May 17, 20222 min read

I'd Love You to Want Me - Lobo (1975) 5/18/22

When Roland Kent LaVoie was a high school senior, his art teacher was only 22...and gorgeous. He felt a connection that she may or may not have felt herself.

Rather dangerous ground to be treading on...but unlike many stories that start this way, it went no further--thankfully--but it had an ending no one could have predicted.

After high school, Kent became a professional singer/songwriter--under the name of Lobo. We've already highlighted a couple of his "Great Songs of the ''70s:" "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" back on 7/2/21, and "Don't Expect me to Be Your friend" on 9/25/21. You can read my posts about these songs by clicking the links below.

Kent had always wanted to write a great romantic ballad, and one day, as he was doing a little reflective reminiscing, his art teacher came to mind, and "I'd Love You to Want Me" was the result.

The moment it was released as a single in 1972, it obviously struck a chord with everyone who'd ever had a crush on a teacher--or anyone else who might have been "off limits."

And it wasn't just in the US either! "I'd Love You to Want Me" was a Top 5 hit in THIRTEEN countries...and #1 in EIGHT of those: Australia, Austria, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, West Germany, Canada, and in the US on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart. On the Hot 100, it peaked at #2!

There's no word on whether Lobo's art teacher ever found out. :-)

Note: The song has been covered by several artists...including Liza Minnelli, of all people.

"I'd Love You to Want Me" by Lobo: "crushing it" as a "Great Song of '72!"