Put A Band Aid On The Holiday

December 3, 1984 was that moment in time where the world of pop rock and roll came together, uniting for one purpose. The message, feed the world.

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure penned and produced what would become the number one hit, Do They Know It's Christmas Time?, and with them they brought some of the hottest talent of the 80's with them.

45 RPM 7 Inch
Side A: Do They Know It's Christmas?
Side B: Feed The World

Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang)
Bono (U2)
Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
Sara Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
Boy George (Culture Club)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)

33 1/3 RPM 12 Inch
Side A: Do They Know It's Christmas? (12 Inch Mix)
Side B: Do They Know It's Christmas? / Feed The World

Marilyn (solo artist)
George Michael (Wham!)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Sting (The Police)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
Jody Watleyv (solo artist)
Paul Weller (The Style Council)
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Paul Young (solo artist)

The single saw steady play on radios and television, via the music video. However, it was not immediately considered successful. Upon its initial release, it was met with mixed reviews and harsh criticism. Many panned the song as generic and lackluster in its composition. Despite these naysayers, this didn't impede the song's momentum, eventually seeing it reach number one is sixteen countries.

To support the single, a VHS was released featuring a behind the scenes look at the recording of the hit.

A 1985 re-issue of Do They Know It's Christmas? featured an alternate remix produced by Trevor Horn, as well as a B-side entitled, One Year On (Feed the World). However, this was never released in the USA.

In 1989, the song was re-reocrded with different musicians, and released again. This revised version also went to number one, and is credited as being the last number one hit of the decade in the UK. While it saw multiple pressing variations in that country, it was only released on cassette in the USA.

With the major success of the original 1984 version, this would open the door in 1985 for one of the greatest concert events ever conceived, Live Aid. But, that is a tale for another day.

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