Album: In The Jungle, Babe (1969)
Charted: 16
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This upbeat single - arranged by Charles Wright and Ray Jackson - was recorded in June 1969 at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California. In the original liner notes of the album, Wright said: "Our most profound purpose is to create music, interesting music, that comes from the heart. We call it honest music - music that's actually lived by us."
  • The band consisted of Bill Cannon, Melvin Dunlap, Gabe Flemings, James Gadson, Ray Jackson, Al McKay, John Rayford, and Charles Wright. They were signed to the Warner Brothers label in 1968 and became the very first R&B Group on Warner Brothers to have a consistent string of hits. Their biggest single, "Express Yourself," hit #12 US in 1970.

Comments: 4

  • Barrys from North CarolinaI can say, with no overstatement, that in the entire history of recorded music, this is my absolute favorite song.
  • Power Jock Fred 3 Aka Frederick Murrell Iii from Kansas City, Missouri This song became my favorite upbeat love song in 1969 and featured a fantastic drummer from Kansas City who sung it with feeling and class!!!...James Gadson. Love Land is such a beautiful tune to this day!!! As a Legendary Party DJ as I'm referred to now this is still a must play of Old School Jams of the 60's to be in the mix. I still love me some Charles Wright & the 103rd Street Rhythm Band!!!...Totally Awesome music through out the years!!!
    This song should have peaked much higher than it did.
    01/03/2021
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 6, 1970, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band performed "Love Land" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV network Saturday-afternoon program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #36 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; six weeks later it would peak at #16 {for 1 week} and it spent 17 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #23 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1967 and 1971 the group had seven* records on the Hot Top 100 chart; their biggest hit was "Do Your Thing", it peaked at #11 {for 1 week} on April 20th, 1969...
    * "Love Land" was the group's fourth charted record and the first to use the name Charles Wright, on their first three charted records they were known simply as The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band.
  • Joseph Gutierrez from Wilmington, CaI saw this amazing group win a Pepsi Battle of the Bands contest in Hollywood California when I was very young. They were incredible & played Express Yourself & Love Land while there. It shaped my appreciation for funk music from that point forward. Thanks for the music & the memories. Joseph Gutierrez
see more comments

Editor's Picks

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.