, starring Elvis Presley, was the title of a 1968 United States television special. Sponsored by The Singer Sewing Machine Company, it aired on December 2, 1968 on the NBC television network...
, which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
"Christmas " is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie...
" is a song by Darlene Love from the 1963 holiday compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry
Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
and Ellie Greenwich
Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
, along with Phil Spector, with the intention of being sung by Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
of The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
. According to Love, Ronnie Spector was not able to put as much emotion into the song as needed. Instead, Love was brought into the studio to record the song, which became a big success over time and one of Love's signature tunes.
Career break
Into the 1970s Love continued to work as a back-up singer, before taking a break in order to raise a family. In 1973, she recorded vocals as a cheerleader along with Michelle PhillipsMichelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
, for the Cheech & Chong single "Basketball Jones
Basketball Jones
"Basketball Jones" is a 1974 animated short film based on the Cheech and Chong song "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces", from their album Los Cochinos. The cartoon was created to promote the song's release in the United States. It is about a teenager named Tyrone Shoelaces and his love of...
", which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
1980s return
Love returned to music in the early 1980s and to an appreciative audience she thought might have long since forgotten her. She had been performing at venues like the Roxy in L.A., and it was a conversation with Steven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
that greased the wheels for her to come to New York and begin performing there in 1982, at places like The Bottom Line. In addition to singing the songs that made her famous, she has re-explored her gospel roots on several recordings.
In the mid-1980s she portrayed herself in the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-nominated jukebox musical
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack (musical)
Leader of the Pack is a musical with liner notes by Anne Beatts and additional material by Jack Heifner, music by Ellie Greenwich, and lyrics by Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector, George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Kent, and Ellen Foley.-Background:...
, which featured the iconic rock and roll song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Ellie Greenwich
Ellie Greenwich
Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
, many of them for the young Love. The showstopping number of that show, "River Deep - Mountain High
River Deep - Mountain High
"River Deep – Mountain High" is a 1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner. Considered by producer Phil Spector to be his best work, the single was successful in Europe, peaking at #3 in the United Kingdom, though it flopped on its original release in the United States...
", had been recorded by Phil Spector with Ike
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
& Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
and had been less than the success they had expected. Leader of the Pack commenced as a revue at the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
the Bottom Line
Bottom Line
The Bottom Line was a music venue at 15 West Fourth Street between Mercer Street and Greene Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
, as did the later show about Love's life, Portrait of a Singer, which never made the move uptown. Portrait included covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "The Change Is Going to Come" and "Don't Make Me Over", as well as "River Deep, Mountain High" and original music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from some of the instrumental writers of early rock and roll, including Barry Mann
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
and Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
. Love contributed a cover of The Hollywood Argyles
The Hollywood Argyles
The Hollywood Argyles were an American musical ensemble, assembled for studio recordings by the producer and songwriter Kim Fowley and his friend and fellow musician Gary Paxton...
song "Alley Oop
Alley Oop (song)
"Alley Oop" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. The song, heavily inspired by the V. T. Hamlin-created comic strip of the same name, was first recorded by Frazier as a country tune in 1957.-The Hollywood Argyles:...
" to the soundtrack of the 1984 film Bachelor Party.
In 1987, Love sang back-up for U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's cover of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
"Christmas " is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie...
", while in 1990, Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
invited Love and her sister Edna Wright as her background vocalists for the Heart of Stone
Heart of Stone Tour
The Heart of Stone Tour is the fourth concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. The tour supported her twenty-first studio album, Heart of Stone. A mini tour was set up in the summer 1989, and a second leg started in 1990...
tour. She also released a minor single in 1992 with "All Alone on Christmas
All Alone On Christmas
"All Alone On Christmas" is a song written and arranged by Steve Van Zandt and recorded by Darlene Love with members of both The E Street Band and The Miami Horns. It was originally featured on the soundtrack of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York...
", written and composed by Steven Van Zandt, which can be found on the Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a 1992 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It is the second film in the Home Alone series and the direct sequel to Home Alone. The film stars Macaulay Culkin in the lead role as Kevin McCallister, while...
soundtrack. Love also contributed vocals to the soundtrack of the film Jingle All the Way
Jingle All the Way
Jingle All the Way is a 1996 American family comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, James Belushi and Robert Conrad...
. In October 2007, Love released the holiday collection It's Christmas, Of Course, featuring her versions of classic yuletide tunes from the 1970s and 1980s.
