Love On a Two Way Street - The Moments (1970) 6/26/22

With its soulful falsetto vocals and smooth backing track, today's "Great Song of 1970" sounds an awful lot like The Stylistics, but actually was a hit by a soul group called The Moments.

The original version of "Love On a Two Way Street", however, was recorded by a singer/songwriter named Lezli Valentine, who co-wrote the song with Silvia Robinson and Bert Keyes.

Unfortunately, for some reason, Sylvia and Bert took full credit and Lezli was not only NOT listed as a songwriter on the record label (or anywhere else for that matter), she didn't receive any copyright royalties--which came into play immediately, and a bit further down the line.

In a deposition, Lezli explained in detail how the song was written, and who wrote what. Burt wrote the music...and according to Lezli, Sylvia wrote the phrase: "I found love on a two-way street, and lost it on a lonely highway." Lezli claimed she wrote just about everything else.

In what appears an epic screw-over, Lezli received NO credit at all.

So when the song reached #1 on Billboard's Soul Chart and #3 on The Hot 100, she received NO residuals.

Then, in 1981, when 14-year-old Stacy Lattisaw's cover version went to #2 on the Rhythm & Blues Chart, Lezli was shut out AGAIN.

The matter has never been settled.

All of that drama aside, "Love On a Two-Way Street" is a sad, but beautiful song--and definitely a "Great Song of 1970--and 1981!'

The Moments (1970):

Stacy Lattisaw (1981):

Lezli Valentine (Original Version/1968):