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.

*2020 - King South - 'Made 4 TV Vol. 3.5' LP

A new release 28 Dec 2020.

2018 - Billy Price - 'Reckoning' LP

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

2018 - Unlimited Source  - 'Down In The Cellar' EP

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

*2016 - Joey Negro Jazzy Reprise -  'Remixed With Love By Joey Negro (Vol. Two)' LP

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

201? - The Finest v Love Ballad - 12"

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

2011 - Anthony Nicholson - 'Year Of The Rebel' LP

An uptempo modern take.

2007 - The Temptations - 'Back To Front' LP

Pretty faithful to the original but adds little.

2006 - Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore ‎- 'Uncovered / Covered' LP

Husband and wife duet (now divorced).

2005 - Patti LaBelle - 'Classic Moments' LP

Patti doing her thing - not to my taste.

*2005 - Freddie Jackson - 'Personal Reflections' LP

A good version from 80s slow jam legend.

2002 - New Love Symphony  - 12"

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

2000 - Alton Miller - 'Rhythm Exposed' LP and on 12"

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

*1999 - Jeffrey Osbourne - 'That's For Sure' LP

Live version

*1998 - K-Ci & JoJo - 'Love Always' LP

Cedric Renard Hailey & Joel Lamont Hailey

*1996 - Assorted Phlavors - 'Assorted Phlavors' LP

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

1995 - The James Taylor Quartet Feat. Xavier Barnett - 12"

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

*1994 - Tanya Blount - 'Natural Thing' LP

A good version from Baltmore singer from her her debut album

1989 - George Duke - 'Night After Night' LP

This is essentially an instrumental version

*1979 - George Benson - 'Livin' Inside Your Love' LP

Everyone must surely know this version.

*1976 - L.T.D. -  'Love To The World' LP

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.