"Let Me Love You Tonight" by Pure Prairie League

How ya doin, Dialophiles? 

With the New Year well under way, the Dial’s resolution is to transmit more of those radio-friendly nuggets that you just don’t hear that much anymore. So without further ado, allow us to present “Let Me Love You Tonight” by Pure Prairie League!

“Dark clouds are blowin’ in the wind… he’s crossing your mind again…”

From 1980’s Firin’ Up LP, and featuring classic saxophone accompaniment by David Sanborn, “Let Me” is the story of a romantic fellow trying to persuade his intended lady faire to spend the night with him, even though she longs for the affections of a prior suitor.

Featuring lead vocals by future star Vince Gill (PPL’s third lead vocalist, following Craig Fuller and Larry Goshorn), later to grace the billboard charts on his own beginning with his 1984 minor hit “Victim of Life’s Circumstances”, Gill racked up an impressive run of forty-nine charting country hits, most of which went top ten. Though his country radio success lasted well into the new millennium, his impressive pipes were only heard once more on top 40 avenues, on the US #37 duet with future (and current) wife Amy Grant on her “House of Love” single from ‘94.

“They say once in your life, you find someone that’s right, someone who loves you like me.”

Curiously, LMLYT charted much higher on its original release than did PPL’s signature song, “Amie” (“What you wanna do?”), which, at least here in the Radio Dial’s home state of Ohio, continues to receive abundant radio airplay. LMLYT topped off at US #10 and hit #1 on the adult contemporary charts, versus Amie’s peak of US #27, with no position on any other chart whatsoever. Perhaps the soft rock/country/jazz arrangement of “Let Me…” makes it viewed as less “hip” in our contemporary age than does the timeless country vibe of Amie.

I realize that the sound of the genre has been derided as dated, or worse, soulless, but I continue to love soft rock, especially from the early 80s. Ambrosia, the Little River Band, Christopher Cross, Glenn Frey’s “The One Who Loves You”, CSN&Y’s “Southern Cross”, Hall & Oates “One on One”, Foreigner’s “Waiting For A Girl Like You”… I find the music comforting, innocent, and melodic, and I’m always put in a better “place” whenever and wherever I hear it.

“When the moon has forgotten what’s the night’s about… and the stars can’t work their places out. Hold me, tighter than tight, when the daylight comes, it’ll be all right.”

Now for an amusing aside… The window below will take you to some truly charming footage of Vince Gill alongside bluegrass bassist Gene Libbea, and PPL bandmate Jeff Wilson, singing “Let Me” at a small concert at a high school, but since it had been forever since Vince last sang the tune, he uses his daughter Jenny’s iPhone to read the lyrics as he sings! (I wish I could confirm exactly when and where this great clip happened.)

Whether you listen to the studio version below, or the off-the-cuff live version above, enjoy PPL’s mellow melody, and don’t be surprised if the relaxed “pop-meets-country-meets-jazz” vibe doesn’t just melt your cares away.

“Let me love you tonight. There’s a million stars in the sky. Let me love you tonight… I’ll make everything alright.”