Our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list looks at a legendary singer, producer and actor. He was known for his baritone voice. He released more than 60 albums. He sold over 40 million albums throughout his career. He had a lot of songs, but he was most known for his single “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” He won three Grammy Awards throughout his career. Some of his hits include “I Wish You Belonged to Me,” “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing,” “A Natural Man,” “You’re Good Thing (Is About to End),” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “Bring It on Home,” “Lady Love,” “See You When I Git There,” “Let Me Be Good to You,” “Wind Beneath My Wings” as well as many others.
Louis Allen Rawls was born on December 1, 1933 to January 6, 2006. He got his start singing in local groups with Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield. Sam Cooke went on to be a solo artist. Lou Rawls sang back up for him. He faced an uphill battle when he was in a car crash that almost killed him. He was in a coma for days and that accident changed his life forever. He would go on to record singles for Herb Alpert’s record label Shar-Dee Records. He released the singles “Love, Love, Love” and Walkin’ (For Mile).”
Stormy Monday was released in 1962. It features the singles “(They Call It) Stormy Monday,” “God Bless the Child,” “Willow Weep for Me” and “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town.” The album was a hit for the singer. Black and Blue came out in 1963. It features the singles “Trouble in Mind,” “Everyday, I Have the Blues,” “I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water” and “Kansas City.” Tobacco Road came out in 1964. The album features the singles “Tobacco Road” and “Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All the Time).” Nobody But Lou came out in 1965. It features the singles “Nobody But Me,” “Power of Love” and “For You My Love.”
Lou Rawls and Strings came out in 1965. It features the singles “My Buddy,” “Me and My Shadow” and “Cold, Cold Heart.” Soulin’ came out in 1966. It features the singles “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” and “Old Man Memories.” Carryin’ On came out in 1966. It features the single “On Broadway.” Too Much! was released in 1967. It features the singles “Why Do I Love You So,” “Righteous Woman” and “Twelfth of Never.” That’s Lou came out in 1967. It features the single “Dead End Street.”
You’re Good For Me was released in 1968. It features the singles “I Want to Hear It From You,” “You’re Good For Me” and “I’m Satisfied.” That’s the Way It Is: The Way It Is came out in 1969. The album features the singles “You’re Good Thing (Is About to End),” “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Season of the Witch.” You’ve Made Me So Very Happy came out in 1970. It features the singles “Mr. Most Wanted Breaks,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “How Can That Be.” Bring It On Home was released in 1970. It features the single “Bring It On Home.”
A Natural Man was released in 1971. It features the single “A Natural Man.” A Man of Value came out in 1972. It features the singles “The Politician,” “Walk on In,” “Fire and Rain” and “Evil.” She’s Gone came out in 1975. The album features the single “She’s Gone.” All Things in Time was released in 1976. It features the singles “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” “Groovy People” and “From Now On.” Unmistakably You was released in 1977. It features the singles “Spring Again,” “See You When I Git There,” “Early Morning Love” and “Secret Tears.” When You’ve Heard Lou, You’ve Heard It All came out in 1977. It features the singles “Lady Love” and “Unforgettable.” He would go on to record several other albums throughout his career.
Lou Rawls was a talented singer who had a very long career. He had his share of troubles throughout his life, but he was able to overcome them. He opened the door for many artists who had voices like his. Our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list features some of his best songs.
# 10 – See You When I Git There
The first song on our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list is “See You When I Git There” from the album Unmistakably You. The song has an r&b sound. The sultry song is about a man who wants to come home to the woman he loves. He worked hard all day and wanted to get good loving from the woman he loves. He is looking forward to coming home and spending time with the woman he loves. He can’t wait to spend time with her in the bedroom. Any woman would love to know that her man is excited to come home and be with her.
The song is a masterpiece. The music is captivating and will hold your attention until the song is done. The song borrows from the classic TSOP (the sound of Philadelphia) sound. McFadden & Whitehead created a sound that is similar to Gamble and Huff’s music. The song sounds like something Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes would have recorded. It has a funky bass line.
The track has an incredible horn section and galloping drum beats. The song has a disco beat and will get the party started. The melody is similar to the Jacksons’ song “Strength of One Man. If you listen to the song carefully, you might notice the similarities. Lou Rawls’ sexy voice is just what this song needed. He sounds romantic as he talks about wanting to get home to his woman. Lou Rawls shows versatility on this track by belting in the chorus. He has a deep voice so you wouldn’t expect to hear him project his voice that way. The background singers do an excellent job supporting him in the song. They sound like a choir.
# 9 – Bring It On Home
The next song on our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list is “Bring It On Home” from the album of the same name. The song has an r&b beat. The heart-wrenching song is about a man who loses the woman he loves. It doesn’t bother him that he lost her until he starts to miss her. He decides to do whatever it takes to win her back. He is determined to get the love of his life back. The song proves that you wouldn’t miss someone until they leave you. This song makes you realize that you shouldn’t take your lover for granted. If you have lost someone and want the person to come back, you will know what he means.
