Living a Little, Laughing a Little

Last updated
"Living a Little, Laughing a Little"
Single by The Spinners
from the album New and Improved
B-side "Smile, We Have Each Other"
ReleasedFebruary 1975
Studio Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre R&B
Length5:03 (album version)
3:16 (single version)
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Thom Bell
The Spinners singles chronology
"Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1)"
(1974)
"Living a Little, Laughing a Little"
(1975)
"Sadie"
(1975)
Official audio
"Living a Little, Laughing a Little" on YouTube

"Living a Little, Laughing a Little" is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners. It was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed. [1] [2] The song was released as a single from their 1974 album New and Improved in February 1975. [3] [4]

Contents

The single debuted at number #77, [5] and peaked at number #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [6] [7]

Reception

Billboard magazine wrote "One of our premier pop/soul groups put together their usual satir smooth sound on this wonderful ballad. Superb lead vocals bounce of the always excellent Spinners' chorus. Song works well as a story." [2] A Record World reviewer calls the song a "wide-eyed mid-tempo monster". [8]

Charts

Chart (1975)Peak

Position

Canada RPM Top Singles [9] 43
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 37

John Hiatt version

"Living a Little, Laughing a Little"
Single by John Hiatt
from the album Warming Up to the Ice Age
ReleasedMarch 1985
Genre Rock
Length4:03 (album version)
3:42 (single version)
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Norbert Putnam
John Hiatt singles chronology
"Zero House"
(1985)
"Living a Little, Laughing a Little"
(1985)
"Thank You Girl"
(1987)
Music video
"Living a Little, Laughing a Little" on YouTube

John Hiatt recorded his version of "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" for his seventh studio album, Warming Up to the Ice Age . [10] His version was released as a single in March 1985, [11] [12] and is a duet with English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. A music video was also made for the song. [13]

References

  1. "Vital Statistics" (PDF). Cash Box. March 1, 1975. p. 28 via World Radio History.
  2. 1 2 "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard . February 22, 1975. p. 66 via World Radio History.
  3. "Spinners Single Discography" (PDF). Cash Box. January 31, 1976. p. 46 via World Radio History.
  4. "Cash Box / Single Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 22, 1975. p. 20 via World Radio History.
  5. "Billboard Hot 100 - For Week Ending March 8, 1975" (PDF). Billboard . March 8, 1975. p. 88 via World Radio History.
  6. 1 2 "Billboard Hot 100 - For Week Ending April 5, 1975" (PDF). Billboard . April 5, 1975. p. 54 via World Radio History.
  7. "The Spinners - Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic . Archived from the original on September 24, 2012.
  8. "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World . February 22, 1975. p. 14 via World Radio History.
  9. "Item: 7164 - Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada.
  10. "Warming Up to the Ice Age - John Hiatt | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  11. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. March 30, 1985. p. 25 via World Radio History.
  12. "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . March 30, 1985. p. 73 via World Radio History.
  13. "Video Track" (PDF). Billboard . April 13, 1985. p. 37 via World Radio History.