"Let Me Love You Once" by Greg Lake

Song#:  0828
Date:  11/21/1981
Debut:  83
Peak:  48
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Lake was an original member of the influential prog-rock band King Crimson, but he left after a couple years to co-form the super group Emerson, Lake and Palmer. That band's albums were all gold-level hits throughout the 70s despite the lack of any real singles chart action (their best being the #39 "From the Beginning" in 1972). They initially broke up in 1978 and after a couple years of working on other projects, Lake recorded his first solo album, which moved him towards mainstream rock. The self-titled LP featured this first single that got into the top half of the chart. It did well enough to boost the album which peaked at #62. Neither were major hits, but it allowed Lake to record a follow-up in 1983. This single would be Lake's last solo recording to reach the chart. He would go on to work again with ELP and an offshoot called Emerson, Lake & Powell, in addition to working with the popular rock band Asia.

ReduxReview:   I am slightly familiar with this song in a version by Dusty Springfield (see below), but I'm just a bit shocked that Lake chose to cover this song. It's a solid MOR ballad but knowing Lake's history with ELP and their epic prog-rock songs, I'm having a hard time rectifying Lake and the song. It's almost the equivalent of Ozzy Osbourne covering "Don't Give Up on Us Baby." It doesn't quite make sense. I like the song, but not sure if I like Lake covering the tune. I'm a little mystified by it.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Triple Shot!  1) This song was originally done by country artist Barbara Fairchild in 1976. She reached #22 on the country chart with the single. The following year, Dusty Sprinfield released the song as a single, but it did not chart.  2) In 1974, Lake co-wrote and recorded a solo song called "I Believe in Father Christmas." Released as a single in 1975, the song hit #2 on the UK chart and was even a blip on the US chart at #95. It has become kind of a standard in the UK and it has been covered/recorded by several other artists including U2. Lake has said he has been surprised at the song's popularity as it wasn't necessarily meant to be a Christmas song, but more of a commentary on the commercialization of Christmas and even the loss of innocence and belief as you get older.  3) The co-writer of this song is Steve Dorff. He is father of actor Stephen Dorff.

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