Today’s classic song of the day is “Lovin’ Things” by the Grass Roots. Or, if you’re in the UK, you may remember its release by the Scottish group, Marmalade. In either case, it’s a pretty good tune.
“Lovin’ Things” was written by Artie Schroeck and Jet Loring. Artie was better known as an arranger and a jingle composer; Ms. Jet Loring was a singer and songwriter. They wrote the song in late 1966 and Artie released a solo version (titled “The Lovin’ Things”) shortly after, although it didn’t make a splash.
The duo then peddled the song to former teen singing sensation Bobby Rydell, who released his version (still titled “The Lovin’ Things”) in December of 1967. It didn’t go far, either.
The song eventually made its way across the ocean and was recorded by a group from Scotland called The Marmalade. (Note the official “The” in their name at this early stage of their career.) You probably know Marmalade for their later release, “Reflections of My Life,” a top ten hit in 1969. They released their cover of “Lovin’ Things” (now with its better-known, “the”-less title) in April of 1968. This version went to #6 on the UK charts but wasn’t released in the U.S.
After some more covers of the tune by British artists, including Petula Clark, the tune migrated back to the States. It was recorded by a Ohio group called December’s Children, to little notice, then found its way to the Grass Roots. Their version, released in February of 1969, only went to #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cash Box Top 100, but has since become a staple of oldies radio, along with the rest of the Grass Roots catalog. It’s a more powerful version than all those previous, bolstered by a punchy horn section and incessant four-on-the-snare beat—provided, if my ears serve me correctly, by studio stalwart Hal Blaine.
That’s a lot of different versions of a single song. As a U.S. citizen, it’s the Grass Roots’ version with which I’m most familiar—although that version by Pet Clark is pretty interesting. It’s the lovin’ things you do, after all, that make me grow so close to you…
