HEAR VAN HALEN’S PARODY OF NICOLETTE LARSON’S ‘LOTTA LOVE’

[James in New York]

HEAR VAN HALEN’S DRUGGY PARODY OF NICOLETTE LARSON’S ‘LOTTA LOVE’

COREY IRWIN
April 24, 2020

Nicolette Larson scored a huge hit with her version of “Lotta Love,” but she never could have imagined it would receive a druggy makeover courtesy of Van Halen.

Larson initially earned attention while singing backup to Neil Young, specifically on his 1977 LP American Stars ‘n Bars. It was Young who originally penned "Lotta Love," which was included in a sparsely arranged version on his 1978 LP Comes a Time.

How the song ended up in Larson’s hands is a topic of debate. She claimed “Lotta Love” was gifted to her by Young, while Linda Ronstadt - who also sang backup for Young at the time - said it was her idea to have Larson record it.

Regardless of the exact circumstances, Larson decided to lay down a breezy rendition of “Lotta Love” for her 1978 debut solo album, Nicolette. The LP was produced by Ted Templeman, Van Halen’s longtime cohort.

Eddie Van Halen also made an uncredited appearance on the album, delivering guitar on the song "Can't Get Away From You."



Templeman and his engineer, Donn Landee, were simultaneously working on Larson’s release while also prepping Van Halen’s demo tape for Warner Bros. Records.

“Ted and I were working on Nicolette Larson’s album,” Landee recalled during a conversation with author Greg Renoff. “I let [Van Halen] hear the tape, and David [Lee Roth] said, ‘Hey, can I have a copy of that? We want to try something.’”

Roth’s idea was to rewrite the song’s lyrics, changing the tones of peace and love to one of hard partying. The new version was called “It's Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs.”

“So, David and Mike [Anthony] did ‘Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs’ [on] that tape," said Landee. "When we played it back, David and Mike said, “Do you think Ted’s gonna get mad about this?”

“I had been gone from the studio,” Templeman recalled. “I had a meeting or something. So the guys went in there and wrote this song: “It’s gonna take a lotta drugs to get us through the night!” Donn put them on Nicolette’s [backing] track. They loved that. I came back, and they were all nervous. But when Donn played it, I fucking cracked up.”

"Lotta Love" would become Larson's biggest hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979.

Van Halen's version was never officially released, but you can listen to it below.



https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-...on-lotta-love/

[I Coulda Hada VH]

HEAR VAN HALEN’S DRUGGY PARODY OF NICOLETTE LARSON’S ‘LOTTA LOVE’

COREY IRWIN
April 24, 2020

Nicolette Larson scored a huge hit with her version of “Lotta Love,” but she never could have imagined it would receive a druggy makeover courtesy of Van Halen.

Larson initially earned attention while singing backup to Neil Young, specifically on his 1977 LP American Stars ‘n Bars. It was Young who originally penned "Lotta Love," which was included in a sparsely arranged version on his 1978 LP Comes a Time.

How the song ended up in Larson’s hands is a topic of debate. She claimed “Lotta Love” was gifted to her by Young, while Linda Ronstadt - who also sang backup for Young at the time - said it was her idea to have Larson record it.

Regardless of the exact circumstances, Larson decided to lay down a breezy rendition of “Lotta Love” for her 1978 debut solo album, Nicolette. The LP was produced by Ted Templeman, Van Halen’s longtime cohort.

Eddie Van Halen also made an uncredited appearance on the album, delivering guitar on the song "Can't Get Away From You."



Templeman and his engineer, Donn Landee, were simultaneously working on Larson’s release while also prepping Van Halen’s demo tape for Warner Bros. Records.

“Ted and I were working on Nicolette Larson’s album,” Landee recalled during a conversation with author Greg Renoff. “I let [Van Halen] hear the tape, and David [Lee Roth] said, ‘Hey, can I have a copy of that? We want to try something.’”

Roth’s idea was to rewrite the song’s lyrics, changing the tones of peace and love to one of hard partying. The new version was called “It's Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs.”

“So, David and Mike [Anthony] did ‘Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs’ [on] that tape," said Landee. "When we played it back, David and Mike said, “Do you think Ted’s gonna get mad about this?”

“I had been gone from the studio,” Templeman recalled. “I had a meeting or something. So the guys went in there and wrote this song: “It’s gonna take a lotta drugs to get us through the night!” Donn put them on Nicolette’s [backing] track. They loved that. I came back, and they were all nervous. But when Donn played it, I fucking cracked up.”

"Lotta Love" would become Larson's biggest hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979.

Van Halen's version was never officially released, but you can listen to it below.



https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-...on-lotta-love/

That has actually been around for a long long time.

[Simon Ribeiro]

Only young Van Halen would come up with such stuff, man!!

Nice post, James!!

[edwardv]

70s ruled

Sent from my LML212VL using Tapatalk

[James in New York]

Always loved Eddie's joyful solo on Can't Get Away from You...

Pure Eddie!

[MF5150]

Spectacular.

If Eddie had just stayed the guitar player heard in that first track. Sticking more to his blues roots and Clapton-influence. That was some of the most restrained yet nuanced and bluesy playing, I've ever heard come out of Eddie. Yet all of it is executed with a totally unique touch and sensibility.

He would had a different path in the business but damn, wouldn't it have been phenomenal to see Eddie ala Eric Johnson, in an intimate theatre? Jamming to his own material and blues/rock standards, collaborations with other guitar players?

Arguably, he might have even been happier doing that.

[Van Squalen]

Spectacular.

If Eddie had just stayed the guitar player heard in that first track. Sticking more to his blues roots and Clapton-influence. That was some of the most restrained yet nuanced and bluesy playing, I've ever heard come out of Eddie. Yet all of it is executed with a totally unique touch and sensibility.

