Love Won't Let Me Wait

Last updated
"Love Won't Let Me Wait"
Love won't let me wait by major harris US vinyl side A.png
Side A of US single
Single by Major Harris
from the album My Way
B-side "After Loving You"
ReleasedMarch 1975 (1975)
Genre Philadelphia soul [1]
Length5:31
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Major Harris singles chronology
"Love Won't Let Me Wait"
(1975)
"Jealousy"
(1976)
Audio
"Love Won't Let Me Wait" on YouTube

"Love Won't Let Me Wait" is a hit 1975 single by Major Harris, a former member of R&B/soul group The Delfonics. Written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, the single is considered to be a staple of classic soul playlists, and was Harris' only entry into the top five on both the soul and pop charts. The single hit number five on the pop chart, and also hit number one on the soul chart for one week. [3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1975. It was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. on 25 June 1975. [4]

Contents

Cover versions

Many artists have covered the song. Among the more notable renditions is one by jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson who performed the song in a 1994 episode of the Fox police drama television series New York Undercover . [5] This version also appeared on her 1994 Columbia album, Love, Nancy . Luther Vandross also covered the song for his 1988 album Any Love and his first compilation album 1989's The Best Of Luther Vandross...The Best Of Love

Chart performance

Major Harris

Jackie Moore

Chart (1980)Peak
position
US Billboard R&B Singles78

Deniece Williams and Johnny Mathis

Chart (1984)Peak
position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary [12] 4
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 [13] 106
US Billboard Adult Contemporary14
US Billboard R&B Singles32

Nancy Wilson

Chart (1994)Peak
position
US Billboard R&B Singles65

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevy Van (song)</span> 1973 single by Sammy Johns

"Chevy Van" is a song by American singer and songwriter Sammy Johns, written and sung by Johns. The song was originally released in 1973 by GRC Records on Johns debut album, which was also released in 1973. The instrumental backing was played by Los Angeles-based session musicians from the Wrecking Crew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)</span> 1973 song composed by Stevie Wonder, performed by Aretha Franklin

"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" is a song written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder. The song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967, but his version was not released as a single and did not appear on an album until 1977's anthology Looking Back. The best-known version of this song is the 1973 release by Aretha Franklin, who had a million-selling top 10 hit on Billboard charts. The song reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1974. It became an RIAA Gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reelin' In the Years</span> 1972 single by Steely Dan

"Reelin' In the Years" is a song by American rock band Steely Dan, released as the second single from their 1972 debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill. It peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 15 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Girl</span> 1972 single by the Chi-Lites

"Oh Girl" is a song written by Eugene Record and recorded by American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, with Record on vocals and also producing. It was released as a single on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album A Lonely Man, "Oh Girl" centers on a relationship on the verge of break-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love the One You're With</span> 1970 single by Stephen Stills

"Love the One You're With" is a song by American folk rock musician Stephen Stills. It was released as the lead single from his debut self-titled studio album in November 1970. The song, inspired by a remark Stills heard from musician Billy Preston, became his biggest hit single, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. David Crosby and Graham Nash, Stills's fellow members of Crosby, Stills & Nash, provide background vocals on the song. Also providing the backups are Rita Coolidge, her sister Priscilla Jones, and John Sebastian. They all sing the "Do Dos" that come before the instrumental portion and the outro. The song was also recorded by the Isley Brothers, The Meters, Bucks Fizz, Luther Vandross, Bob Seger and Richard Clapton, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Will I See You Again</span> 1974 single by The Three Degrees

"When Will I See You Again" is a song released in 1974 by American soul group The Three Degrees from their third album, The Three Degrees. The song was written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Sheila Ferguson sang the lead, accompanied by Fayette Pinkney and Valerie Holiday. Billboard named the song number 67 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sideshow (song)</span> 1974 single by Blue Magic

"Sideshow" is a song recorded by American R&B soul vocal quintet Blue Magic, released in 1974. It was first released on the album Blue Magic and when issued as a single it sold over a million copies, going to No.1 R&B in April 1974 and No.8 pop in the United States in that summer. Billboard ranked it as the No.19 song for 1974. In the Canadian Year-end chart, it was No.77.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song)</span> 1965 single by Fontella Bass

"Rescue Me" is a rhythm and blues song first recorded and released as a single by American soul singer-songwriter Fontella Bass in 1965. The original versions of the record, and BMI, give the songwriting credit to Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith, although many other sources also credit Bass herself as a co-writer. It would prove the biggest hit of Bass's career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rescue Me" also peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Love (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song)</span>

"More Love" is a 1967 hit single recorded by the American soul group The Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. The single, included on the group's 1967 album Make It Happen, later reissued in 1970 as The Tears of a Clown. Kim Carnes's 1980 cover of the song reached the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 charts.

