If you recall the name Luther Ingram, it’s probably because of his big hit single from 1972 – “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right.” One of the great soul ballads of the 1970s.I remembered the hook vividly. But until I heard it again recently, I didn’t remember the intro. It’s a real sweet intro, with a weeping guitar, and it made me think: “Those ’70s soul records were put together well!” The unsung heroes were the arrangers and sessions musicians.
Anyway, Luther Ingram passed away last year. And his music has been hard to find.
His LP “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” was digitally reissued this month. But here’s the deal: It was ripped from vinyl, with a few crackles and pops.
Personally, I’d find it hard to spend money on that... especially because there’s a new “Best of Luther Ingram” CD, which evidently was made from the original master tapes. (It’s downloadable from iTunes.)
For a FREE MP3, however, I can tolerate a few crackles and pops.
Click here to hear how the old single sounds on my Vox blog. If you want to download it, click the song title below.
“(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” (MP3)
I saw "Wattstax" a few weeks ago. Ingram was in it and performed this song. (Watching him, I wondered if he was one of those singers who made the ladies swoon.)
ReplyDeleteIt hadn't occured to me that this was his only major hit.
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ReplyDeleteI need input from some EBM (educated black men). I would like to know what a good black man wants in a woman.
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I remember this song as if it was yesterday. UBM back in the day we would be bold enough to let you know that we was/are cheating with your spouse.
ReplyDeleteI know you are married but I love you just the same, man that is bold. What about me and Ms. Jones? we got a thing going on. I was 16 years of age when this song came out it was something about the loop that stayed in my head. I still know all the lyrics to it.
UBM back in the day we would be bold enough to let you know that we was/are cheating with your spouse.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny! I thought the same thing, JJB. I thought about "Me and Mrs. Jones." People used to like that drama, I guess.