Lookin' For Love

Album: Urban Cowboy soundtrack (1980)
Charted: 5
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Songfacts®:

  • This was originally written by two school teachers - Wanda Mallette and Patti Ryan - about a classroom of second grade children. They sent the song to songwriter Bob Morrison who did a "high level editing job" on the track and started to try to find someone to record it. The song was turned down at least 23 times before record executive Irving Azoff got nightclub singer Johnny Lee to put it to disc. His recording then found its way onto the Urban Cowboy soundtrack.
  • Wanda Mallette and Patti Ryan later had further success with Anne Murray's 1984 country #1 "Just Another Woman In Love."
  • Bob Morrison has won a Grammy for Kenny Rogers' "You Decorated My Life," which he co-wrote with Debbie Hupp. Also he has won ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year award four times (1978, 1980, 1981, and 1982).
  • This song catapulted Texan Johnny Lee to fame. Though he had no more success in the pop charts, he achieved four more country #1s. Lee was married to Dallas actress Charlene Tilton between 1982-84.
  • This features heavily in Urban Cowboy in a scene where John Travolta's. character, Bud Davis, expresses a liking for the song.
  • This was the #1 country record of 1980.

Comments: 4

  • J. L.. Lee from Cincinnati, OhioAs for the 54 CMA awards... Old Dominion group screwed up the song "looking for love" by Johnny Lee and Micky Gilley... The actual lyrics in the last two verses... "God bless the day I discovered..." They intentionally left out the ref to God... I'm not buying their music.. I hope God don't forget them...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyJust an added fact to the next post below; Mickey Gilley's "Stand By Me" also reached #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart; while "Love the World Away" by Kenny Rogers peaked at #4 on the chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 5th 1980, the movie "Urban Cowboy" had its world premier in Houston, Texas; the next day it opened in theaters across the U.S.A.
    Ten days later on June 15th "Lookin' For Love" by Johnny Lee would enter Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #67; and on September 14th it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on August 31st it reached #1 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    Three other songs featured in the movie would also make the Top 100; "Stand By Me" by Mickey Gilley (#22), "Love The World Away" by Kenny Rogers (#14), and "All Night Long" by Joe Walsh (#19)...
    Johnny Lee, born John Lee Ham, will celebrate his 68th birthday next month on July 3rd, 2014.
  • Brent from Denair, CaNo comments yet on this country classic? Go Bud and Sissy!
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