“Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” the song that invented the concept of the all-star charity record, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The occasion will be marked with a special new version of the song, featuring vocals from the artists who’ve sung on different versions of the song over the years mashed together.
The original “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” spearheaded by Bob Geldof, was released in 1984 and credited to Band Aid, a collection of U.K. stars that included U2‘s Bono and Adam Clayton, Sting, Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Paul Young and dozens more. The song was later revived in 1989, 2004 and 2014, each time with the artists who were popular at that moment.
According to the BBC, the 40th anniversary “ultimate mix” will be released Nov. 25, and a new video will be released featuring archival footage of the late David Bowie introducing the singers. The song will be part of a compilation album due out Nov. 29.
The BBC reports that voices appearing on the new version will include Sting, Bono, Boy George, Sam Smith, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, the late George Michael and the late Sinéad O’Connor, singing to music recorded over the years by Paul McCartney, Collins, members of Radiohead, Blur and more.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia and led to the 1985 all-star benefit concert Live Aid. Over the last 40 years, the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised nearly $180 million for that cause and others.
The original version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was the bestselling single in U.K. history until it was eclipsed by Elton John‘s Princess Diana tribute, “Candle in the Wind ’97.”
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