Love to Love You Baby (song)
Encyclopedia
"Love to Love You Baby" is a song by American singer Donna Summer
released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
). It became one of the first ever disco
hits to also be released in an extended form.
for eight years and had participated in several musical theatre shows. She had also released an album in Europe entitled Lady of the Night, written by Giorgio Moroder
and Pete Bellotte
and produced by Bellotte, which had given her a couple of hit singles. She was still a complete unknown in her home country when she suggested the lyric "Love to Love You Baby" to Moroder in 1975. He turned the lyric into a full disco
song and asked Summer to record it. The full lyrics were somewhat explicit and at first Summer said she would only record it as a demo to give to someone else. However, Summer's erotic moans and groans impressed Moroder so much that he persuaded her to release it as her own song, and "Love to Love You" became a moderate hit in the Netherlands
.
president Neil Bogart
in the U.S. and he played it at a party at his home. He was so impressed with the track that he continued to play it over and over all night. He later contacted Moroder and suggested that he make the track longer - possibly as long as twenty minutes. Summer had reservations once again, however; she wasn't even sure of all the lyrics, but she imagined herself as an actress (namely Marilyn Monroe
) playing the part of someone in sexual ecstasy. The studio lights were dimmed so that Summer was more or less in complete darkness as she lay on the floor. The final recording lasted over sixteen minutes, and contained the sexiest "simulated" orgasms ever found on vinyl. According to the BBC, the song contained 23 "orgasm
s". It was also at this point that the song was renamed "Love To Love You Baby." It took up the entire first side of the album of the same name
, and was also released as a 12" single. Edited versions were also found on 7" vinyl, and the song became an international disco smash. Released in November 1975, it became Summer's first U.S. top 40 hit, spending two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in early 1976 and logged four weeks atop the Billboard U.S. disco chart, as well number three on the soul singles chart. Also, the song was a success on the UK Singles Chart
upon release there in January 1976; it reached #4 despite the BBC's refusal to promote it. Summer would be named "the first lady of love," which labeled her with a sexually-oriented, fantasy image from which she would struggle to free herself.
Casablanca Records
became responsible for the distribution of Summer's work in the U.S., and later in other parts of the world. President Neil Bogart was particularly keen for Summer to portray the image of a rich, powerful, sexy fantasy figure with which this song had labelled her. Bogart and his wife Joyce (who also became Summer's manager) would become close friends with Summer once she returned to the United States. However, he also began interfering with aspects of her personal as well as professional life. Summer eventually felt that she had no control over her life and suffered with depression
and insomnia
. She would later become a born-again Christian and leave disco, Casablanca and the Bogarts behind and file a lawsuit against them (which was eventually settled). Thereafter, Summer also made the decision to leave behind "Love to Love You Baby" forever until some twenty-five years later, by which time she once again performed her classic song in concerts.
re-issued her first hit single "Love to Love You Baby". However, the single failed to make an impact on the charts the second time around, and it was to be their final single re-release of tracks from the Donna Summer back catalogue in the 1980s. In 1984 the Casablanca Records label was shut down by PolyGram.
NB This original release (without the "Baby" in the title) ran for just over 3 minutes and 20 seconds. This version was integrated into the 16 minute plus version found on the album. All subsequent international releases either contained a new edit of the full album version (lasting just under five minutes) or the original version (but still adding "Baby" to the title). In some cases (for example, the U.S.), both versions were found on different sides of the record.
U.S. 7" (Oasis OC 401)
U.K. 7" (GTO GT 17)
Germany 7" (Atlantic ATL 10625)
NB The word "Baby" appears on the sleeve but not the label
France 7" (Atlantic 10.693)
Canada 7" (Oasis OC 401X)
Sweden 7" (Polar POS 1209)
Spain 7" (Ariola 16575)
U.K. 12" (Casablanca CANX 1014)
NB The "Come On Over To My Place Version" is in fact the original full-length album version
"Love to Love You Baby" was used briefly in the film Thank God It's Friday
(1978) with Donna Summer parodying herself shouting the title to the disc jockey.
"Love to Love You Baby" also featured in the opening scenes of the cult British TV play, Abigail's Party
.
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
). It became one of the first ever disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
hits to also be released in an extended form.
