A Love Song (Loggins and Messina song)
"A Love Song" | ||||
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German cover art | ||||
Single by Anne Murray | ||||
from the album Love Song | ||||
B-side | "You Can't Go Back" | |||
Released | December 1973 | |||
Format | 7-inch single | |||
Recorded | October 1973 | |||
Genre | Country, pop | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | Capitol Records | |||
Writer(s) | D. L. George and Kenny Loggins | |||
Producer(s) | Brian Ahern | |||
Anne Murray singles chronology | ||||
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"A Love Song" is a song written by Kenny Loggins and Dona Lyn George, first released by the folk-rock duo Loggins & Messina in 1973 on their album Full Sail. Country artist Anne Murray covered the song later that year for her album of the same name.
Released in December 1973, Murray's version became a major crossover hit early in 1974. In her native Canada, it topped all three singles charts: the overall Top Singles chart, the Country Tracks chart and the Adult Contemporary chart. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart and just missed the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 12. The song fared even better there in the adult contemporary market — it became Murray's third chart-topper on Billboard's American Hot Adult Contemporary Singles chart.[1] (In Canada, it was her seventh No. 1 on both the country and adult contemporary charts.) This was Murray's second Loggins & Messina cover, having charted with her version of their "Danny's Song" the previous year.
Later cover versions include Dar Williams, Jonathan Rayson and Kenny Loggins.
Personnel on Loggins & Messina version
- Kenny Loggins – lead vocals, classical acoustic guitar
- Jim Messina – harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
- Jon Clarke – bass flute, alto flute
- Al Garth – recorder
- Larry Sims – bass, backing vocals
- Merel Bregante – drums, backing vocals
- Michael Omartian – piano
- Milt Holland – shakers, triangle, congas, chocalho
Charts
Chart (1974) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[2] | 1 |
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] | 1 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] | 1 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[6] | |
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 12 |
References
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 176.
- ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5007." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 23, 1974.
- ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 4989." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 2, 1974.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4993a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 16, 1974.
- ↑ "Anne Murray – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Anne Murray.
- ↑ "Hot Country Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 86 (7): 30. February 16, 1974. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "Anne Murray – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Anne Murray.
External links
Preceded by "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra |
US Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Anne Murray version) February 9, 1974 |
Succeeded by "Last Time I Saw Him" by Diana Ross |
Preceded by "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary number-one single (Anne Murray version) February 23 - March 3, 1974 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Who's in the Strawberry Patch with Sally" by Dawn |
Preceded by "World of Make Believe" by Bill Anderson |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks number-one single (Anne Murray version) March 2–9, 1974 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "There Won't Be Anymore" by Charlie Rich |
Preceded by "Spiders and Snakes" by Jim Stafford |
Canadian RPM number-one single (Anne Murray version) March 16, 1974 |
Succeeded by "Rock On" by David Essex |