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Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Version Excursion - Love Ballad (L.T.D.)


I've just seen a new version of the 1976 L.T.D. classic 'Love Ballad' made famous by George Benson but it got me wondering how many versions of it there are. Heres' a list of ones I could find (20 so far). There's a few reggae covers which I've omitted as it was de rigueur for them to make reggae versions of hits. I've also excluded instrumentals, as again a lot of jazz artists, in particular, do instrumental covers of hits, although I quite like Gary Bartz's version. If you know of any others (which there probably are) then leave a comment and I'll add them.   


Click artist name to listen to track or album name to view in Discogs.

I've flagged the better versions with an asterisk.

A new release 28 Dec 2020.

This one doesn't do it for me I'm afraid the blue-eyed vocals are too strained.

A pretty soul-less uptempo jazz/funk version dug out of the archives. Unlimited Source were an 80s UK home counties jazz/funk group.

Dave Lee doing his stuff as his alter ego Joey Negro on George Benson's version.

This is a bootleg remix using Joey Negro's track remixed by David Curniffe titled The Finest v Love Ballad.

An uptempo modern take.

Pretty faithful to the original but adds little.

Husband and wife duet (now divorced).

Patti doing her thing - not to my taste.

A good version from 80s slow jam legend.

Another 'House' version which is better than the one below.

A pretty lame house/dance version which is just an excuse put a melody over some beats IMHO and the vocal is pretty poor!

Live version

*1998 - K-Ci & JoJo'Love Always' LP
Cedric Renard Hailey & Joel Lamont Hailey

A decent (and probably quite obscure) RnB version by four girl group from their only album.

An additional track on 12" and CDr only for Love Will Keep Us Together

A good version from Baltmore singer from her her debut album

This is essentially an instrumental version

Everyone must surely know this version.

Love Togetherness & Devotion featuring Jeffrey Osbourne on lead who left the group in 1980 to pursue a solo career.

It's still a 'no brainer' for me - L.T.D. for the most soulful and George Benson for the most dancable.  Freddie Jackson and K-Ci & Jo Jo's versions are worthy efforts and I like the Tanya Blount version which I've had on CD since release. 


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