From a musical family, his father was a big band musician. Gino Vannelli played drums at a young age and after finishing high school studied musical theory at McGill University.
In the late 60s, he signed to RCA Canada under the name Van Elli. He eventually went to Los Angeles, California where he signed with Herb Alpert's A&M Records after chasing Alpert down in the parking lot of A&M Studios. He released his first album with that record label in 1973. Gino's brother, Joe, served as arranger and keyboardist for most of his recording career. At a time when polyphonic synthesizers were non-existent, Joe overdubbed multiple parts to create a texture of sound that was largely progressive for the early 1970s. Gino's 1978 song, "I Just Wanna Stop," written by his brother Joe, earned him an American Grammy Award nomination and reached #4 on the Billboard charts and #1 in Canada. He won Canada's Juno Award for Best Male Artist in 1976 and 1979. Also, Gino and Joe Vannelli shared the Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year three times: in 1986 for "Black Cars," in 1987 for "Wild Horses"/"Young Lover," and in 1991 for "The Time of Day"/"Sunset on L.A.". Gino is also noted for being the first Caucasian singer to appear on Soul Train in 1974.
Vannelli's other hits include "Living Inside Myself" (1980) and "Wild Horses" (1987).
In 1990 Gino recorded the album 'Inconsolable man' and toured extensively for the first time in well over a decade. His 'Live in Montreal' album was released in 1991.
In 1993, Québécoise singer Martine St. Clair recorded "Wheels of Life" as a duet with Vanelli as well as a French-language version called "L'Amour Est Loi".
It was some 4 years since his last 'Live' album before Gino released one of his best albums ever, the heavily jazz influenced album 'Yonder Tree'. Issued in 1995 the album received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Never one to stand still in terms of style, Gino subsequently released his 'Slow Love' album in 1998. A collection of beautifully crafted romantic songs, slightly more MOR than his previous album.
We had to wait until 2003 for the release of Gino's 'Canto' album. A collection of classical and operatic songs which exemplified his compositional skills as well as his incredible voice. With a symphonic Orchestra he sings in English, Spanish, Italian and French. This album reflected an artist freed from the shackles of commerciality and one able to concentrate on just the music. The result was acclaimed around the world and proved particularly successful in Europe. From the album, Parole Per Mio Padre" (Words For My Father), was so loved by Pope John Paul II that Gino performed the song live at the Vatican in a televised event.
In 2006 Gino released a best of album but again not one to follow the norm, this album entitled 'These are the Days' contained many of his previously best known songs together with 7 completely new pop songs.
He has since released four more albums, the latest of which was released in 2019.
Gino now lives in Oregon with his family where he actively teaches music. He continues to perform across the country today.
Gino Vannelli's official website
Wikipedia entry on Gino Vannelli
Love of My Life
Gino Vannelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my heart take my soul
Take what you need
Love of my life
Don't you know I'm just a fool for a good woman's greed
You broke the wings of a weary vagabond
And I'm stranded on the island of your love
You are the fruit of my amazon
Love of my nights
Take my pride take my flesh
Take all my blues
Love of my life
Don't you know my life's a bore
When there's nothing to lose
I am the prisoner of your paradise
Sunken in the bayou of your love
I make this sensual sacrifice
Love of my life
For the good of my own
Love of my life
I'm no good on my own
Love of my life
Take my heart take my soul
Take what you feel
Love of my life
Don't you know I'm just a man
For a woman who's real
Love of my life ....
Love of my life ....
Love of my life ....
The lyrics of the song point to a theme of surrendering oneself to the love of another person. The singer expresses a sentiment of providing everything that their significant other desires. The lyrics carry an intense emotional tone that speaks of the depth of the singer's attachment to their respective partner. The nature of this love is one of giving, as the singer insists that their significant other can take whatever they need. The phrase, "Love of my life," is repeated often, as the singer wants to emphasize the critical role that their partner plays in their existence.
Additionally, the lyrics seem to suggest that the singer is nothing without their significant other. They refer to themselves as a "fool for a good woman's greed" and "no good on my own." The singer also mentions feeling like a "weary vagabond" and a "prisoner" of their partner's love. However, these descriptions should not be taken in a negative light. Instead, they speak to the singer's deep devotion to their partner and the extent to which they are willing to go to ensure that their partner feels loved.
