"Lookin' for a Love" is a song written by J. W. Alexander and Zelda Samuels and was the debut hit of the family group the Valentinos, which featured Bobby Womack. The song was a hit for the Valentinos, climbing to number eight on the R&B chart and crossing over to number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, released on Sam Cooke's SAR label. The song became a much bigger hit when Womack issued a solo version in 1974; this version reached number one on the R&B chart and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. As well, an interim version of "Lookin' for a Love" by the J. Geils Band in 1971 was a top-40 hit for them, peaking at number 39.
The melody originally came from a gospel hymn titled, "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray," recorded and released in 1961 when they were still known as the Womack Brothers. Sam Cooke produced that session as well as the sessions for "Lookin' For a Love". Following the release of "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" and convinced that 17-year-old Bobby Womack would "go places", Cooke hired his staff writers J. W. Alexander and Zelda Samuels to rewrite the song as a doo-wop dance number, basing the song's chord structure on the melodic motif found in "Pray".
When the brothers were presented with the song, they protested initially fearing a backlash from their minister father, Friendly Womack. However, Cooke convinced them that the song would be a hit and guarantee the Womacks some financial success as well as commercial. Like "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray", the song featured Bobby on lead. Prior to its release, Cooke suggested a name change, thinking the change would do wonders for their career as it had done for him. Cooke settled on the Valentinos and released the song that spring.
Chart performanceedit
After its success, the group opened for James Brown & The Famous Flames where they won fans. In 1973, Bobby used "Lookin' for a Love" as a warm-up song to help loosen up his vocal cords during a recording session. Womack recorded one take of the song - with his brothers again providing background vocals - but had no plans of putting it out as a single. However, after some convincing, he released the song in early 1974 and the song went on to be his most successful single to date, and was his second number-one single on the Hot Soul Singles chart (after "Woman's Gotta Have It" in 1972, which only got to number 60 on the Hot 100) and his first and only top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 10.[1] It also reached number eight on the Cash Box Top 100. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies. This resulted in the song later selling more than two million copies. The song's success was bittersweet, however: the song's background vocalist Harry Womack later died from stab wounds from his girlfriend the week before it hit number one.
In 1971, rock band the J. Geils Band covered the song as one of its first releases and the song became a top-40 hit for them, peaking at number 39. Record World called it a "hard driving rocker" and a "high energy package."[9]
Squeeze covered the song for their album East Side Story, which features Paul Carrack on co-lead vocals. The track is only available as a bonus track.
Tortoise Matsumoto as singer of Ulfuls had covered the song his first solo album Traveller in 2003.
^. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^"Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 13, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
"Lookin' for a Love" song review [1] on Allmusic website
December 18, 2023
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For the 1975 song by Neil Young see Zuma Neil Young amp Crazy Horse album Lookin for a Love is a song written by J W Alexander and Zelda Samuels and was the debut hit of the family group the Valentinos which featured Bobby Womack The song was a hit for the Valentinos climbing to number eight on the R amp B chart and crossing over to number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 released on Sam Cooke s SAR label The song became a much bigger hit when Womack issued a solo version in 1974 this version reached number one on the R amp B chart and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 As well an interim version of Lookin for a Love by the J Geils Band in 1971 was a top 40 hit for them peaking at number 39 Lookin for a Love Single by the ValentinosB side Somewhere There s a Girl ReleasedMarch 1962Recorded1962GenreDoo wop R amp B soulLength3 15LabelSARSongwriter s J W Alexander Zelda SamuelsProducer s Sam Cooke Looking for a Love Single by the J Geils Bandfrom the album The Morning AfterB side Whammer Jammer US What s Your Hurry Intl ReleasedNovember 1971RecordedRecord Plant West Los AngelesGenreBlues rock rock and rollLength3 47LabelAtlantic RecordsSongwriter s J W Alexander Zelda SamuelsProducer s Bill SzymczykThe J Geils Band singles chronology Wait 1971 Looking for a Love 1971 I Don t Need You No More 1972 Lookin for a Love Single by Bobby Womackfrom the album Lookin