This song has been remade quite a bit over the years. Sam Cooke’s version might be the most well-known version of the track. Sam Cooke’s version has something that no one can touch. Lou Rawls sings in the background of Sam Cooke’s version of the track. He also remade the song. We are talking about Lou Rawls’ version so we will continue with it. Lou Rawls’ version is different from Sam Cooke’s version of it. Lou Rawls’ version is faster than Sam Cooke’s slowed-down version.
The songs couldn’t sound more different from each other. Lou Rawls version has an upbeat sound. His version mixes soul, r&b and funk music. Sam Cooke’s version features the piano and drums while his version has more instrumentation. Lou Rawls was facing an uphill battle recording his version of the song. He did a good enough job that his song made the Top 50 on the r&b charts. His vocals are wonderful. He sounds like he’s having fun singing the song. He gave the track his all. He won’t make you forget about Sam Cooke’s version, but his version is pretty good too.
# 8 – Wind Beneath My Wings
The meaningful song is from the album When the Night Comes. The song has a soul beat. The universal song is about the love between two people. It’s a dedication to the person who meant something in his life. The song could be about any type of relationship. It doesn’t have to be about lovers. It could be about family members or friends. If you have someone in your life who you love dearly, you can dedicate this song to that person. This song is a wonderful dedication to someone who is a hero in your life. Lou Rawls’ version will make you want to smile.
This song has been covered by a lot of artists. Bette Midler’s version is arguably the most famous version of the track even though she didn’t record it first. Lou Rawls recorded his version of the song before Bette Midler. The songs sound different from each other. Lou Rawls version has more tempo while Bette Midler’s version is slower. His version has an upbeat sound to it. Bette Midler’s version has a somber sound. His version will make you feel happy while her version may make you cry.
The beat is very catchy and infectious. The music is soulful. The producer did a beautiful arrangement of this song. There is a guitar solo that will blow your mind. He sings the song with a lot of emotion. You can forget that he didn’t originally record the track. He sings it as if he originally recorded it. His baritone voice blends perfectly with the music. He deiced to do a spoken-word version of the first verse. He should have sung the first verse, but it doesn’t hurt the song. He does a pretty good job with this song. His version may be hard to find, but it would be worth the search.
# 7 – Let Me Be Good to You
The flirtatious song is from the album of the same name. The song is featured on the album of the same name. It has a soul sound. The pleading song is about a man who wants to be with a woman that he cares about. He knows she’s been hurt before, but he wants to show her that he could be a good man for her. He knows what she wants and needs in order to be loved. He was hurt before too so he wants to be the one to show her that she could be loved. This is the type of song that will bring women to their knees. Women love songs about men wanting to be good to you. Men sing songs about taking care of women all of the time because it’s a formula that always works.
The track has the TSOP sound. The song mixes soul with a touch of disco. The melody is similar to other songs that Gamble & Huff worked on together. There are parts of the song that sound similar to The O’Jays song “Backstabbers.” The music will have you moving as soon as it starts. The drumbeat drives the beat of the song. The string section is beautiful. Lou Rawls’ voice sounds sexy especially when he talks about being good to the woman he loves.
He does spend a lot of time talking toward the end of the song. It would have been better if he sang the verse, but that’s the only flaw in the song. The Jones Girls sing the background vocals. Lou Rawls’ lead vocals and the Jones Girls’ background vocals were a recipe for success. They work well together.
# 6 – Lady Love
The enchanting song is from the album When You’ve Heard Lou, You’ve Heard It. The song has an r&b, soul and jazz beat. The devotional song is about a man talking about a woman he loves. He is dedicating his heart to the woman who has been there for him through everything. He loves her for being a good woman. If you play this song for the person you love, chances are you’re going to get lucky before the night is over. This is a loving tribute to the woman he loves. It’s always a good thing when a man sings a song about how much the woman in his life means to him.
The beat is just what the doctor ordered. The music is uplifting and romantic. The music features the bass, guitar, keyboard, bongos, drums, strings, and horns. The song has a sound that will remind you of TSOP. This ballad has tempo so you can have a romantic time with your “lady love.” You shouldn’t have any problem getting your “lady love” on the dance floor if you dedicate this track to her. This song is grown folks’ music. Let’s get to Lou Rawls vocals. What can we say about his voice?
He has the type of voice that will make women melt. Men tried their best to imitate his silky smooth voice, but they can’t touch him. Lou Rawls sings to your heart. His voice will send chills up and down your spine. He sings in time with the beat changes. He belts in the chorus. His background singers do an amazing job singing with him. This track is something that you will want to keep playing so it won’t end.
# 5 – A Natural Man
The next song on our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list is “A Natural Man” from the album of the same name. The song has a soul beat. The liberating song is about being free to do what you want without other people trying to tell you how to live your life. He feels he should be able to live his life by his terms. This will hit home with anyone who wants to be free and do what they want to do. This song is geared towards men, but women can appreciate it too. Everyone wants to be free and happy. People have written songs about living life to the fullest before, but this one feels different. He takes you on a journey because he explains how he wants to be free.