She continues to do a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
show every year in New York City, which is always capped by "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".
She also had a song "OOO Wee Baby" in the 1980 movie "The Idolmaker"
Acting roles
In the late 1980s and 1990s, Love also began an acting career, playing Danny GloverDanny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
's wife in the four Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon (film series)
Lethal Weapon is a series of films starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a pair of LAPD detectives. All four films in the series were directed by Richard Donner, and also share many of the same core cast members.-Lethal Weapon :...
movies. Love has performed in a number of Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions. She acted and sang in Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
, in the short-lived musical adaptation of Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's Carrie
Carrie (musical)
Carrie: The Musical is a musical with a book by Lawrence D. Cohen, lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and music by Michael Gore. Adapted from Stephen King's novel Carrie, it focuses on an awkward teenage girl with telekinetic powers whose lonely life is dominated by an oppressive religious fanatic mother...
, and starred as Motormouth Maybelle in Broadway's Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
from August 2005 till April 2008.
Television appearances
Love has performed the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
"Christmas " is a Christmas holiday song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records. The song was written by Phil Spector, along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the intentions of being sung by Ronnie...
" every year since 1986 on the last episode before Christmas of Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
(NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
1986 - 1992) and the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
1993 to present). The song is always performed with Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
and the show's house band
House band
For the British band that existed from 1984-2001, see The House BandA house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to...
(The World's Most Dangerous Band at NBC, now the CBS Orchestra
CBS Orchestra
The CBS Orchestra is the house band, led by Paul Shaffer, that plays for David Letterman's CBS late-night talk show, Late Show with David Letterman...
), with the band being augmented over the years by additional strings and other instruments, as well as a choir.
Letterman has stated that the annual performance is his favorite part of Christmas. Due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, Love was unable to perform on the Letterman show in 2007; a repeat of her 2006 performance was shown instead.
She was a special guest on the December 17, 2005, broadcast of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, singing "White Christmas
White Christmas (song)
"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
" with the SNL band and providing the vocals for a Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel is an American actor, humorist, comedian and writer known for his Saturday Night Live "TV Funhouse" cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.-Early life:...
cartoon, "Christmastime for the Jews". Love was the musical guest on Late Show with David Letterman on May 7, 2007, performing "River Deep-Mountain High". Love performed with Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and the E-Street Band in November 2009 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On December 15, 2010, it was announced that Love had been chosen for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
. On March 14, 2011, Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with a speech by Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
.
US albums
- 1963 - Various Artists Today's Hits (Philles Records #4004)
- 1963 - Various Artists A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records (Philles Records #4005)
- 1977 - Various Artists Phil Spector's Greatest Hits (Warner/Spector Records #9104)
- 1978 - Various Artists Lakeshore Music presents Rock and Roll Forever (Warner Special Products #2508) (same as above release)
- 1985 - Leader of the Pack Original Broadway Cast (Elektra Records #60420)
- 1985 - Darlene Love Live! (Rhino Records RNLP #855)
- 1988 - Paint Another Picture (Columbia Records #40605)
- 1990 - Various Artists Dick Tracy: Music from and inspired by the film (Sire/Reprise Records #26236)
- 1991 - Various Artists Back to Mono (1958-1969)Back to Mono (1958-1969)Back to Mono is a box set four-disc compilation of the recorded work of record producer Phil Spector, during the decade of the 1960s, released in 1991 by ABKCO as #7118-2. The first track, "To Know Him Is to Love Him," presents the only exception as it was released in 1958, featuring Spector as...
(ABKCO Records #7118) (box set) - 1992 - Various Artists A Very Special Christmas 2A Very Special Christmas 2A Very Special Christmas 2 is the second in a series of Christmas-themed compilation albums produced to benefit Special Olympics. The album was released on 20 October 1992, and production was overseen by Jimmy Iovine, Vicki Iovine and Robert Sargent Shriver for A&M Records.-Track listing:#...
(A&M Records #450003)' - 1992 - The Best of Darlene Love (The Philles Recordings) (ABKCO Records #7213)
- 1992 - Bringing It Home (with Lani Groves) (Shanachie Records #9003)
- 1998 - Various Artists Grease Is the Word (Rhino Records)
- 2007 - It's Christmas of Course (Shout! Factory Records #10569)
- 2011 - The Sound Of Love: The Very Best Of Darlene Love Audio CDAudio CDAudio CD is an umbrella term that refers to many standards of means of playing back audio on a CD.It may specifically refer to:-Standards:* Compact Disc, an optical disc used to store digital data...
