Love Won't Let Me Wait - Major Harris (1975) 11/15/22

Today's "Great Song of the '70s" is Rated "R."

The history of music--especially over the last hundred years--is filled with songs that set the mood for romance. For example, Ravel's "Bolero," which was popularized by the 1979 film "10," was written in 1928.

For the most part, historically, the more blatant a song was about sex and sensuality, the more likely you could find it on record, but due to censorship, never hear it on the radio.

By the 1970s, things started to relax a bit...and in 1975, Major Harris released a song that left NOTHING to the imagination.

"Love Won't Let Me Wait" was a slow groove about seduction--probably the perfect song to feature the smooth "Sound of Philadelphia--especially when mixed with sound effects that let you know exactly what was happening.

My earliest days as a disco DJ were spent at the 2001 Club in Toledo, and "Love Won't Let M Wait" was a HUGE slow song request. Hearing it blare over the speakers was a bit jarring, and some of the actions out on the dance floor were...to put it creatively... bedroom based.

On the radio, the song topped Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Chart, and reached #5 on the Hot 100...which was pretty surprising, all things considered...but many radio stations would fade it out before it got too blatant. Still, it was a milestone in radio programming vs. censorship.

The song has been covered many times, by the likes of Nancy Wilson, Luther Vandross, Seal, and Johnny Mathis with Deniece Williams. THAT version (with no sound effects!) made it to #14 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart in 1984.

"Love Won't Let Me Wait:" a "Great--and Seductive--Song of 1975!

Major Harris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xItIxyykXk

Johnny & Deniece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS8E86XGJuE