THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

519-Diana Ross-Love Hangover.

1976-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 2.42. It’s where she goes from Romantic Ross, to Disco Diana.

‘Love Hangover’ was the third of four singles released from Diana Ross’ (see also best songs 1001-900-411-365-212-183-148 and 28) self titled seventh solo studio Album from February 1976. This was her second self titled Album, as her 1970 debut was also called ‘Diana Ross.’ ‘Love Hangover’ was co-written by Marilyn McLeod, (1939-2021) and Pamela Sawyer, (see also best songs 411) with the production being by Hal Davis (1933-1998.) It was Hal Davis who wanted ‘Motown’ records to keep up with the latest musical trends, namely ‘Disco,’ but both the labels owner Berry Gordy, and also Diana Ross, were not too keen. The ballad ‘I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love’) had been chosen, and released as the Album’s first single, while the American group the ‘5th Dimension’ (see also best songs 572 and 202) had released their own version of ‘Love Hangover.’ When the 5th Dimension’s version entered the American Billboard Hot 100 at the lower reaches of the chart, Berry Gordy realised that he had made a mistake, and rush released Diana Ross’ version. The 5th Dimension stalled at Number 80, as Diana Ross shot up the charts, spending two weeks at Number 1, in May and June 1976. When ‘Love Hanger’ made Number 1, it gave Diana Ross her fourth solo Billboard chart topper, surpassing Helen Reddy, (1941-2020) Roberta Flack, and Cher, each of whom had three.

‘Love Hangover’ was produced by Hal Davis, who was born Harold Edward Davis, on February 8th, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, he died on November 18th, 1998, at the age of 65. Prior to joining the team at ‘Motown’ records in 1962, Hal Davis had began his music career in his teens as a singer, releasing several unsuccessful singles under his own name on small independent labels. In 1960 he turned his hand to production, and song writing, where he began working with future Motown artist Brenda Holloway. Hal Davis was the co-producer of Stevie Wonder’s fourth studio Album ‘Stevie at the Beach,’ (1964) but he is best remembered for his work with the ‘Jackson 5’ (see also best songs 249 and 137) at Motown, helping to steer their career, and co-writing, and co-producing hits such as ‘I’ll Be There,’ (1970-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 4) and ‘Dancing Machine’ (1974-Billboard Number 2.) Following the success of ‘Love Hangover,’ Hal Davis once again used the same formula to produce the Thelma Houston cover version of ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way,’ (see also best songs 752.)

‘Love Hangover’ was co-written by Marilyn McLeod, and Pamela Sawyer. Marilyn McLeod was born on May 27th, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, and died on November 24th, 2021, at the age of 82. She was born into a musical family, as her half-brother Ernie Farrow (1928-1969) became a noted Jazz performer, and her sister Alice (1937-2007) married the American Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, (1926-1967) and recorded many Albums as a Jazz keyboard player and harpist. The McLeod family were acquainted with Berry Gordy, and Marilyn was hired as a songwriter for the ‘Jobete’ publishing company at ‘Motown’ in the mid 1960’s. When ‘Motown’ moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s, McLeod was teamed with the lyricist Pam Sawyer, where together, as well as writing ‘Love Hangover,’ they also wrote other notable songs such as ‘Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father,’) which was recorded by the Motown stars Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, as a collaboration, (1978-Billboard Number 59 & UK Number 66) and the song ‘You Can’t Turn Me Off (in the Middle of Turning Me On,’) which was a Number 12 Billboard Hot 100 hit for the American R&B girl group ‘High Inergy,’ in 1977.

Diana Ross had not been keen on recording a ‘Disco’ song, so Hal Davis pulled out all the stops to set the right tone when she recorded her vocals. He scheduled the session late at night, when Diana Ross was at her most most agreeable. He had flashing disco lights set up in the studio, and gave her a vodka to relax her. Diana Ross recorded her vocals at 2.0.am, and after finally settling down, she kicked off her shoes, and got on with it, improvising, and at one point letting out a laugh which made it on to the record. Diana Ross has said, ‘It was a spontaneous thing that we captured on record and if I had to go back in and do it again, I couldn’t have. The music was me and I was the music. Things came out of my mouth that I didn’t even expect.’

‘Love Hangover’ is a very sexual song, where Diana Ross sings about her feelings after making love. Whereas the effect after a hangover brought on by too much alcohol can leave you feeling unwell, a ‘Love Hanger’ can leave you feeling elated.

Don’t call a doctor, don’t call her momma, don’t call her preacher, no, I don’t need it, I don’t want it. Sweet love, I love you, sweet love, need love. If there’s a cure for this I don’t want it.’