Lookin' for a Love

Infobox Single
Name = Lookin' for a Love


Artist = Bobby Womack
from Album = Lookin' for a Love Again
B-side = "Let It Hang Out"
Released = 1974
Format = 7" 45 RPM
Genre = R&B, Soul
Length = 2:37
Label = UA
Writer = J.W. AlexanderZelda Samuels
Producer = Bobby Womack
Muscle Shoals Sound

"Lookin' for a Love" is a song written by J.W. Alexander and Zelda Samuels. The song was originally a top ten hit on the US R&B Singles chart in 1962 for the Valentinos on the Sam Cooke-owned SAR record label. Cooke, Alexander and Samuels based the song's chord structure on the melodic motif found in some gospel songs. In 1971, The J Geils Band reached number thirty nine on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with their cover of the song. In 1973, Bobby Womack, who was one of the members of the Valentinos, decided to use "Lookin' for a Love" as a warm-up song to help loosen up his vocal chords during a recording session. Womack recorded a take of the song but had no plans of releasing it commercially. After some of his friends convinced him that the song would be hit, Womack decided to finish the track and release it. "Lookin' for a Love" was released as a single in early 1974 and went on to become the biggest hit of Womack's career, staying in the number one spot on the R&B chart for three weeks and reaching number ten on the Pop chart. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.

References

*"Lookin' for a Love" song review on Allmusic website