"Valotte" is a song by British singer Julian Lennon, the title track and second single (first single in the US) from his debut album Valotte. It was a top-ten single in January 1985 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian pop charts, peaking at No. 9.[2] On the US Adult Contemporary chart, "Valotte" peaked at No. 4.[3] On the Canadian AC chart, it spent two weeks at No. 2.[4]
| "Valotte" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Julian Lennon | ||||
| from the album Valotte | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | October 1984 (US) 3 December 1984 (UK)[1] | |||
| Recorded | February – August 1984 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 4:15 | |||
| Label | Atlantic (US) Charisma (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Julian Lennon, Justin Clayton, Carlton Morales | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Julian Lennon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
B-side "Bebop" has been described by Lennon as "almost like a Soul Jackson song".[5]
The music video for the song was directed by Sam Peckinpah,[6] and produced by Martin Lewis.[7]
Background
editIt was co-written by Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama. The first line of the chorus, "Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar", was written by Lennon, inspired by the Tennessee River in Muscle Shoals. There are other references to the Tennessee Valley in the lyrics.
Reception
editCash Box said that the song "recalls [John Lennon's] vocal phrasing and melodic arrangement but establishes the young songwriter as an independent and sophisticated artist" and "achieves a quality of Elton John pop."[8]
Charts
edit| Year-end chart (1985) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[9] | 78 |
References
edit- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 32.
- ^ "Billboard chart history for Valotte (single)" Billboard.com Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 144.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1985-02-02. Retrieved 2018-02-18.
- ^ Burianek, CJ. "Valotte: Bebop". Heyjules.com. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ Burianek, CJ. "1984 - The Debut Release Valotte". Heyjules.com. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ Encyclopedia of American Cinema (illustrated ed.). Boston: MobileReference.com. 2007. ISBN 9781605011455.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 13, 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.