Valotte (song)
| "Valotte" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Julian Lennon | ||||
| from the album Valotte | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | October 1984 (US) December 1984 (UK) | |||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
"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.[1] On the US Adult Contemporary chart, "Valotte" peaked at No. 4.[2] On the Canadian AC chart, it spent two weeks at No. 2.[3]
B-side "Bebop" has been described by Lennon as "almost like a Soul Jackson song".[4]
The music video for the song was directed by Sam Peckinpah,[5] and produced by Martin Lewis.[6]
Background[edit]
It 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[edit]
Cash 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."[7]
Charts[edit]
| Year-end chart (1985) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[8] | 78 |
References[edit]
- ^ "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.
