Merry Christmas Darling
| "Merry Christmas Darling" | ||||
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| File:Merry Christmas Darling.jpg
Cover to the Carpenters' single "Merry Christmas Darling" from 1970
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| Single by The Carpenters | ||||
| from the album Christmas Portrait | ||||
| A-side | "Merry Christmas Darling" | |||
| B-side | "Mr. Guder" | |||
| Released | November 20, 1970 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | Autumn 1970 | |||
| Genre | Christmas | |||
| Length | 3:05 | |||
| Label | A&M 1236 | |||
| Writer(s) | Frank Pooler; Richard Carpenter | |||
| Producer(s) | Jack Daugherty | |||
| The Carpenters singles chronology | ||||
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"Merry Christmas Darling" is a Christmas song by The Carpenters, written by Richard Carpenter and Frank Pooler and originally recorded in 1970.[1] It was first available on a 7" single that year (A&M Records 1236), and was later reissued in 1974 (A&M 1648) and again in 1977 (A&M 1991). The single went to number one on Billboard's Christmas singles chart in 1970, and did so again in 1971 and 1973.
In 1978, The Carpenters issued their Christmas Portrait album, which contained a new remix of "Merry Christmas Darling". The original 1970 mix continued to be used for all single releases, however. The major difference between the 1970 and 1978 versions is a newly-recorded vocal by Karen Carpenter on the latter. Richard Carpenter himself calls the original recording one of his sister's very best. The original single version of the song can be found on the compilation albums From the Top and The Essential Collection: 1965–1997.
Billboard magazine did not display Christmas singles on the Hot 100 in 1970. This song just missed the top 40 in Cash Box.
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 45 |
| US Billboard Christmas Singles | 1 |
Personnel
- Karen Carpenter - lead and backing vocals
- Richard Carpenter - backing vocals, piano, celesta, Wurlitzer electric piano, orchestration
- Joe Osborn - bass
- Hal Blaine - drums
- Bob Messenger - tenor saxophone
- Uncredited - vibes
Other versions
The song was sung by actress Lea Michele for the second season Christmas episode of the hit TV series, Glee, entitled "A Very Glee Christmas", in 2010.[2] This version was released as part of the series' first Christmas album.
The song has also been covered by Natalie Cole, Amy Grant, Glenn Medeiros, Kimberley Locke, Vanessa L. Williams, Phil Vassar, Boyz II Men, Kyle Vincent, Keali'i Reichel, Briana Cash, Christina Perri, Deana Carter, Jane Monheit, and Chicago, as well as Filipino rock singer Kitchie Nadal, Filipino pop balladeer Rico J. Puno, and Filipino pop crooner Richard Poon.
A Karen Carpenter soundalike recorded "Merry Christmas Allah" for radio personality Bob Rivers' fifth Christmas comedy album White Trash Christmas (2002).
References
External links
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