The Re-Issue: Band Aid/Do They Know It's Christmas? 40th., Anniversary

Band Aid's legendary and iconic 1984 charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", is being reissued to mark 40 years since the original release.

 

Written by Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure, Do They Know It’s Christmas? was of course performed by ’80s pop stars of the era, including George Michael, Paul Young, Sting, Duran Duran, Phil Collins, Boy George, Heaven 17, Spandau Ballet & Bananarama amongst others.

The reissue is being released on CD and vinyl and features the original recording from 1984, the Band Aid 20 version (from 2004) and the song as sung by ‘Band Aid 30’ in 2014. It also features the “if you’re going to cock it up…” rendition performed at the end of Live Aid in 1985. However, this release’s claim to fame is a new ‘Ultimate Mix’ created by Trevor Horn that mixes vocal contributions of the many artists who have recorded the song over the decades into one seamless whole. 

So basically, you can hear a Sting sing alongside Ed Sheeran, Boy George with Sam Smith, and George Michael with Harry Styles, and this practically is not so good, at least to me, because I think the 2014 version is probably the most weak and boring of all.

Unfortunately, the 1989 "Band Aid II" version isn’t included in this new edit, since the multi-tracks cannot be found, although that doesn’t explain why the 89 version isn’t included on the CD and vinyl in its original form.

And just like 40 years ago, this is all for a good cause, with proceeds going to the Band Aid Trust.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? will be released on 29 November 2024. It will be premiered online on 25 November.

 

Do They Know It's Christmas? Track List: 

 

1. Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984 Version)

2. Band Aid 20 - Do They Know It's Christmas? (2004 Version)

3. Band Aid 30 - Do They Know It's Christmas? (2014 Version)

4. Band Aid - Do They Know it's Christmas? (2024 Ultimate Mix)

5. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (Live At Wembley Stadium, 1985)