He would had a different path in the business but damn, wouldn't it have been phenomenal to see Eddie ala Eric Johnson, in an intimate theatre? Jamming to his own material and blues/rock standards, collaborations with other guitar players?

Arguably, he might have even been happier doing that.

I've said it for decades. Eddie on a coffeehouse stool, in a club, smoke and liquor, jamming his own deal?

Gimme.

Eddie is at heart a blues man. It's so easy to hear it in his rhythm play.

Most VH fans just like his speed and his showboating.

Hair metal guys.

[James in New York]

Wouldn't it have been phenomenal to see Eddie in an intimate theatre?

Eddie on a coffeehouse stool, in a club, smoke and liquor, jamming his own deal?

That would be a dream come true!

eddie_studio_january.jpg

[DFVH5150]

HEAR VAN HALEN’S DRUGGY PARODY OF NICOLETTE LARSON’S ‘LOTTA LOVE’

COREY IRWIN
April 24, 2020

Nicolette Larson scored a huge hit with her version of “Lotta Love,” but she never could have imagined it would receive a druggy makeover courtesy of Van Halen.

Larson initially earned attention while singing backup to Neil Young, specifically on his 1977 LP American Stars ‘n Bars. It was Young who originally penned "Lotta Love," which was included in a sparsely arranged version on his 1978 LP Comes a Time.

How the song ended up in Larson’s hands is a topic of debate. She claimed “Lotta Love” was gifted to her by Young, while Linda Ronstadt - who also sang backup for Young at the time - said it was her idea to have Larson record it.

Regardless of the exact circumstances, Larson decided to lay down a breezy rendition of “Lotta Love” for her 1978 debut solo album, Nicolette. The LP was produced by Ted Templeman, Van Halen’s longtime cohort.

Eddie Van Halen also made an uncredited appearance on the album, delivering guitar on the song "Can't Get Away From You."



Templeman and his engineer, Donn Landee, were simultaneously working on Larson’s release while also prepping Van Halen’s demo tape for Warner Bros. Records.

“Ted and I were working on Nicolette Larson’s album,” Landee recalled during a conversation with author Greg Renoff. “I let [Van Halen] hear the tape, and David [Lee Roth] said, ‘Hey, can I have a copy of that? We want to try something.’”

Roth’s idea was to rewrite the song’s lyrics, changing the tones of peace and love to one of hard partying. The new version was called “It's Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs.”

“So, David and Mike [Anthony] did ‘Gonna Take a Lotta Drugs’ [on] that tape," said Landee. "When we played it back, David and Mike said, “Do you think Ted’s gonna get mad about this?”

“I had been gone from the studio,” Templeman recalled. “I had a meeting or something. So the guys went in there and wrote this song: “It’s gonna take a lotta drugs to get us through the night!” Donn put them on Nicolette’s [backing] track. They loved that. I came back, and they were all nervous. But when Donn played it, I fucking cracked up.”

"Lotta Love" would become Larson's biggest hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979.

Van Halen's version was never officially released, but you can listen to it below.



https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-...on-lotta-love/

Always thought Eddie was singing on there, too. Falsetto.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

It's a shame Nicolette died so young. Liked her voice.

[MF5150]

I've said it for decades. Eddie on a coffeehouse stool, in a club, smoke and liquor, jamming his own deal?

Gimme.

Eddie is at heart a blues man. It's so easy to hear it in his rhythm play.

Most VH fans just like his speed and his showboating.

Hair metal guys.

Indeed. In order to get close to playing “like Eddie”, you need to embrace the blues. He downplayed his Clapton influence later in life but make no mistake. He was huge in Ed’s development as a guitar player.

Many don’t bother looking into the blues and you can hear it in the sheer number of people who try to replicate his playing to a T, without bothering to nail the nuances of his rhythm playing.

That’s great you can play the notes in I’m The One. Make them swing.

That’s great you can play Eruption or Spanish Fly, play the verse riffs in Unchained correctly.

And I mean really correctly.

Many upon many cannot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dave's Dreidel]

I wonder how much coke DLR and MA consumed before and during that recording? Sounds like enough to fuel an Ozzy Osbourne three day bender.

[PrideofPasadena]

Always cracks me up. LOL.

It was such a layup. How could you not go there.

[japeape]

Spectacular.

If Eddie had just stayed the guitar player heard in that first track. Sticking more to his blues roots and Clapton-influence. That was some of the most restrained yet nuanced and bluesy playing, I've ever heard come out of Eddie. Yet all of it is executed with a totally unique touch and sensibility.

He would had a different path in the business but damn, wouldn't it have been phenomenal to see Eddie ala Eric Johnson, in an intimate theatre? Jamming to his own material and blues/rock standards, collaborations with other guitar players?

Arguably, he might have even been happier doing that.

Speaking of Eric Johnson, did you ever see this performance by him from 1975?

He looks about 16, and has a heavy Jeff Beck feel in his solo's.
It's really cool gem from old school PBS/mid 70's TV.

[Van Squalen]

Indeed. In order to get close to playing “like Eddie”, you need to embrace the blues. He downplayed his Clapton influence later in life but make no mistake. He was huge in Ed’s development as a guitar player.

Many don’t bother looking into the blues and you can hear it in the sheer number of people who try to replicate his playing to a T, without bothering to nail the nuances of his rhythm playing.

That’s great you can play the notes in I’m The One. Make them swing.

That’s great you can play Eruption or Spanish Fly, play the verse riffs in Unchained correctly.

And I mean really correctly.

Many upon many cannot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fact.