Let Me Go, Love

Album: In The Nick Of Time (1979)
Charted: 35
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Nicolette Larson duets with Michael McDonald on "Let Me Go, Love," the first single from her second album, In The Nick Of Time. They sing together on the song, which is about that awful feeling when you know your partner is unhappy in the relationship, and you just want that person to end it so the healing can begin.
  • Michael McDonald wrote the song with Bonnie Jean Cook, a singer who at the time was married to the producer David Foster. McDonald was a member of The Doobie Brothers; a year earlier, Larson appeared on the group's song "Sweet Feelin'," singing with Pat Simmons.
  • Larson had a #1 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart with her first single, "Lotta Love," which also reached #8 on the Pop chart. She was part of the West Coast music scene that included Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young; she was a backup singer for both of them before launching her solo career (Young wrote "Lotta Love").

    "Let Me Go, Love" was just a minor hit; Larson soon fell off the charts and reinvented herself as a country singer in the mid-'80s. She died in 1997 at 45.
  • This was produced by Ted Templeman, who also worked with the Doobie Brothers and was likely the connection to Michael McDonald. The guitarist on the song is Paul Barrere of Little Feat, who used a small guitar called a guitalele.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."