for a Love AgainB side Let It Hang Out ReleasedJanuary 1974Recorded1973GenreR amp B soul funkLength2 37LabelUASongwriter s J W Alexander Zelda SamuelsProducer s Bobby WomackBobby Womack singles chronology I m Through Trying to Prove My Love to You 1973 Lookin for a Love 1974 You re Welcome Stop On By 1974 Contents 1 Background 2 Chart performance 3 Charts 4 Credits Bobby Womack versions 4 1 1962 original 4 2 1974 version 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Cover Versions 7 See also 8 ReferencesBackground editThe melody originally came from a gospel hymn titled Couldn t Hear Nobody Pray recorded and released in 1961 when they were still known as the Womack Brothers Sam Cooke produced that session as well as the sessions for Lookin For a Love Following the release of Couldn t Hear Nobody Pray and convinced that 17 year old Bobby Womack would go places Cooke hired his staff writers J W Alexander and Zelda Samuels to rewrite the song as a doo wop dance number basing the song s chord structure on the melodic motif found in Pray When the brothers were presented with the song they protested initially fearing a backlash from their minister father Friendly Womack However Cooke convinced them that the song would be a hit and guarantee the Womacks some financial success as well as commercial Like Couldn t Hear Nobody Pray the song featured Bobby on lead Prior to its release Cooke suggested a name change thinking the change would do wonders for their career as it had done for him Cooke settled on the Valentinos and released the song that spring Chart performance editAfter its success the group opened for James Brown amp The Famous Flames where they won fans In 1973 Bobby used Lookin for a Love as a warm up song to help loosen up his vocal cords during a recording session Womack recorded one take of the song with his brothers again providing background vocals but had no plans of putting it out as a single However after some convincing he released the song in early 1974 and the song went on to be his most successful single to date and was his second number one single on the Hot Soul Singles chart after Woman s Gotta Have It in 1972 which only got to number 60 on the Hot 100 and his first and only top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number 10 1 It also reached number eight on the Cash Box Top 100 The single was later certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies This resulted in the song later selling more than two million copies The song s success was bittersweet however the song s background vocalist Harry Womack later died from stab wounds from his girlfriend the week before it hit number one Charts editValentinos originalChart 1962 PeakpositionUS Billboard Hot 100 2 72US Billboard R amp B 8US Cash Box Top 100 3 63Credits Bobby Womack versions edit1962 original edit Lead vocal by Bobby Womack Background vocals by the Valentinos Friendly Womack Jr Curtis Womack Harry Womack and Cecil Womack Instrumentation by SAR Records staff musicians Bobby Womack guitar and Harry Womack bass Produced by Sam Cooke1974 version edit Lead vocal by Bobby Womack Background vocals by the Valentinos Friendly Womack Jr Curtis Womack Harry Womack and Cecil Womack Instrumentation by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Produced by Bobby WomackCharts editBobby Womack versionWeekly charts edit Chart 1974 PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles 4 24US Billboard Hot 100 2 10US Billboard R amp B 1US Cash Box Top 100 5 8 Year end charts edit Chart 1974 RankCanada 6 197US Billboard Hot 100 7 67US Cash Box 8 75 J Geils Band coverChart 1971 72 PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles 25US Billboard Hot 100 2 39US Cash Box Top 100 37Cover Versions editIn 1971 rock band the J Geils Band covered the song as one of its first releases and the song became a top 40 hit for them peaking at number 39 Record World called it a hard driving rocker and a high energy package 9 Squeeze covered the song for their album East Side Story which features Paul Carrack on co lead vocals The track is only available as a bonus track Tortoise Matsumoto as singer of Ulfuls had covered the song his first solo album Traveller in 2003 See also editLooking for Love disambiguation References edit Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 634 a b c Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 ISBN 0 89820 089 X Cash Box Top 100 Singles September 29 1962 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca 17 July 2013 Retrieved 2017 02 20 Cash Box Top 100 Singles April 27 1974 Archived from the original on February 21 2017 Retrieved February 20 2017 Bac lac gc ca Musicoutfitters com Cash Box Year End Charts Top 100 Pop Singles December 28 1974 Archived from the original on October 9 2016 Retrieved February 20 2017 Picks of the Week PDF Record World November 13 1971 p 1 Retrieved 2023 04 10 Lookin for a Love song review 1 on Allmusic website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lookin 27 for a Love amp oldid 1171405266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
