Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” has already been mentioned here a few times recently, but I’m taking the broken-record risk anyway: It’s one of the best tunes the holiday season has to offer, if not the best.

Written in 1963 by Elle Greenwich and Jeff Barry, and produced by Phil Spector, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was originally intended for Ronnie Bennett, lead singer of The Ronettes (also Spector’s girlfriend and later wife). But according to Love’s 1998 autobiography, “Ronnie didn’t have enough circuits to handle the high-voltage performance that Phil wanted.” So Love was instead called upon to deliver the goods, and boy, did she ever. Her powerhouse voice a perfect foil for Spector’s Wall of Sound, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was a fantastic fit, becoming Love’s signature song.

Since 1986, Love has appeared on David Letterman’s final pre-Christmas broadcast to sing what he’s called “the only Christmas song that matters.” Late Show bandleader Paul Shaffer is a big Wall of Sound fan, and he makes quite a spectacle of her annual performance. Besides the CBS Orchestra, Love is accompanied by a string section, additional horns and percussion, and a full backing choir.

Last year’s scheduled performance was preempted by the Writers Strike, which meant we had to make do with a redux of Love’s 2006 visit:

Because of its iconic status, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is a tough tune to cover—there’s really no topping the original. Still, many have approached the song, with the smartest artists doing so more as homage than with hubris. U2 was one of the first, recording a rousing a rousing rendition in 1987 for the A Very Special Christmas charity album.

Taped at a sound check while on tour in Glasgow, Scotland, U2’s version features Darlene Love on backing vocals. Her participation qualifies as a near-papal blessing in my book. Hear here:

After weathering a year without, tune into The Late Show with David Letterman this Tuesday night at 11:30/10:30 Central to see Darlene Love perform “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” I guarantee she’ll tear the roof off of the Ed Sullivan Theater once again.

Purchase U2’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.