The track will make you want to be free along with the hitmaker. The lyrics will make you think. Everything about the music works. The beat is uplifting to match the theme of the track. It has a positive vibe and we all need to hear something like that. With everything going on in the world today, this track is perfect to listen to in order to feel better. The song features handclaps as well as other instrumentation. It will make you want to clap along with him.
Lou Rawls’ vocals are brilliant. He sounds like he’s having a great time on the song. His rich voice is perfect for this track. He sings in time with the music. His phrasing is excellent. You can understand everything he says. He displays power in his voice as the song hits the bridge. The background singers sound great. They make you want to sing along with them.
# 4 – You’re Good Thing (Is About to End)
The Lou Rawls song “You’re Good Thing (Is About to End),” is from the album The Way It Is: The Way It Is. The song has a soul beat. The bitter song is about a man letting a woman know that someone else will do the things she was supposed to do for him. He tells her that someone else will hold him instead of her. He informs her that someone else will love him. He lets her know that her friends want him too.
He sounds very bitter on this song. He doesn’t hold back when he tells her how he feels about her. He sounds very confident that someone will replace her in his life. He refuses to let the woman who hurt him take control of his life. We have to applaud him for not wanting to waste time with a woman who isn’t right for him.
Other artists recorded this song. Mabel John, Bonnie Raitt, Captain & Tennille, Etta James as well as others. Lou Rawls’ recorded a stirring version of this track. Most of his songs are about being in love so this song gave him a chance to show his angry side. The blues sound was perfect for the bitterness he feels in the song.
The limited instrumentation was perfect. It gives you a chance to focus on his sensuous voice. Lou Rawls gives this song his all. He’s not taking any prisoners on this song. His voice will take you to a different place. You will want to go on the musical journey he’s taking you on because he is a genius. He turns this song into a power ballad. He gets louder as the music builds to a crescendo.
# 3 –Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing
The melancholy song is from the Soulin’ album. The song has a soul sound. The plaintive song is about him realizing how love has ups and downs. He’s happy when he’s with her, but he’s miserable when he’s not with her. She’s not the best choice for him, but he loves her. He feels like a king with her and a jester without her. Anyone who has ever been in love can relate to this track. This song will make you question everything about love. You hear the good things and the bad things about love. The song teaches you that love can be good and it can hurt you.
Lou Rawls was at his label for years and needed a hit single. It wasn’t looking too good for the hitmaker because his songs stopped charting before this single was released. This track put him back on the map. The music is touching and will make you feel emotional. The musicians on this song are fantastic.
They could teach lessons on how to play instruments. They know what they are doing. The orchestral swells in the song will blow your mind. Lou Rawls’ vocals are smooth and polished. This track shows off his vocal strength. He sings the track in his upper register. He turns the song into a power ballad early. He belts in the song as soon as it gets out of the gate. His vocal strength is very impressive.
# 2 – I Wish You Belonged to Me
The yearning song is from the album Family Reunion. The song has a soul beat. The tender song is about a man who is in love with a woman who is involved with someone else. He wished she were with him. He would give anything to be with her, but she loves another man. He would treat her better than the man she has now.
This song is very romantic. It’s the type of track that would make a woman feel torn about what to do. He’s technically singing a song about going after another man’s woman, but he makes it sound romantic. If you pay attention to the lyrics, he talks about being with the woman until she goes home to her man.
This is a song about a woman cheating on her man with someone who is in love with her. This sounds like a plot from a movie or a soap opera. Lou Rawls found a way to make infidelity sound good. The music is pretty. This ballad is perfect for slow dancing and romancing with the person you love.
The music has limited instrumentation and that was an excellent choice. The music features the piano, the guitar, and the drums. The music is soft so you can enjoy his vocals. Lou Rawls’ deep voice sounds very sexy on this track. He would be able to convince any woman to leave her man to be with him. The song has a very catchy chorus and it’s easy to remember. This song could have been number one on our list, but it didn’t win the coin toss.
# 1 – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
The number one song on our Top 10 Lou Rawls Songs list is “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” from the album All Things in Time. The song has a soul and jazz beat. The regretful song is about a man warning a woman that if she left him, she would end up spending time trying to search for a man like him. He refuses to beg her to stay with him. He informs her that she will lose out in the end if she walks away from him. The title lets you know everything you need to know about the song.
There’s no way we could have closed out this list without including Lou Rawls’ biggest hit single. The second you hear the beat drop you will be hooked. If you are a fan of old-school r&b music, you have heard this song in your home. This is a classic jam that will still have a place on r&b radio stations. Lou Rawls released this track in the 1970s so it has the TSOP and disco sound.
The music will blow you away. The song is decades old and will get the party started. This anthem has exquisite instrumentation. The music features the piano, the string section and the drums and that’s all the doctor ordered. Lou Rawls’ voice is spectacular on this track. His velvety voice is perfect for this jam. He reaches into the depths of soul to sing this track. He does vocal gymnastics on this song. He goes up and down like a roller coaster. He utilizes his four-octave range and we’re here for it. Everything about this song works and we’re not surprised this song was a Top 10 hit for him. You will want to keep this song on repeat so it won’t have to end.
Feature Photo: Orange County Archives from Orange County, California, United States of America, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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