Love Is the Answer (Utopia song)
"Love Is the Answer" is a song written by Todd Rundgren for his band Utopia. It is the closing track on their 1977 album Oops! Wrong Planet.
| "Love Is the Answer" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Utopia | ||||
| from the album Oops! Wrong Planet | ||||
| B-side | "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" | |||
| Released | October 14, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, soft rock | |||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | Bearsville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Producer(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Utopia singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Love Is the Answer" | |
|---|---|
| Single by England Dan & John Ford Coley | |
| from the album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive | |
| B-side | "Running After You" |
| Released | 1979 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:42 |
| Label | Big Tree |
| Songwriter(s) | Todd Rundgren |
Although Utopia's version did not reach the music charts, a cover version by England Dan & John Ford Coley reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[1] in May 1979[2] and spent two weeks atop the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[3] John Ford Coley was quoted as saying: "Of all the songs we released as singles, that was my favorite. The song first of all had a classical base, and the middle had a gospel section which I loved."[3]
Charts
England Dan & John Ford Coley version
| Year-end chart (1979) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[4] | 68 |
Other versions
The song has been covered several times by Christian artists. Sheila Walsh recorded it in 1988 for her album Say So, and performed it on her very first The 700 Club appearance as co-hostess. Bill Cantos and Justo Almario covered it in 1995 for the album Who Are You. Cindy Morgan covered it in 2000 for her greatest hits album, Best So Far. Bob Carlisle and Bryan Duncan recorded a gospel blues version in 2001. Filipino singer Gary Valenciano also covered the song on his 2001 album, Revive. In 2004, Glen Campbell recorded the song as the title track of the album Love Is the Answer: 24 Songs of Faith, Hope and Love. Christian contemporary band Circle of Friends covered it on their 2012 album Chosen & Beloved, pairing it with the old hymn "Tell Me the Story of Jesus".
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1979 (U.S.)
References
- "Chart Listing For The Week Of Jun 02 1979". Retrieved April 4, 2009.
- Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), p. 228.
- "1979 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. 91 (51): TIA-10. December 22, 1979.