“Don’t Pull Your Love” (Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds)

Today’s classic song of the day is “Don’t Pull Your Love” by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. Released in April of 1971, this track rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts, and to #1 on the Cash Box Top 100.

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds were actually three guys: Dan Hamilton on lead vocal and guitar, Joe Frank Corollo on bass and vocals, and Tommy Reynolds on keyboards, guitars, and vocals. All of them had previously played together in the T-Bones, who had a hit with the instrumental track “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)” in 1965.

“Don’t Pull Your Love” was written by Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert. The two of them, both songwriters and producers, were responsible for a bevy of tunes in the ’70s, including “It’s a Cryin’ Shame” for Gayle McCormick, “One Tin Soldier” for both Coven and The Original Caste, “Two Divided By Love” for the Grass Roots, and “Keeper of the Castle,” “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got),” and “Are You Man Enough” for the Four Tops. Steve Barri produced the track for ABC/Dunhill Records

There’s actually some debate as to which musicians played on “Don’t Pull Your Love.” Common wisdom is that the backing instrumentals were provided by members of the Wrecking Crew, including Larry Knechtel on piano and Hal Blaine on drums. Some dispute this, however, with Joe Frank Corollo claiming that he played bass and his cousin Joe Correro Jr. played drums. I don’t know about that; the drums definitely sound like Hal Blaine and his fiberglass monster kit, plus Hal has always included this one on his list of songs on which he played. I’m going with Hal on drums on this one.

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds had another even bigger hit in 1975 with the song “Fallin’ in Love,” which went all the way to #1 on the charts. By that time, however, Tommy Reynolds had left the group (he exited in 1972, replaced by keyboardist Alan Dennison), even though they kept him in the band’s name. Dan and Joe Frank corrected that oversight in 1976 by changing their name to Hamilton, Joe Frank & Dennison, which just didn’t have the same ring. The group officially disbanded in 1980.