Lotta Love
Encyclopedia
"Lotta Love" is a Neil Young
composition which as recorded by Nicolette Larson
reached #8 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in February 1979 and also reached #1 on the Easy Listening
chart ranking as the #10 Adult Contemporary hit of the year.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=CSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT91&dq=lotta+love+adult+contemporary
"Lotta Love" was also a hit in Australia (#11) and New Zealand (#22).
Larson had formed a personal relationship with Young while backing him vocally on American Stars 'n Bars; while being driven by Young in his car one day Larson played a cassette which was the demo of "Lotta Love" and Young told her the song was hers if she wanted it. Young did in fact cut a version of "Lotta Love" himself for his Comes a Time
album; Larson provided background vocals for the album but did not sing on its "Lotta Love" track, a spare version which emphasized the song's melancholy.
Larson's lavish version of "Lotta Love" - which featured a string arrangement by veteran Jimmie Haskell (whose credits include work with Bobbie Gentry
) plus a classic soft rock horn riff and a flute solo - presented the song as optimistic; Larson would recall: "It was a very positive song and people don't want to hear how bad the world is all the time. It had a nice sound rhythm and groove."
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19860621&id=ygwQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5536,3679383
"Lotta Love" served as lead single for Larson's Ted Templeman
-produced Nicolette
album. Due to a delay in release Comes a Time was released on the same day in September 1978 as was Nicolette; the release of a single off the Nicolette album was held off until November when it was clear Young's version would not have a single release as an A-side (although Young's "Lotta Love" was released as the B-side of a non-charting "Comes a Time" single).
Much as extended dance versions of hits by the Doobie Brothers
- who Templeman also produced - were released, a 12" single of Larson's "Lotta Love" was issued, with Jim Burgess
performing remixing duties: this disco version differentiated from the album track and 7" single in its pure "four on the floor" disco drum track (replacing the radio version's "pop heartbeat" drum rhythm) and a sax solo on the bridge, replacing the 7" single's bridge flute solo which was shifted to an extended intro. The track did not heavily impact the club scene, its meager length for a 12" single - at 4:20 barely a minute longer than the 7" - a likely deterrent. The B-side of the 7" single was "Angels Rejoiced" featuring a harmony vocal by Herb Pederson while on its 12" single "Lotta Love" was backed by Larson's rendition of "You Send Me
".
A live version of "Lotta Love" was included on the Live at the Roxy album comprising Larson's 20 December 1978 concert at the Sunset Boulevard nightclub. The album was originally a limited issue (5000 copies) promo-only release; the first full release was on Rhino
in 2006.
Larson also performed "Lotta Love" at the No Nukes
concerts held at Madison Square Garden
in September of 1979; this version - with backing by the Doobie Brothers
- was included on the No Nukes
album. The performance was not included in the No Nukes
film in which however Larson can be seen.
In February of 1998 friends and associates of Nicolette Larson, who'd died 16 December 1997, mounted a tribute at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
which raised over $165,000 for the UCLA Children's Hospital; the two night engagement was billed as "the Lotta Love Concert" and opened with an ensemble performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler
, Valerie Carter
, Carole King
and Bonnie Raitt
. In December of 2007 a "Lotta Love" memorial concert was held to mark the tenth anniversary of Larson's passing and in December 2008 the Talking Stick in Venice CA
hosted a "Lotta Love" memorial concert which featured a performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler and
Andrew Gold
.
In 2009, She & Him
released a cover of "Lotta Love" on the B-side of their single "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
composition which as recorded by Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...
reached #8 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in February 1979 and also reached #1 on the Easy Listening
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart ranking as the #10 Adult Contemporary hit of the year.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=CSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT91&dq=lotta+love+adult+contemporary
"Lotta Love" was also a hit in Australia (#11) and New Zealand (#22).
Larson had formed a personal relationship with Young while backing him vocally on American Stars 'n Bars; while being driven by Young in his car one day Larson played a cassette which was the demo of "Lotta Love" and Young told her the song was hers if she wanted it. Young did in fact cut a version of "Lotta Love" himself for his Comes a Time
Comes a Time
Comes a Time is the ninth album by Neil Young, and a return to the country/folk rock sound of Harvest . Many of the tracks include harmony vocals from Nicolette Larson. Originally, it had started out as a solo record, but when Young played it for Reprise executives they asked him if he wouldn't...
album; Larson provided background vocals for the album but did not sing on its "Lotta Love" track, a spare version which emphasized the song's melancholy.
Larson's lavish version of "Lotta Love" - which featured a string arrangement by veteran Jimmie Haskell (whose credits include work with Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry
Roberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...