Overall, the lyrics of "Love of My Life" are a testament to the transformative power of love. The singer's use of vivid imagery and emotional language highlights the depth of their feelings, while the insistence on the importance of the other person reveals a selflessness that is all too rare in today's world.
Line by Line Meaning
Love of my life
Addressing the person whom he considers to be the love of his life.
Take my heart take my soul
He is offering his heart and soul to the love of his life.
Take what you need
He is willing to give whatever she needs because she is the love of his life.
Love of my life
Reaffirming that she is the one he loves the most.
Don't you know I'm just a fool for a good woman's greed
She has the power to take advantage of him because he loves her so much.
You broke the wings of a weary vagabond
She has hurt him emotionally like a tired wanderer with broken wings.
And I'm stranded on the island of your love
He feels stuck and helpless, like he is stranded on an island under her control.
You are the fruit of my amazon
She is the sweet and exotic fruit of his Amazonian jungle, his one and only true love.
Love of my life I'm no good on my own
He needs her to be complete and cannot function without her.
Love of my nights
She is the love of his nights, the one he shares his intimate moments with.
Take my pride take my flesh
He is surrendering everything to her, including his pride and his physical self.
Take all my blues
He is asking her to take away his sadness and bring joy and happiness to him.
Love of my life
Repeating that she is the one he loves the most.
Don't you know my life's a bore
He is unhappy without her and his life is dull and uneventful.
When there's nothing to lose
He has nothing to gain from life without her in it.
I am the prisoner of your paradise
He is trapped in her paradise, a prisoner of his own love.
Sunken in the bayou of your love
He is engulfed and drowning in the swamp of her love.
I make this sensual sacrifice
He is willingly making a sacrifice for her love, even if it is sensual in nature.
Love of my life
Once again expressing his love and devotion to her.
For the good of my own
He is making this sacrifice for the good of his own happiness.
Love of my life I'm no good on my own
Reiterating that he cannot be happy without her in his life.
Love of my life
Again, stating that she is the one true love of his life.
Take my heart take my soul
Repeating his offer to give her everything he has to offer.
Take what you feel
He wants her to take whatever she is feeling and share it with him.
Love of my life
Once more, affirming that she is the one he loves the most.
Don't you know I'm just a man
He is admitting that, despite his love and devotion, he is only human and vulnerable.
For a woman who's real
He wants a woman who is genuine and sincere, someone who will reciprocate his love and devotion.
Love of my life ....
Saying once again that she is the one true love of his life.
Love of my life ....
Repeating that she is the only one he truly loves.
Love of my life ....
Continuing to express his love and devotion to her, repeating that she is the love of his life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GINO VANNELLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mama Lioness
Oh Kiddiie widdies! If only you knew! I don't know how Gino ever by-passed my mind and veins!
I actually saw him in-concert in L.A., back in his day in the late 70's!
A friend of mine reintroduced me to him over this past 4th of July holiday! It was so weird! It was like a re-birth!
In reading his Bio again, .. To learn that his birthday is a day before mine, and to know how much he has changed and GROWN as a person, just TOTALLY WOWED ME to the extent that Gino is now the "Love of my life" , to which to follow for the meer purpose of inspiration and the courage to let go, .. to surrender to one's own path.
Gino is the ultimate definition of what it is to have courage, humility and live life fully self expressed and with full authenticity,
Vito socko Gurino
Another genius!! And one heck of a nice man!! 😁👍💯👊💪Thanks Gino!! For your music!! You got me thru some hard times!! Love you brother!!
Johnny Cobb
I cannot imagine the last 40 years without his music. It got me through the toughest times of my life. He is without a doubt the most underrated Entertainer 20th century. His music helps me have spiritual simplicity and to see romance in the commonplace. JC
guy noel
@gabriella amatucci le site web et
guy noel
@gabriella amatucci le
guy noel
Poids à la normale 🔥 ils
gabriella amatucci
@Jaap Cleijne mi mi
Gordon bean
I WAS LISTENING TO THIS GUY WHEN I WAS IN THE 10TH GRADE, PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOL THOUGHT I WAS WEIRD ! BUT BECAUSE OF ARTISTES LIKE GINO I TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST GUITARIST IN BAKERSFIELD!
Billy DJ
This guy was years ahead of time in sound and vocals in 1974 to 1976
Carlos Araujo
Gino Vanelli is the Best of the Best... Several music styles gathered in one man...
Janet Alvarado
Fuckin A!!!