Darlene Love
The Concert of Love
Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee Darlene Love, lead singer of the '60's groups The Blossoms, The Crystals and Bob B. Sox and the Blue Jeans, is about to let loose a whole lot of affection.
The Concert of Love features this great talent the way her fans like her, performing the songs on stage that made her famous: "Da Doo Run Run," "He's a Rebel," and a song that's become an annual performance on The Late Show With David Letterman, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".
Are you ready? It's time for some love, Ms. Darlene style!
MS: Did you know we have a mutual friend in common, Mike Clifford?
DL: Oh yeah? Oh Lord, I have not seen him in 100 years!
MS: He said you guys were in a show called Shindig! together.
DL: That right, that was in 1964, that's how long ago that was.
MS: I was born in 1965, there you go. (Laughs.)
DL: You weren't even alive when we were doing Shindig! (Laughs.)
MS: Let's talk about The Concert of Love.
DL: This project is something that I have always wanted to do. You know something like this costs a lot of money. People in the biz always give you a lot of lip service about what you should do, but when it comes time to put the bucks down on the table everybody disappears. (Laughs.) Some people came along who were fans and wondered why it had never been done before.
MS: Very nice.
DL: Part of the reason it had not been done before was we could not get the use of the music because of Phil Spector. That made the whole process: "hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait!" (Laughs.)
MS: On that note, I have to ask, care to comment on Phil Spector?
DL: It's sad because the day will be coming, if you do those kind of things, it's going to catch up with you. If you keep on doing certain kind of things, you reap what you sow. That's with everybody, it will catch up with you, someway, somehow.
MS: True. You are up for the third time this year for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
DL: Yes, it's the third time and hopefully it's the charm.
MS: You should be in it!
DL: It has been a long time, and I have done so many great things in the business and for the business. Before I met Phil Spector I was a background singer, I used to sing background for everybody, even people who could not afford to pay me. When I started out I was doing sessions for the likes of Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, they would always be "We can't afford it right now, but could please do one more take," and I did. (Laughs.)
MS: Obviously you finally got those "hurry up and wait" song rights.
DL: Yes, it's going great, we finally got all the rights to Phil Spector's music. EMI is backing us 100% on this project. It's so great I can't wait for the fans to hear it!
MS: Bruce Springsteen loves your CD I hear.
DL: Last year I performed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary celebration at The Garden. I was the only person in the show that was not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bruce brought me in, because he told them he wanted to work with someone he really loved, so he chose me and Sam, of Sam and Dave.
MS: You also have your annual holiday performance on David Letterman's show.
DL: That's coming up. It seems like it comes quicker and quicker every year. I'm not sure if it is because I am older, or what? (Laughs.) This will be the 24th year I have done David Letterman. It's so wonderful to have people come up to me and tell me they do not feel it's the holidays until they have heard me sing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".
MS: Once you hit a certain age the years go by so quickly, trust me. (Laughs.)
DL: Since next year will be 25 years, I told David we have to do something spectacular!
MS: By the way, the way I was introduced to "River Deep Mountain High" was Tina Tuner's version. Then I found out you originated it!
DL: I love when someone covers one of the songs that I originated. It's not that they are trying to do them better, it's that they love the song.
Feel the love and get your copy of soon-to-be Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love's Concert of Love by visiting www.WhoisDarleneLove.com. Also be sure to catch her annual holiday performance on David Letterman!
Michael Shinafelt has covered pop & dance music since he first burst on to the writing scene, interviewing everyone from pop icon Olivia Newton-John to pop artist E.G. Daily. Not to mention the many dance divas (male and female) who he has crossed paths with. Other interviews of note are Pamela Anderson, Heidi Fleiss, as well as cover stories on Margaret Cho and Kathy Griffin. Peace.