To Be a Lover explained

I Forgot to Be Your Lover
Type:single
Artist:William Bell
B-Side:Bring the Curtain Down
Released:November 1968
Recorded:1968
Genre:Southern soul[1]
Length:2:19
Label:Stax
Producer:Booker T. Jones
Prev Title:Private Number
Prev Year:1968
Next Title:My Baby Specializes
Next Year:1968

"To Be a Lover" is a song written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones originally as "I Forgot to Be Your Lover", but best known as a cover by Billy Idol on his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). As the album's lead single, it became Idol's second top ten hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

William Bell recording

The song was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, and originally performed by Bell as a soul ballad titled "I Forgot to Be Your Lover". It was released in late 1968 and hitting No. 45 on the Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in early 1969.

Other soul interpretations

The Mad Lads released a lush orchestral soul version of the song on their 1973 album A New Beginning, also released by Stax/Volt.

The opening line was the inspiration for the song Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison on his 1989 album Avalon Sunset.

The Black Keys released a version of the song on their 2024 album Ohio Players. In 2002 R&B artist Jaheim sampled "To Be A Lover" in his hit song "Put That Woman First".

Reggae versions

In 1971, Lee "Scratch" Perry produced an early reggae version of the song, performed in an uptempo style by Shenley Duffus with Perry's studio band the Upsetters, with the title shortened to "To Be a Lover". In 1977, Perry again produced the song, this time for George Faith.[3] This version, also called simply "To Be a Lover", was heavily shaped by Perry's Black Ark sound and effects and featured backing vocals from the Meditations and Mighty Diamonds.[3] It appeared on Faith's album Super Eight, which was released as To Be a Lover in the UK.[3]

Billy Idol version

To Be a Lover
Cover:Billy idol - to be a lover - album cover.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Billy Idol
Album:Whiplash Smile
B-Side:All Summer Single
Recorded:1986
Genre:New wave
Length:3:52
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Keith Forsey
Prev Title:Catch My Fall
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Don't Need a Gun
Next Year:1986

In 1986, the track was reworked and became the second high-profile cover version Billy Idol released as a single, after 1981's "Mony Mony". Billy Idol was introduced to the song by the George Faith reggae version—he initially was unaware of the original William Bell release,[4] and so retained the truncated title "To Be a Lover". He more radically transformed the song, adding a more rockabilly feel and danceable beat to its soulful underpinnings.[4]

The single was backed by Whiplash Smile album track "All Summer Single". Two different 12" singles were also released worldwide (one in the UK and one in Australia), featuring the aforementioned track and two extended remixes of "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" (6:45) and "Rock 'n' Roll Mix" (Australia and New Zealand only). The "Mother of Mercy Mix" differs quite significantly from the single version; it is a harder sounding song, with a prominent heavy guitar riff by Steve Stevens dominating most of the track and an interlude with distorted female groans. It is this version that is featured on the 1987 US and 1988 Japan editions of the remix compilation album Vital Idol (1985). The UK 12" was also released as a limited-edition picture disc. A music video was also released, which was popular on MTV. [5]

Critical reception

Billboard called it a "foot-twitching disco/rockabilly fusion."[6] Cash Box said it's "full of...bad boy sexiness."[7]

Formats and track listings

7": Chrysalis – IDOL 8 (UK)

  1. "To Be a Lover" – 3:50
  2. "All Summer Single" – 4:33

12": Chrysalis – IDOLX 8 (UK)

  1. "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" – 6:45
  2. "To Be a Lover" – 3:50
  3. "All Summer Single" – 4:33

12": Festival Records – X 14449 (Australia and New Zealand)

  1. "To Be a Lover (Rock 'n' Roll Mix)" – 7:11
  2. "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" – 6:45
  3. "All Summer Single" – 4:33

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "To Be a Lover"! Chart (1986-1987)! Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 3
Canadian RPM Top Singles[9] 7
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[10] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 6

Year-end charts

1986 year-end chart performance for "To Be a Lover"! Chart (1986)! Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 79
1987 year-end chart performance for "To Be a Lover"! Chart (1987)! Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] 34
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[15] 64

Certifications

Bruce Springsteen version

Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his twenty-first studio album, Only the Strong Survive (2022).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Billy Idol's "Mony Mony. . March 26, 2021. In 1986, Idol made it back into the top 10, when his cover of the William Bell Southern-soul oldie “To Be A Lover” reached #6.. November 8, 2023.
  2. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 266.
  3. Teacher. "George Faith – To Be A Lover." Reggae Vibes. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. https://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/09/30/billy-idol-steve-cropper/ "When Billy Idol met Steve Cropper: 'A long-haired chap came up to me'."
  5. https://books.google.it/books?id=2SQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&dq=Programming+rotation+idol+%22be+a+lover%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjo0cHQ78GFAxWT3wIHHZhVDqIQ6AF6BAgJEAI#v=onepage&q=Programming%20rotation%20idol%20%22be%20a%20lover%22&f=false MTV Programming, 20 December, 1986
  6. Billboard. October 4, 1986. 2022-08-04. 79. Reviews.
  7. Single Releases. Cash Box. October 4, 1986. 2022-08-04. 9.
  8. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6 .
  9. Peaked on RPM 100 Singles Chart on 6 December 1986
  10. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 31 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Billy Idol".
  11. Web site: charts.nz Billy Idol "To Be A Lover". Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. ASP. 17 May 2017.
  12. Web site: Billy Idol | Awards . AllMusic . 1955-11-30 . 2014-04-09.
  13. National Top 100 Singles for 1986. Kent Music Report. 650. December 1986. Imgur. January 24, 2023.
  14. Web site: Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987. Australian Music Report. Imgur. 11 December 2019.
  15. 26 December 1987 . 1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Billboard . 99 . 52 .