Merry Christmas Darling

"Merry Christmas Darling" is a Christmas song by the Carpenters (music by Richard Carpenter, lyrics by Frank Pooler), and originally recorded in 1970.^[1] It was first available on a 7-inch single that year (A&M Records 1236), and was later re-issued 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 but the single peaked at number 41 in Cashbox.^[2]

Chart	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	45
US Cashbox Top 100 Singles	41
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.^[3] 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, Filipino the voice, the singer's singer Jed Madela 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

↑ Fontenot, Robert. "Carpenters (the Band) Songs, Music, and History". Oldies.about.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
↑ Whitburn, Joel. The Comparison Book (2015), p. 80
↑ "A Very Glee Christmas". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.

External links

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Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

The Carpenters

Karen Carpenter Richard Carpenter

Albums	Offering (Ticket to Ride) Close to You Carpenters A Song for You Now & Then Horizon A Kind of Hush Passage Made in America Voice of the Heart Lovelines As Time Goes By

Live albums	Live in Japan Live at the Palladium

Compilation albums	The Singles: 1969–1973 The Singles: 1974–1978 The Very Best of the Carpenters Yesterday Once More Only Yesterday From the Top Interpretations: A 25th Anniversary Celebration Love Songs Reflections The Singles: 1969–1981 The Essential Collection: 1965–1997 Carpenters Perform Carpenter Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition The Ultimate Collection 40/40

Other	Christmas Portrait An Old-Fashioned Christmas Time (Richard Carpenter) Karen Carpenter (album) Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor (Richard Carpenter)

Singles	"Looking for Love" "Ticket to Ride" "(They Long to Be) Close to You" "We've Only Just Begun" "Merry Christmas, Darling" "For All We Know" "Rainy Days and Mondays" "Superstar" "Bless the Beasts and Children" "Hurting Each Other" "It's Going to Take Some Time" "Goodbye to Love" "Sing" "Yesterday Once More" "Top of the World" "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" "I Won't Last a Day Without You" "Please Mr. Postman" "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" "Only Yesterday" "Solitaire" "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)" "I Need to Be in Love" "Goofus" "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" "All You Get from Love Is a Love Song" "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" "Sweet, Sweet Smile" "I Believe You" "Touch Me When We're Dancing" "(Want You) Back in My Life Again" "Those Good Old Dreams" "Beechwood 4-5789" "Make Believe It's Your First Time" "Your Baby Doesn't Love You Anymore" "Now" "Little Altar Boy" "Honolulu City Lights" "Something in Your Eyes" "If I Had You" "Let Me Be the One" "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" "Ave Maria" "The Rainbow Connection"

TV series/specials	Make Your Own Kind of Music Live at the BBC Very First TV Special Space Encounters A Christmas Portrait Music, Music, Music

DVDs	Gold: Greatest Hits Interpretations Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters

Related articles	Discography Songs John Bettis Joe Osborn Tony Peluso If I Were a Carpenter The Karen Carpenter Story

Book Category

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