| "Lotta Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side A of the US single | ||||
| Single byNicolette Larson | ||||
| from the albumNicolette | ||||
| B-side | "Angels Rejoiced" (7") "You Send Me" (12") | |||
| Released | October 1978 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter | Neil Young | |||
| Producer | Ted Templeman | |||
| Nicolette Larson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lotta Love" by Nicolette Larson onYouTube | ||||
| "Lotta Love" | |
|---|---|
| Song byNeil Young | |
| from the albumComes a Time | |
| Released | 1978 |
| Recorded | January 10, 1976 |
| Studio | Wally Heider Recording Studios |
| Genre | Country rock |
| Length | 2:38 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Songwriter | Neil Young |
| Producers |
|
| Audio | |
| "Lotta Love" by Neil Young onYouTube | |
"Lotta Love" is a song written and recorded byNeil Young and released on his 1978Comes a Time album. "Lotta Love" was also covered byNicolette Larson in 1978. Larson's version reached No. 8 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart and No. 8 on theCash Box Top 100 in February 1979. It also hit No. 1 on theEasy Listening chart[4] and was a hit in Canada, (No. 4), Australia (No. 11) and New Zealand (No. 22).
Linda Ronstadt, who had sung back-up for Young with Larson, has stated that it was at her (i.e., Ronstadt's) suggestion that Larson record "Lotta Love" and that Larson's producer thanked Ronstadt by having a top-of-the-line sound system installed in her Mercedes convertible.[5]
However, Larson's own recollection was that the suggestion she record "Lotta Love" originated with Neil Young, with whom she had formed a personal relationship while backing him vocally onAmerican Stars 'n Bars. The publishers ofNeil Young News quoted Larson as saying:
"I got that song off a tape I found lying on the floor of Neil's car. I popped it in the tape player and commented on what a great song it was. Neil said: 'You want it? It's yours.'"[6]
Neil Young and backing bandCrazy Horse recorded "Lotta Love" in January 1976, but the song would not see release until 1978'sComes a Time.[7] Larson provided background vocals for the album but did not sing on its "Lotta Love" track, a sparse version which emphasized the song's melancholy tone.
Larson's version of "Lotta Love"—which featured a string arrangement byJimmie Haskell (whose credits include work withBobbie Gentry andRick Nelson), plus a classicsoft rock horn riff and a flute solo—presented the song as optimistic. Larson would recall: "It was a very positive song and people don't want to hear how bad the world is all the time. It had a nice sound rhythm and groove. And a great visual video."[8]
"Lotta Love" served as the lead single for Larson'sTed Templeman-producedNicolette album. Due to a delay in release,Comes a Time andNicolette were released on the same day, in October, 1978. The release of a single from theNicolette album was held off until October 31 when it was clear Young's version would not have a single release as an A-side (although Young's "Lotta Love" was released as the B-side of a non-charting "Comes a Time" single).
Record World said that Larson "steps out on a pop-rocker with a touch of disco" and called it a "strong debut."[9]
Much as extended dance versions of hits bythe Doobie Brothers — who Templeman also produced — were released, a 12" single of Larson's "Lotta Love" was issued, withJim Burgess performing remixing duties: this disco version differentiated from the album track and 7" single in its pure "four on the floor" disco drum track (replacing the radio version's "pop heartbeat" drum rhythm) and a sax solo on the bridge, replacing the 7" single's bridge flute solo which was shifted to an extended intro. The track did not heavily impact the club scene. Its meager length for a 12" single — at 4:20 barely a minute longer than the 7" — a likely deterrent. The B-side of the 7" single was "Angels Rejoiced" featuring a harmony vocal byHerb Pedersen while on its 12" single "Lotta Love" was backed by Larson's rendition of "You Send Me".
Shortly after recording the song, Young and Crazy Horse performed the song live on their 1976 tour of Japan and Europe. A March 10 recording fromNippon Budokan is featured on theOdeon Budokan disc of 2020'sNeil Young Archives Volume II: 1972–1976.[10]
Young and the band would play the song again during 1978'sRust Never Sleeps tour. A performance from their October 15 show atSt. Paul Civic Center appears onLive Rust, released the following year.[11]
A live version of "Lotta Love" was included on theLive at theRoxy album consisting of Larson's December 20, 1978 concert at the Sunset Boulevard nightclub. The album was originally a limited issue (5000 copies) promo-only release. The first full release was onRhino in 2006.
Larson also performed "Lotta Love" at theNo Nukes concerts held atMadison Square Garden in September 1979. This version — with backing bythe Doobie Brothers — was included on theNo Nukes album. The performance was not included in thefilm version, although Larson herself appeared on-screen.
In February 1998, friends and associates of Nicolette Larson, who had died on December 16, 1997, performed a tribute at theSanta Monica Civic Auditorium which raised over $165,000 for theUCLA Children's Hospital. The two night engagement was billed as "The Lotta Love Concert" and opened with an ensemble performance of "Lotta Love" byRosemary Butler,Valerie Carter,Carole King, andBonnie Raitt. In December 2007, a "Lotta Love" memorial concert was held to mark the 10th anniversary of Larson's passing, and in December 2008, the Talking Stick[12] inVenice, Los Angeles hosted a "Lotta Love" memorial concert which featured a performance of "Lotta Love" by Rosemary Butler andAndrew Gold.
Dinosaur Jr. covered the song for the albumThe Bridge: A Tribute to Neil Young, released in 1989.[citation needed]
FormerWet Wet Wet frontmanMarti Pellow released a cover of the song in 2003, taken from his second solo albumBetween the Covers.[citation needed]
Red Hot Chili Peppers covered the song during theBridge School Benefit concerts (organized by Neil Young) in October 2004.[citation needed]
In 2008,She & Him released a cover of "Lotta Love" on the B-side of their single "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?".[13]
In Feb 2025,Courtney Barnett releasedLotta Love as a digital single from the tribute albumHeart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young.[14] Due on April 25th, Heart of Gold will be the first release in a two-volume project, with proceeds benefiting The Bridge School. In addition toCourtney Barnett, the 14-song tracklist will feature fresh takes on Young’s cherished catalog bySharon Van Etten,The Lumineers,Stephen Marley,The Doobie Brothers,Allison Russell,Steve Earle,Rodney Crowell, and more.[15]
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