"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984.
In October 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired in the UK, which highlighted the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer Bob Geldof saw the report and wanted to raise money. He called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?".
Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicize the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject. Geldof put together a group called Band Aid, consisting of leading British and Irish musicians who were among the most popular of the era. On 25 November 1984, the song was recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, and was released four days later.
The 1984 original became the biggest selling single in UK Singles Chart history, selling a million copies in the first week alone. It stayed at Number 1 for five weeks, becoming Christmas number one, and has sold 3.7 million copies domestically. It remained the highest selling single in UK chart history until 1997, when Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" was released in tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold almost 5 million copies in Britain. Worldwide, the single had sold 11.8 million copies by 1989.
Following the release of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in December 1984 and record sales in aid of famine relief, Geldof then set his sights on staging a huge concert, 1985's Live Aid, to raise further funds.
The song was re-recorded in 1989 by Band Aid II and in 2004 by Band Aid 20, again raising funds for famine relief. The 2004 version of the song sold 1.17 million copies.
Cover art 7" 1984
B-side: "Feed the World"
Released: 28 November 1984
Format: 7" 12"
Recorded: 25 November 1984
Genre: Pop rock, New Wave, synthpop,Christmas
Label: Phonogram, Columbia
Writer(s): Bob Geldof, Midge Ure
Producer: Midge Ure
| Track | Artist | Title | Composer | Producer | |
| A | Band Aid | Do They Know It's Christmas? | Geldof, Ure | Midge Ure | |
| B | Band Aid | Feed The World | Geldof, Ure | Midge Ure |
Most of the pressing plants in UK manufactured the single, most notably Mercury and Phonogram, but not exclusively. As a result, many different label variations exist - first pressings, later pressings after the initial demand proved to be vastly underestimated, as well as special issues.
Spanish issue of the single, 1984.
In the US, this single was released in 1984 on Columbia label.
Do They Know It's Christmas / Feed The World
Columbia 38-04749
Released: January 1, 1984
Released: January 1, 1984
Label Variations:
Columbia 38-04749 Orange label
Standard orange label American promo label
(selling on Discogs for 5.00 GBP)
The following year, 1985, the single was re-issued with a slightly different sleeve as well as B-side One Year On (Feed The World).
And the later version of Ban Aid II (1989), which sold well, but not even close to the numbers of the 1984 version.
In terms of value, even mint records of this single don't sell for more than GBP 5 or so. That is the downside of it being so popular.
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