Hello again friends! Thank you for tuning your receiver to the Radio Dial, as today we bring you a holiday-inspired top 10 that has been undeservedly absent from radio playlists for a mighty long time… from 1988, it’s Annie Lennox and Al Green with "Put A Little Love in Your Heart"!
"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand… put a little love in your heart."
First up, as we head into the final few weeks of the year, I’d like to recognize a very special birthday – that of this here Radio Dial blog! Can you believe it turns seven years old this month? It seems like just yesterday my little blog was barely crawling, and getting into all sorts of mischief, but now, it’s going to school and acting relatively responsible, all the while continuing to spotlight great underplayed music from the past. I’m so proud. *sniff sniff* excuse me.
Now, allow me to get back on topic... "Put A Little Love…" extolls the benefits of kindness and treating others with respect, and this pop favorite originally charted at US #4 for its co-author Jackie DeShannon in the fall of 1969. Nearly twenty years later, it became an indirect Christmas tune when covered by Lennox and Green for the soundtrack of the 1988 Bill Murray comedy Scrooged.
Despite being associated with a holiday film, and receiving a ton of airplay in November and December of '88, Annie and Al’s version actually peaked in January of 1989 at US #9, and #2 A/C.
Now here’s a wacky little snippet of chart trivia… "Put A Little Love…" was the first top 40 single for Annie Lennox as a soloist, apart from her monster hit making days as one half of the Eurythmics, but on the "flip side" (to use vinyl record lingo), it was also the last top 40 charting solo single for Al Green, though he continued to place several mid-range hits on the R&B charts well into the ‘90s.
"You see it’s getting late, oh please don’t hesitate… put a little love in your heart."
As it turns out, this cover was produced by Annie’s Eurythmics bandmate David A. Stewart, (who plays synthesizers, bass guitar, lead guitar, and keyboards on Eurythmics recordings), however it is unclear whether he played the instruments on "Put A Little Love…" or handed those duties off to others. The credits on the 45 RPM single sleeve simply list Lennox and Green as vocalists and Stewart as the producer, which makes me think he probably did play the instruments after all, and just considered that to be part of his production work on the track. If he did, then this record could correctly be considered a collaboration between Al Green and the Eurythmics (the duo) instead of Annie Lennox alone.
My best guess is that this was credited under Lennox’s name for legal reasons. The Eurythmics recorded for RCA, and the Scrooged soundtrack, (including this single) appeared on A&M. If A&M wanted to market this tune as by The Eurythmics and Al Green, they probably would have needed permission from RCA to use the full band name, however, crediting it to Annie Lennox and Al Green would be okay.
My theory seems supported by the fact that back in ’85, The Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin released a little ditty called "Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves" (US #18, UK #9). As the Queen of Soul was on Arista in ’85, which was part of the RCA/Ariola International group, the duet was essentially recorded by two RCA related acts. In this way, the Eurythmics band name could be used on this collaboration with no legal issues between opposing record labels.
"Another day goes by, and still the children cry… put a little love in your heart"
"Put A Little Love…" features a very simple music video, which intercuts Scrooged movie clips, with Lennox and Green dancing and grooving against sparkly and wintery backgrounds. It’s likely the two artists never met face to face when filming the video (or perhaps even when recording the song), since they are never actually shown together in the clip. Remember, it’s fairly commonplace for duets to be "stitched together" from separate performances, especially when the musicians encounter scheduling conflicts.
That being said, I’ve always loved when the song’s intensity ramps up and the horns become more prominent, at around 1:25. The entire track sounded so great on the radio back then (or on my mix tape on my Walkman), and I can’t fathom why this isn’t played on all those "holiday format" stations that pop up right after Halloween each year. Instead, those stations just overplay multiple versions of "Baby, its Cold Outside", "Santa Baby", "Last Christmas", or "The Little Drummer Boy". C’mon all you program directors, we need Annie and Al on the holiday stations!
"I hope when you decide, kindness will be your guide… put a little love in your heart."
One more fun fact:
Back when this was a current record, I remember the disc jockeys on WAVA 105.1 FM in Washington DC introducing the artists as Annie Lennox and the Reverend Al Green. At the time, I assumed this was simply a nickname like The King of Pop, or The Godfather of Soul, but it turns out that Green actually became an ordained minister in 1976, and as of this day, he still practices in Memphis. So there ya go. Might be fun to attend one of his sermons. I wonder if he would autograph one of his vinyl albums? Hmmm...
Now, just a reminder that as per New Year’s tradition, the Dial is taking the month of January off, but we plan to return later in the new year with more great overlooked and underplayed tunes from the worlds of rock, pop, soul, country, and more.
I’m also toying with the idea of changing the look of the blog, to move some furniture around and spruce it up for 2019… but then again, I may end up just keeping it as is. It largely depends upon how motivated I am to make those changes during the cold winter season.
So, regardless of wherever you are from, and whichever holiday festivities you partake in, all of us here… (Mrs. Radio Dial, the Radio Dial kids, and myself, Kyle) wish you…
Happy Hanukkah, Super Solstice, Joyous Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, and a very Happy Festivus for the rest of us!
