Top 10 Little River Band Songs

Feature Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Little River Band Songs list looks at a band that had a magnificent string of pop hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band was formed in Melbourne, Australia, in the mid-1970s. The band’s sound bordered somewhere between rock and pop with light touches of jazz, Southern, and some Cajun soul mixed. Think of the organic sound of a band like Little Feat meeting the slick, polished sound of a group like Level 42. It was a unique sound fueled by great musicians. Regardless of genre or musician, bands need to write great songs to achieve great success. The Little River Band had no problems in that category.

The Little River Band’s most successful songs were released in the mid- to late 1970s and early 1980s. After their initial period, the band went through many lineup changes over the years. Their first album, Little River Band, was released in 1975. The band released albums almost yearly until 1990. They have released sporadic albums over the past twenty years, including 2024’s Window to the World, featuring a lineup very different from the original band.

Our Top 10 Little River Band song list aims to showcase some of the band’s best material, focusing mostly on their early period, with a few exceptions.

# 10 – If I Get Lucky

We open up our Top 10 Little River Band songs list with a song from their 1990 album entitled Get Lucky. The song “If I Get Lucky” was the opening track on the album. The song may not have been a big hit in the U.S., but there is no denying the song’s great groove and melody. It proved that Little River Band was still turning out great songs fifteen years after their debut album. In 1990, music changed dramatically, with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and the entire grunge sound on the horizon. Groups like Little River Band faced a tough time competing in a dramatically changing musical environment.

# 9 – Seine City

The great Little River Band song “Seine City” was released on Little River Band’s second album entitled After Hours. The album was not released in the United States at the time. However, the album succeeded in the band’s native country of Australia. Eventually, the album was released in the United States on CD. While this may not be a popular song, it is a great one.

# 8 – Love Is a Bridge

Continuing with our list of the top 10 Little River Band songs, we return to some of the band’s later work. It’s essential to examine this period because, even though the band was not enjoying the same chart success as in the 1970s, they were still releasing outstanding records. “Love Is a Bridge” was released on the band’s tenth album entitled Monsoon. The record was released in 1988.

# 7 – It’s a Long Way There

One of our favorite Little River Band songs appeared on the band’s debut album, Little River Band. The Little River Band song “It’s a Long Way There” was the album’s opening track. The band on the album consisted of Glenn Shorrock on lead vocals, Beeb Birtles on lead vocals, Ric Formosa on guitar, Graeham Goble on lead vocals, backing vocals, and guitar, Roger McLachlan on bass, and Derek Pellicci on drums.

# 6 – Take It Easy on Me

While there is a very good chance that many people reading this top 10 Little River Band songs list may have never heard of some of the songs starting out this list, we would argue that the next set of songs will be the ones that you have heard many times before. The Little River Band song “Take It Easy on Me” was released on the album Time Exposure. The album was released in 1981. The song was released as a single and reached the top 10 in the United States. The legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin produced the song.

# 5 – Reminiscing

“Reminiscing” was one of Little River Band’s most successful songs from both a commercial and artistic standpoint. Not since Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” had there been a song about enjoying the beauty of the day and life itself while strolling through the park that was so addicting to listen to. The Little River Band’s “Reminiscing” was a top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1978. The song peaked at number three on the charts, making it their highest-charting single in the United States.

# 4 – Lonesome Loser

Tell me you did not love this song’s grand a cappella opening. The fantastic Little River Band song “Lonesome Loser” was released in 1979 on the album First Under the Wire. The album would become the band’s most successful record in the United States, and the only time any of their albums reached the top 10 on the U.S. album charts. “Lonesome Loser” was also a top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.

# 3 – Lady

The Little River Band song “Lady” should not be confused with the Styx or Kenny Rogers songs of the same name. They sound nothing alike. This great Little River Band song was issued in 1978 on the album Sleeper Catcher. The song “Lady” was the follow-up single to the band’s biggest hit, “Reminiscing.” Like “Reminiscing,” the song “Lady” was a top-10 hit in the U.S. Little River Band also enjoyed major chart success in the band’s native Australia and in other countries worldwide.

# 2 – Cool Change

For many, “Cool Change” was their favorite Little River Band song. The harmonies in this one were to die for. The melody, arrangement, and production were all shining examples of how to write, record, and produce a hit record that also overflowed with originality. “Cool Change” was released on the First Under the Wire album in 1979. The band’s legendary lead singer, Glenn Shorrock, wrote the song.

# 1 – Help Is on Its Way

It was tough to pick a number one on this Top 10 Little River Band songs list. So many of the songs on this list could have easily landed in this spot. “Help Is on Its Way” was released in 1977. The song was issued on the album Diamantina Cocktail. The song was commercially successful, reaching the Billboard Top 20, but it didn’t chart as high as many of their other late-1970s singles. Nonetheless, in our humble opinion, it was the band’s best song.