) plus a classic soft rock horn riff and a flute solo - presented the song as optimistic; Larson would recall: "It was a very positive song and people don't want to hear how bad the world is all the time. It had a nice sound rhythm and groove."
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19860621&id=ygwQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5536,3679383
"Lotta Love" served as lead single for Larson's Ted Templeman
Ted Templeman
Ted Templeman is an American record producer.-Career:He began his career in the mid 1960s in the Santa Cruz area as a drummer in a band called The Tikis. At the suggestion of Lenny Waronker, the group decided to change their name. Harpers Bizarre was born in 1966, with Templeman switching to...
-produced Nicolette
Nicolette (album)
Nicolette by Nicolette Larson was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1978. It reached #15 on the US pop charts and was certified gold in the US and Canada....
album. Due to a delay in release Comes a Time was released on the same day in September 1978 as was Nicolette; the release of a single off the Nicolette album was held off until November when it was clear Young's version would not have a single release as an A-side (although Young's "Lotta Love" was released as the B-side of a non-charting "Comes a Time" single).
Much as extended dance versions of hits by the Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
- who Templeman also produced - were released, a 12" single of Larson's "Lotta Love" was issued, with Jim Burgess
Jim Burgess
Jim Burgess may refer to:*Jim Burgess , winner of 1980 Azalea Invitational golf tournament*Jim Burgess , Green Party candidate for Chatham-Kent—Essex in the Ontario general election, 2003...
performing remixing duties: this disco version differentiated from the album track and 7" single in its pure "four on the floor" disco drum track (replacing the radio version's "pop heartbeat" drum rhythm) and a sax solo on the bridge, replacing the 7" single's bridge flute solo which was shifted to an extended intro. The track did not heavily impact the club scene, its meager length for a 12" single - at 4:20 barely a minute longer than the 7" - a likely deterrent. The B-side of the 7" single was "Angels Rejoiced" featuring a harmony vocal by Herb Pederson while on its 12" single "Lotta Love" was backed by Larson's rendition of "You Send Me
You Send Me
-Background:Cooke made a demo recording of "You Send Me" featuring only his own guitar accompaniment in the winter of 1955. The first recording of the track was made in New Orleans in December 1956 in the same sessions which produced "Lovable", the first release outside the gospel field for Cooke...
".
A live version of "Lotta Love" was included on the Live at the Roxy album comprising Larson's 20 December 1978 concert at the Sunset Boulevard nightclub. The album was originally a limited issue (5000 copies) promo-only release; the first full release was on Rhino
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
in 2006.
Larson also performed "Lotta Love" at the No Nukes
Musicians United for Safe Energy
Musicians United for Safe Energy, or MUSE, is an activist group founded in 1979 by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Hall. The group advocates against the use of nuclear energy, forming shortly after the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in March 1979...
concerts held at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in September of 1979; this version - with backing by the Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
- was included on the No Nukes
No Nukes (album)
No Nukes: The Muse Concerts For a Non-Nuclear Future was a 1979 triple live album that contained selections from the September 1979 Madison Square Garden concerts by the Musicians United for Safe Energy collective, with Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Hall being the key...
album. The performance was not included in the No Nukes
No Nukes (film)
No Nukes is a 1980 documentary and concert film that contained selections from the September 1979 Madison Square Garden concerts by the Musicians United for Safe Energy collective, with Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, and John Hall being the key organizers of the event and guiding forces...
film in which however Larson can be seen.
In February of 1998 friends and associates of Nicolette Larson, who'd died 16 December 1997, mounted a tribute at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket....
which raised over $165,000 for the UCLA Children's Hospital; the two night engagement was billed as "the Lotta Love Concert" and opened with an ensemble performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler
Rosemary Butler began her career playing bass and singing in an all-girl band named the Ladybirds. The band appeared on several LA area television shows before opening for the Rolling Stones in 1964. She then joined all-female hard rock band Birtha who released two albums for Dunhill Records...
, Valerie Carter
Valerie Carter
Valerie Carter to James J and Dorothy Carter, is an American singer-songwriter...
, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
. In December of 2007 a "Lotta Love" memorial concert was held to mark the tenth anniversary of Larson's passing and in December 2008 the Talking Stick in Venice CA
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
hosted a "Lotta Love" memorial concert which featured a performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler and
Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
.
In 2009, She & Him
She & Him
She & Him is an American indie pop duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward . The band's first album, Volume One, was released on Merge Records in March 2008...
released a cover of "Lotta Love" on the B-side of their single "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"