Lobo’s “I’d Love You to Want Me”: A Soft-Rock Ballad That Melted the Charts

Released in September 1972 as the second single from his album Of a Simple Man, “I’d Love You to Want Me” became Lobo’s most successful song. Written and performed by Roland Kent LaVoie (professionally known as Lobo) and produced by Phil Gernhard, the soft-folk ballad spent two weeks at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November 1972 and soared to No. 1 on the Easy Listening charts. Certified gold, it also reached No. 1 in Germany for 13 weeks, topped charts in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and peaked at No. 5 in the UK in a 1974 reissue

𝐋𝐨𝐛𝐨 – 𝐈’𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐞

✨ A hit born on a paper bag: Lobo reportedly scribbled the chorus lyrics onto a paper bag during a late-night drive—“Now I’d love you to want me…”—which became the heart of the song

🌎 A worldwide smash: It ruled German charts for over a year and became a major international success—No. 1 in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany, and top-five in the UK after re-release

🎵 Not his first hit: Lobo had previously charted with “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo” (1971). However, this ballad reshaped his career and defined his style—soft, emotionally open, and melodic

🎙 Easy-listening king: It was his second of four songs to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart

🎬 Covered extensively: Artists around the world have covered it—including John Holt, Dana Winner, and Costa’s reggae and disco versions—underscoring its universal appeal

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