Today’s classic song of the day is that smooth soul classic, “Lady Love” by Lou Rawls. Released as a single in January of 1978, “Lady Love” reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, #20 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #21 on Billboard’s R&B chart.
“Lady Love” was written by Yvonne Gray, AKA Von Gray, AKA Vongn Gray. The song was originally included on Lou Rawls’ 1977 album, When You Hear Lou, You’ve Heard It All. The track sounds a little like a throwback to Rawls’ silky smooth Sixties soul stylings, but with a hint of that glossy Philly Soul production. (It was released on Philadelphia International Records.)
Lou Rawls had a remarkable career, releasing 61 albums and dozens of singles, selling more than 40 million records. Born in Chicago in 1933, he began singing in church choirs at an early age. It’s through his church singing that he met Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield; he later sang with Cooke in the Teenage Kings of Harmony gospel group and took Cooke’s place in the Highway QCs when Cooke left that group.
Rawls moved to Los Angeles in 1955, spent some time in the Army, and released his first singles as a solo artist in 1959. He signed with Capitol Records in 1962, which jump started his career. His first big hit was 1966’s “Love is a Hurtin’ Thing,” which was followed by “Your Good Thing (Is About to End)” in 1969, “A Natural Man” in 1971, and “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” in 1976.
Although his recording career ended around the turn of the century, Rawls continued performing up until the end of his life. Lou Rawls passed away in January of 2006 of lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain.
And here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, the great Lou Rawls singing “Lady Love” live at the Newport Jazz Festival on August 18, 1991. Man, did he have a voice; I could listen to him sing all day.