Song information and original release
By 1975, Summer had been living in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for eight years and had participated in several musical theatre shows. She had also released an album in Europe entitled Lady of the Night, written by Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
and Pete Bellotte
Pete Bellotte
Peter J. Bellotte is a British songwriter and record producer, most famous for hismain body of work with Donna Summer alongside his partner Giorgio Moroder...
and produced by Bellotte, which had given her a couple of hit singles. She was still a complete unknown in her home country when she suggested the lyric "Love to Love You Baby" to Moroder in 1975. He turned the lyric into a full disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
song and asked Summer to record it. The full lyrics were somewhat explicit and at first Summer said she would only record it as a demo to give to someone else. However, Summer's erotic moans and groans impressed Moroder so much that he persuaded her to release it as her own song, and "Love to Love You" became a moderate hit in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
International release and breakthrough
A tape of the song was sent to Casablanca RecordsCasablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
president Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart was an American record executive. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber....
in the U.S. and he played it at a party at his home. He was so impressed with the track that he continued to play it over and over all night. He later contacted Moroder and suggested that he make the track longer - possibly as long as twenty minutes. Summer had reservations once again, however; she wasn't even sure of all the lyrics, but she imagined herself as an actress (namely Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
) playing the part of someone in sexual ecstasy. The studio lights were dimmed so that Summer was more or less in complete darkness as she lay on the floor. The final recording lasted over sixteen minutes, and contained the sexiest "simulated" orgasms ever found on vinyl. According to the BBC, the song contained 23 "orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
s". It was also at this point that the song was renamed "Love To Love You Baby." It took up the entire first side of the album of the same name
Love to Love You Baby
Love to Love You Baby is the second album by Donna Summer, and her first to be released internationally and in the US. Her previous album Lady of the Night was released only in the Netherlands. Love to Love You Baby was released in the US on August 27, 1975.-History:In the summer of 1975, Summer...
, and was also released as a 12" single. Edited versions were also found on 7" vinyl, and the song became an international disco smash. Released in November 1975, it became Summer's first U.S. top 40 hit, spending two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in early 1976 and logged four weeks atop the Billboard U.S. disco chart, as well number three on the soul singles chart. Also, the song was a success on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
upon release there in January 1976; it reached #4 despite the BBC's refusal to promote it. Summer would be named "the first lady of love," which labeled her with a sexually-oriented, fantasy image from which she would struggle to free herself.
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
became responsible for the distribution of Summer's work in the U.S., and later in other parts of the world. President Neil Bogart was particularly keen for Summer to portray the image of a rich, powerful, sexy fantasy figure with which this song had labelled her. Bogart and his wife Joyce (who also became Summer's manager) would become close friends with Summer once she returned to the United States. However, he also began interfering with aspects of her personal as well as professional life. Summer eventually felt that she had no control over her life and suffered with depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
. She would later become a born-again Christian and leave disco, Casablanca and the Bogarts behind and file a lawsuit against them (which was eventually settled). Thereafter, Summer also made the decision to leave behind "Love to Love You Baby" forever until some twenty-five years later, by which time she once again performed her classic song in concerts.
1983 re-issue
Following the dance chart success of the Patrick Cowley remix of Summer's "I Feel Love" in 1982, Casablanca Records/PolyGramPolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
re-issued her first hit single "Love to Love You Baby". However, the single failed to make an impact on the charts the second time around, and it was to be their final single re-release of tracks from the Donna Summer back catalogue in the 1980s. In 1984 the Casablanca Records label was shut down by PolyGram.
Track listing
Original Netherlands 7" (Groovy GR 1211)- "Love To Love You"
- "Need-a-Man Blues"
NB This original release (without the "Baby" in the title) ran for just over 3 minutes and 20 seconds. This version was integrated into the 16 minute plus version found on the album. All subsequent international releases either contained a new edit of the full album version (lasting just under five minutes) or the original version (but still adding "Baby" to the title). In some cases (for example, the U.S.), both versions were found on different sides of the record.
U.S. 7" (Oasis OC 401)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (4:57)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (3:27)
U.K. 7" (GTO GT 17)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (4:57)
- "Need-A-Man Blues" (?)
Germany 7" (Atlantic ATL 10625)
- "Love To Love You" (3:20)
- "Need-A-Man Blues" (3:09)
NB The word "Baby" appears on the sleeve but not the label
France 7" (Atlantic 10.693)
- "Love To Love You Baby (Part 1)" (3:27)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (Part 2)" (4:57)
Canada 7" (Oasis OC 401X)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (3:22)
- "Need-A-Man Blues" (3:12)
Sweden 7" (Polar POS 1209)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (3:21)
- "Need-A-Man Blues" (3:10)
Spain 7" (Ariola 16575)
- "Love To Love You Baby" (3:42)
- "Need-A-Man Blues" (4:30)
1983 re-release
U.K. 7" (Casablanca CAN 1014)- "Love To Love You Baby (Part One)" - 3:35
- "Love To Love You Baby (Part Two)" - 4:12
U.K. 12" (Casablanca CANX 1014)
- "Love To Love You Baby (Come On Over To My Place Version)" - 16:50
- "Love To Love You Baby (Come Dancing Version)" - 8:10 (A Young and Strong mega-edit)
NB The "Come On Over To My Place Version" is in fact the original full-length album version
1990 re-release
Germany CD-single (Casablanca 874 395-2)- "Love To Love You Baby" (4:15)
- "I Feel Love" (5:39)
- "Bad Girls" (3:54)
- "On The Radio (Long Version)" (5:51)
Charts
| Chart (1975/1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
9 |
| Dutch Singles Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
13 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
17 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
6 |
| Italian Singles Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
11 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... |
11 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
8 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
2 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
5 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
6 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Songs 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,... |
3 |
Cover versions
- Bronski BeatBronski BeatBronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...
recorded the song in a medley with "Johnny Remember Me" and Summer's "I Feel LoveI Feel Love"I Feel Love" is a song by Donna Summer, taken from her 1977 concept album I Remember Yesterday.The song constituted the "future" segment of the album, which represented a stylistic progress through time...
