Lotta Love

"Lotta Love"
Single by Nicolette Larson
from the album Nicolette
B-side	"Angels Rejoiced"
Released	November 4, 1978
Format	7" single
Recorded	1978
Genre	Soft rock
Length	3:11 (radio edit) 4:14 (extended)
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Neil Young
Producer(s)	Ted Templeman
Nicolette Larson singles chronology
"Lotta Love" (1978) "Rhumba Girl" (1979)

"Lotta Love"
Song by Neil Young from the album Comes a Time
Released	October 2, 1978
Length	2:38
Label	Reprise
Writer	Neil Young
Producer	Neil Young Tim Mulligan

"Lotta Love" is a song written by Neil Young and recorded by Nicolette Larson in 1978. It reached No. 8 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in February 1979 and also reached No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.^[1] "Lotta Love" was also a hit in Australia (No. 11) and New Zealand (No. 22).

Origins

Claims of Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt, who had sung back-up for Young with Larson, has stated that it was at her [i.e. Ronstadt's] suggestion that Larson recorded "Lotta Love" and that Larson's producer thanked Ronstadt by having a top-of-the-line sound system installed in her Mercedes convertible.^[2]

Claims of Nicolette Larson

However, Larson's own recollection was that the suggestion she record "Lotta Love" originated with Neil Young, with whom she had formed a personal relationship while backing him vocally on American Stars 'n Bars. The publishers of Neil Young News quoted Larson as saying:

"I got that song off a tape I found lying on the floor of Neil's car. I popped it in the tape player and commented on what a great song it was. Neil said: 'You want it? It's yours.'"^[3]

Versions

Neil Young did in fact cut a version of "Lotta Love" himself for his Comes a Time album. Larson provided background vocals for the album but did not sing on its "Lotta Love" track, a spare version which emphasized the song's melancholy.

Larson's version of "Lotta Love"—which featured a string arrangement by Jimmie Haskell (whose credits include work with Bobbie Gentry), plus a classic soft rock horn riff and a flute solo—presented the song as optimistic. Larson would recall: "It was a very positive song and people don't want to hear how bad the world is all the time. It had a nice sound rhythm and groove."^[4]

Releases

Single

"Lotta Love" served as lead single for Larson's Ted Templeman-produced Nicolette album. Due to a delay in release, Comes a Time was released on the same day in September 1978 as was Nicolette. The release of a single off the Nicolette album was held off until November when it was clear Young's version would not have a single release as an A-side (although Young's "Lotta Love" was released as the B-side of a non-charting "Comes a Time" single).

Extended version

Much as extended dance versions of hits by the Doobie Brothers — who Templeman also produced — were released, a 12" single of Larson's "Lotta Love" was issued, with Jim Burgess performing remixing duties: this disco version differentiated from the album track and 7" single in its pure "four on the floor" disco drum track (replacing the radio version's "pop heartbeat" drum rhythm) and a sax solo on the bridge, replacing the 7" single's bridge flute solo which was shifted to an extended intro. The track did not heavily impact the club scene. Its meager length for a 12" single — at 4:20 barely a minute longer than the 7" — a likely deterrent. The B-side of the 7" single was "Angels Rejoiced" featuring a harmony vocal by Herb Pedersen while on its 12" single "Lotta Love" was backed by Larson's rendition of "You Send Me".

Live versions

A live version of "Lotta Love" was included on the Live at the Roxy album consisting of Larson's December 20, 1978 concert at the Sunset Boulevard nightclub. The album was originally a limited issue (5000 copies) promo-only release. The first full release was on Rhino in 2006.

Larson also performed "Lotta Love" at the No Nukes concerts held at Madison Square Garden in September 1979. This version — with backing by the Doobie Brothers — was included on the No Nukes album. The performance was not included in the No Nukes film in which, however, Larson can be seen.

More recent versions

In February 1998, friends and associates of Nicolette Larson, who had died on December 16, 1997, mounted a tribute at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium which raised over $165,000 for the UCLA Children's Hospital. The two night engagement was billed as "The Lotta Love Concert" and opened with an ensemble performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler, Valerie Carter, Carole King, and Bonnie Raitt. In December 2007, a "Lotta Love" memorial concert was held to mark the 10th anniversary of Larson's passing, and in December 2008, the Talking Stick^[5] in Venice CA hosted a "Lotta Love" memorial concert which featured a performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler and Andrew Gold.

Red Hot Chili Peppers covered the song during the Bridge School Benefit concerts (organised by Neil Young) in October 2004.

In 2008, She & Him released a cover of "Lotta Love" on the B-side of their single "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?".^[6]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 11 Canada (CHUM)[8] 9 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 22 US Billboard Easy Listening[1] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[1] 8 US Cash Box[12] 8 US Record World[13] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1979) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] 84 Canada (RPM Top 200 Singles)[15] 46 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 41 US Cash Box[17] 63

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1979 (U.S.)

References

1. "Nicolette – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
2. Ronstadt, Linda (2013). Simple Dreams: a musical memoir (1st hardcover ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-4516-6872-8.
3. "Nicolette Larson's "Lotta Love" & Neil Young". Neil Young News. February 19, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
4. Edwards, Joe (June 21, 1986). "Nicolette Larson : She's now a star". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
5. "The Talking Stick". AHCdesigns.com. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
6. Domino – Singles – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? at the Wayback Machine (archived January 31, 2010). Domino. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
7. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
8. CHART NUMBER 1150 – Saturday, February 03, 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived February 13, 2006). CHUM. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0101." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0120a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
11. "Charts.org.nz – Nicolette Larson – Lotta Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
12. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending FEBRUARY 10, 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 14, 2011). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
13. RECORD WORLD 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived May 11, 2005). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
14. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
15. "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 13, December 22, 1979". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
16. "Top 100 Hits for 1979". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
17. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1979 at the Wayback Machine (archived August 25, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2014.