"Hair" is the title song to the 1967 musical Hair and the 1979 film adaptation of the musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show and Tell (song)</span> 1973 single by Al Wilson

"Show and Tell" is a popular song written by Jerry Fuller and first recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1972. This original version made it to #36 on the Easy Listening chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clean Up Woman</span> 1971 single by Betty Wright

"Clean Up Woman" is a song by Betty Wright from her second studio album, I Love the Way You Love (1972). Written and produced by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, it was released in November 1971 in the U.S. as a 7" single with "I'll Love You Forever" on the B-side. The song's distinctive guitar lick was played by Willie "Little Beaver" Hale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)</span>

"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" is a song written by the premier Motown songwriting/production team of the 1960s Holland–Dozier–Holland. The first hit recording was sung by Kim Weston in 1965. It was most popular in 1975 when it was recorded by the Doobie Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel Like Makin' Love (Roberta Flack song)</span> 1974 single by Roberta Flack

"Feel Like Makin' Love" is a song composed by singer-songwriter and producer Eugene McDaniels, and recorded originally by soul singer-songwriter Roberta Flack. The song has been covered by R&B and jazz artists including D’Angelo, Roy Ayers, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Lou Rawls, Isaac Hays, George Benson, Jeffrey Osborne, Larry Coryell, Johnny Mathis, and Marlena Shaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cupid (Sam Cooke song)</span> 1961 song by Sam Cooke

"Cupid" is a song by American singer Sam Cooke, released on May 16, 1961. It charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Hot R&B Sides chart; the track performed best in the United Kingdom, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song is featured on Cooke's greatest hits album, The Best of Sam Cooke (1962). Cooke's producers had asked him to write a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show—but once they heard her sing, they kept "Cupid" for Cooke himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Got the Music in Me</span> 1974 single by The Kiki Dee Band

"I've Got the Music in Me" is a pop song by the Kiki Dee Band, released in 1974. It was written in 1973 by Bias Boshell, Kiki Dee Band's keyboardist. It is also the title of a Kiki Dee Band album released in 1974 and re-mastered and re-issued with bonus tracks in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love or Let Me Be Lonely</span> 1970 single by The Friends of Distinction

"Love or Let Me Be Lonely" is a pop song recorded by the soul group The Friends of Distinction and released as a single in early 1970. The song was a multi-format success, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at #6 on May 1, 1970 and at #13 on the R&B chart. On the Adult Contemporary singles charts, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" went to #9. The song is ranked as the 63rd biggest hit of 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always and Forever (Heatwave song)</span> 1977 single by Heatwave

"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come On, Let's Go</span> 1958 single by Ritchie Valens

"Come On, Let's Go" is a song written and originally recorded by Ritchie Valens in 1958. It was the first of four charting singles from his self-titled debut album, and reached number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in May 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)</span> 1975 single by Leo Sayer

"Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" is a 1974 song by Leo Sayer, co-written with David Courtney. It was released in the United Kingdom in late 1974, becoming Sayer's third hit record on both the British and Irish singles charts and reaching number four in both nations. It was included on Sayer's album Just a Boy.

References

  1. Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "The Sound of Philadelphia: Philly Soul". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 58. ISBN   031214704X.
  2. "Major Harris – Love Won't Let Me Wait". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 246.
  4. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  114. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  5. Charles Holland (writer); Frederick K. Keller (director) (1994-09-29). "To Protect and Serve". New York Undercover. Season 1. Episode 4. Fox.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 133. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 244. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  8. "Cash Box Top 100 6/28/75". Cashboxmagazine.com. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  10. "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  11. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975". Cashboxmagazine.com. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  12. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1984-05-12. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  13. Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004