" in 1985. - Samantha FoxSamantha FoxSamantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
recorded the song in a medley with another disco hit, Andrea TrueAndrea TrueAndrea True was an American adult film star and singer from the disco era. In addition to her given name, she had multiple stage names, including Inger Kissin, Singe Low, Sandra Lips, Andrea Travis, and Catherine Warren, .She is best known for the disco tune "More, More, More", released in 1976,...
's "More More More", on her album Just One Night in 1991. - No DoubtNo DoubtNo Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
did a cover of the song for the ZoolanderZoolanderZoolander is a 2001 American satirical comedy film directed by and starring Ben Stiller. The film contains elements from a pair of short films directed by Russell Bates and written by Drake Sather and Stiller for the VH1 Fashion Awards television specials in 1996 and 1997. The short films and the...
soundtrack. - Artist Sam Taylor-WoodSam Taylor-WoodSamantha "Sam" Taylor-Wood OBE , born Samantha Taylor, is an English filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist. Her directorial feature film debut came in 2009 with Nowhere Boy, a film based on the childhood experiences of The Beatles songwriter and singer John Lennon...
, under the guise of Kiki Kokova, collaborated with the Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, in a limited edition 12" release of "Love To Love You Baby" in 2003. - TLCTLC (band)TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
sampled the refrain in their controversial single "I'm Good At Being BadI'm Good at Being Bad"I'm Good at Being Bad" is a song recorded by R&B girl group TLC for their third album, Fanmail. The track was inspired by and is similar to the song "What About..." which is featured on Janet Jackson's controversial 1997 album, The Velvet Rope. The song was released unofficially as the second...
" off their album FanmailFanmail (album)FanMail is the third studio album by American girl group trio TLC, released on February 23, 1999. As with previous album CrazySexyCool , the group re-teamed with Dallas Austin, Babyface, and Jermaine Dupri on the album's production and the album features the computer voice female named Vic-E .The...
. The lyrics of the song were so dirty that Donna Summer asked them to remove the sample from the song. All pressing after this do not include the sample. - Princess SuperstarPrincess SuperstarPrincess Superstar is an American emcee and DJ.Her musical style, as she describes it, is flip-flop — a mixture of 'hip hop, electroclash and electronica'.-Background:...
sampled the refrain of the song for her song "Love/Hate To Be A Player" off her album "Last Of The Great 20th Century Composers" she changed the line to "Oooh, love to be a player baby." - Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
also sampled the refrain of the song for her hit "Naughty GirlNaughty Girl (Beyoncé Knowles song)"Naughty Girl" is song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her debut studio album, Dangerously in Love . It was written by by Knowles, Scott Storch, Robert Waller and Angela Beyincé. Produced by Beyoncé and Storch, the song continues the Western sound of "Baby Boy"...
" off her album Dangerously in LoveDangerously in LoveDangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child...
. - French DJ David VendettaDavid VendettaDavid Paparusso, better known as David Vendetta , is French house producer and DJ.- Biography :David Vendetta's career as a professional DJ only starts in 2002...
sampled the song and turned it into a hit in clubs, in 2006. - Debbie HarryDebbie HarryDeborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
performed a reggae version of the song live at the 1993 Wigstock festival at Tompkins Square Park - The Ritchie Family sang a portion of "Love to Love You Baby" in their medley included in "The Best Disco in Town".
- Tom Tom ClubTom Tom ClubTom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:...
covered the song on their album The Good the Bad and the Funky. - "Love to Love You Baby" briefly appeared in an episode of American TV series Eight Is EnoughEight Is EnoughEight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series which ran on ABC from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name...
, played by the local band of a character in the show.
"Love to Love You Baby" was used briefly in the film Thank God It's Friday
Thank God It's Friday
The triple album was, unlike the movie, a commercial success. It contained contributions from some of the biggest names in disco at the time, including Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, The Commodores, and many others....
(1978) with Donna Summer parodying herself shouting the title to the disc jockey.
"Love to Love You Baby" also featured in the opening scenes of the cult British TV play, Abigail's Party
Abigail's Party
Abigail's Party is a play for stage and television written and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh. It is a suburban situation comedy of manners, and a satire on the aspirations and tastes of the new middle class that emerged in Britain in the 1970s...
.