"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand… put a little love in your heart."
First up, as we head into the final few weeks of the year, I’d like to recognize a very special birthday – that of this here Radio Dial blog! Can you believe it turns seven years old this month? It seems like just yesterday my little blog was barely crawling, and getting into all sorts of mischief, but now, it’s going to school and acting relatively responsible, all the while continuing to spotlight great underplayed music from the past. I’m so proud. *sniff sniff* excuse me.
Now, allow me to get back on topic... "Put A Little Love…" extolls the benefits of kindness and treating others with respect, and this pop favorite originally charted at US #4 for its co-author Jackie DeShannon in the fall of 1969. Nearly twenty years later, it became an indirect Christmas tune when covered by Lennox and Green for the soundtrack of the 1988 Bill Murray comedy Scrooged.
Despite being associated with a holiday film, and receiving a ton of airplay in November and December of '88, Annie and Al’s version actually peaked in January of 1989 at US #9, and #2 A/C.
Now here’s a wacky little snippet of chart trivia… "Put A Little Love…" was the first top 40 single for Annie Lennox as a soloist, apart from her monster hit making days as one half of the Eurythmics, but on the "flip side" (to use vinyl record lingo), it was also the last top 40 charting solo single for Al Green, though he continued to place several mid-range hits on the R&B charts well into the ‘90s.
"You see it’s getting late, oh please don’t hesitate… put a little love in your heart."
As it turns out, this cover was produced by Annie’s Eurythmics bandmate David A. Stewart, (who plays synthesizers, bass guitar, lead guitar, and keyboards on Eurythmics recordings), however it is unclear whether he played the instruments on "Put A Little Love…" or handed those duties off to others. The credits on the 45 RPM single sleeve simply list Lennox and Green as vocalists and Stewart as the producer, which makes me think he probably did play the instruments after all, and just considered that to be part of his production work on the track. If he did, then this record could correctly be considered a collaboration between Al Green and the Eurythmics (the duo) instead of Annie Lennox alone.
My best guess is that this was credited under Lennox’s name for legal reasons. The Eurythmics recorded for RCA, and the Scrooged soundtrack, (including this single) appeared on A&M. If A&M wanted to market this tune as by The Eurythmics and Al Green, they probably would have needed permission from RCA to use the full band name, however, crediting it to Annie Lennox and Al Green would be okay.
My theory seems supported by the fact that back in ’85, The Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin released a little ditty called "Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves" (US #18, UK #9). As the Queen of Soul was on Arista in ’85, which was part of the RCA/Ariola International group, the duet was essentially recorded by two RCA related acts. In this way, the Eurythmics band name could be used on this collaboration with no legal issues between opposing record labels.
"Another day goes by, and still the children cry… put a little love in your heart"
"Put A Little Love…" features a very simple music video, which intercuts Scrooged movie clips, with Lennox and Green dancing and grooving against sparkly and wintery backgrounds. It’s likely the two artists never met face to face when filming the video (or perhaps even when recording the song), since they are never actually shown together in the clip. Remember, it’s fairly commonplace for duets to be "stitched together" from separate performances, especially when the musicians encounter scheduling conflicts.
That being said, I’ve always loved when the song’s intensity ramps up and the horns become more prominent, at around 1:25. The entire track sounded so great on the radio back then (or on my mix tape on my Walkman), and I can’t fathom why this isn’t played on all those "holiday format" stations that pop up right after Halloween each year. Instead, those stations just overplay multiple versions of "Baby, its Cold Outside", "Santa Baby", "Last Christmas", or "The Little Drummer Boy". C’mon all you program directors, we need Annie and Al on the holiday stations!
"I hope when you decide, kindness will be your guide… put a little love in your heart."
One more fun fact:
Back when this was a current record, I remember the disc jockeys on WAVA 105.1 FM in Washington DC introducing the artists as Annie Lennox and the Reverend Al Green. At the time, I assumed this was simply a nickname like The King of Pop, or The Godfather of Soul, but it turns out that Green actually became an ordained minister in 1976, and as of this day, he still practices in Memphis. So there ya go. Might be fun to attend one of his sermons. I wonder if he would autograph one of his vinyl albums? Hmmm...
Now, just a reminder that as per New Year’s tradition, the Dial is taking the month of January off, but we plan to return later in the new year with more great overlooked and underplayed tunes from the worlds of rock, pop, soul, country, and more.
I’m also toying with the idea of changing the look of the blog, to move some furniture around and spruce it up for 2019… but then again, I may end up just keeping it as is. It largely depends upon how motivated I am to make those changes during the cold winter season.
So, regardless of wherever you are from, and whichever holiday festivities you partake in, all of us here… (Mrs. Radio Dial, the Radio Dial kids, and myself, Kyle) wish you…
Felices Fiestas
Buone Feste
Joyeuses Fêtes
Glade Feriedage
Frohe Feiertage
Gelukkige Vakansiedae
Καλές δικακοπές
Счастливых праздников
節日快樂
“And the world will be a better place… and the world will be a better place for you… And for me… you just wait… and see.”