- 2011 - The Sound Of Love: The Very Best Of Darlene Love Blu-spec CDBlu-spec CDBlu-spec CD describes an Audio CD manufactured by a proprietary process introduced by Sony Music Entertainment Japan in late 2008. Its name derives from the similar manufacturing process to that used to create Blu-ray Discs. Instead of a traditional infra-red laser, a blue laser is used for...
(Released in 2nd November 2011)
US singles
Incomplete list of recordings.| Year | Title | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
||
| 1961 | "SON-IN-LAW" (The Blossoms) Challenge 9109 | 79 |
| 1961 | "HARD TO GET" (The Blossoms) Challenge 9122 | - |
| 1962 | "THE SEARCH IS OVER" (The Blossoms) Challenge 9138 | - |
| 1962 | "HE'S A REBEL" (released as The Crystals) Philles 106 | 1 |
| 1962 | "ZIP-A-DEE DOO-DAH" (released as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans) Philles 107 | 8 |
| 1962 | "HE'S SURE THE BOY I LOVE" (released as The Crystals) Philles 109 | 11 |
| 1963 | "WHY DO LOVERS BREAK EACH OTHERS HEARTS?" (released as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans) Philles 110 | 38 |
| 1963 | "TODAY I MET THE BOY I'M GONNA MARRY" Philles 111 | 39 |
| 1963 | "NOT TOO YOUNG TO GET MARRIED" (released as Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans) Philles 113 | 63 |
| 1963 | "WAIT 'TIL MY BOBBY GETS HOME" Philles 114 | 26 |
| 1963 | "I'M IN LOVE" (The Blossoms) Okeh 7162 [This girl-group named "The Blossoms" had members Fanita James, Gloria Jones and Darlene Wright. They later changed their name to the D.C. Blossoms to avoid confusion with Darlene Love's group.] | - |
| 1963 | "A FINE, FINE BOY" Philles 117 | 53 |
| 1963 | "CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)" Philles 119 | - |
| 1964 | "STUMBLE AND FALL" Philles 123 | - |
| 1964 | "CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)" Philles 125 | - |
| 1965 | "GOOD GOOD LOVIN' / THAT'S WHEN THE TEARS START" (The Blossoms) Reprise 0436 | - |
| 1966 | "LOVER BOY" (The Blossoms) Reprise 0475 | - |
| 1966 | "LET YOUR LOVE SHINE ON ME" (The Blossoms) Reprise 0522 | - |
| 1966 | "TOO LATE TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY" Reprise 0534 | - |
| 1967 | "DEEP INTO MY HEART / GOOD GOOD LOVIN'" (The Blossoms) Reprise 0639 | - |
| 1967 | "Stoney End" (The Blossoms) Ode 101 | - |
| 1968 | "Tweedlee Dee" (The Blossoms) MGM 13964 | - |
| 1968 | "CRY LIKE A BABY" (The Blossoms) Ode 106 | - |
| 1969 | "STONEY END" - reissued (The Blossoms) Ode 125 | - |
| 1969 | "YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'" (The Blossoms) Bell 780 | - |
| 1969 | "(YOU'RE MY) SOUL AND INSPIRATION" (The Blossoms) Bell 797 | - |
| 1970 | "I AIN'T GOT TO LOVE NOBODY ELSE" (The Blossoms) Bell 857 | - |
| 1970 | "ONE STEP AWAY" (The Blossoms) Bell 937 | - |
| 1972 | "TOUCHDOWN" (The Blossoms) Lion 108 | - |
| 1972 | "GRANDMA'S HANDS" (The Blossoms) Lion 125 | - |
| 1974 | "CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)" Warner/Spector 0401 | - |
| 1975 | "LORD, IF YOU'RE A WOMAN" Warner/Spector 0410 | - |
| 1977 | "THERE'S NO GREATER LOVE" (The Blossoms) Epic 50435 | - |
| 1988 | "HE'S SURE THE MAN I LOVE" Columbia 07984 | - |
| 1992 | "ALL ALONE ON CHRISTMAS" (from the film HOME ALONE II) Fox 10003 | 83 |
| 2008 | "CHRISTMASTIME FOR THE JEWS" (from SNL) |