Lookin' for a Love
Encyclopedia
"Lookin' for a Love" is a song written by J. W. Alexander and Zelda Samuels. The song was originally a top ten hit on the US R&B Singles
chart in 1962 for the Valentinos on the Sam Cooke
-owned SAR
record label. Cooke, Alexander and Samuels based the song's chord structure on the melodic motif found in some gospel songs. In 1971, The J. Geils Band reached number thirty nine on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with their cover of the song. In 1973, Bobby Womack
, who was one of the members of the Valentinos, decided to use "Lookin' for a Love" as a warm-up song to help loosen up his vocal cords during a recording session. Womack recorded a take of the song but had no plans of releasing it commercially. After some of his friends convinced him that the song would be hit, Womack decided to finish the track and release it. "Lookin' for a Love" was released as a single in early 1974 and went on to become the biggest hit of Womack's career, staying in the number one spot on the R&B chart for three weeks and reaching number ten on the Pop chart. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart in 1962 for the Valentinos on the Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
-owned SAR
SAR Records
SAR Records was a record company founded by soul music legend Sam Cooke in 1961. The meaning of "SAR" has been disputed; it has been listed as "Sam & Alex Records" and also as "Sam, Alex, & Roy Records" SAR Records was a record company founded by soul music legend Sam Cooke in 1961. The meaning of...
record label. Cooke, Alexander and Samuels based the song's chord structure on the melodic motif found in some gospel songs. In 1971, The J. Geils Band reached number thirty nine on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with their cover of the song. In 1973, Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
, who was one of the members of the Valentinos, decided to use "Lookin' for a Love" as a warm-up song to help loosen up his vocal cords during a recording session. Womack recorded a take of the song but had no plans of releasing it commercially. After some of his friends convinced him that the song would be hit, Womack decided to finish the track and release it. "Lookin' for a Love" was released as a single in early 1974 and went on to become the biggest hit of Womack's career, staying in the number one spot on the R&B chart for three weeks and reaching number ten on the Pop chart. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.