Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Love For Sale
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got your family and they need you there
Though I've tried to resist being last on your list
But no other man's gonna do
So I'm saving all my love for you
It's not very easy living all alone
My friends try and tell me find a man of my own
'Cause I'd rather be home feeling blue
So I'm saving all my love for you
You used to tell me we'd run away together
Love gives you the right to be free
You said be patient just wait a little longer
But that's just an old fantasy
I've got to get ready just a few minutes more
Gonna get that old feeling when you walk through that door
'Cause tonight is the night for feeling alright
We'll be making love the whole night through
So I'm saving all my love for you
Yes I'm saving all my love
Yes I'm saving all my love for you
No other woman is gonna love you more
'Cause tonight is the night that I'm feeling alright
We'll be making love the whole night through
So I'm saving all my love
Yeah I'm saving all my lovin'
Yes I'm saving all my love for you
For you
The lyrics of James Last's "Love for Sale" tell the story of a woman who is holding onto a love that she knows will never be fully reciprocated. The first verse explains how she and the man she loves only share "a few stolen moments," because he has a family that needs him. She has tried to resist being last on his list, but she knows that she can't find love with any other man. She is saving all of her love for him, whether or not he can give her the same kind of devotion.
The second verse reveals that the woman is lonely and longs for a life with the man she loves. Her friends tell her to move on and find another man, but she can't help breaking down and crying because she prefers to be at home feeling blue, holding onto her love for him. The chorus repeats her vow to save all of her love for him.
The third verse has the woman preparing for a night with her lover. She says that tonight is the night she's feeling alright, and they'll be making love the whole night through. She reaffirms that she's saving all of her love for him because no other woman could possibly love him more.
Overall, "Love for Sale" is a sad but romantic song about a woman who loves a man who cannot love her back in the same way. She's holding onto her hope that one day they can be together, even though it's clear that she's not his top priority.
Line by Line Meaning
A few stolen moments is all that we share
We only have a limited time to be together
You've got your family and they need you there
Your family is your priority and needs you more than I do
Though I've tried to resist being last on your list
I have attempted not to be the least important thing in your life
But no other man's gonna do
I only want you, even if you cannot give me all of your time
So I'm saving all my love for you
I am waiting for you and keeping all of my affection for you
It's not very easy living all alone
Living alone is challenging
My friends try and tell me find a man of my own
My friends advise me to move on and find someone else
But each time I try I just break down and cry
I become emotional and sad whenever I try to find someone else
'Cause I'd rather be home feeling blue
I would rather be alone and sad than settle for someone I do not love
You used to tell me we'd run away together
You had previously promised that we would escape our current lives and be together
Love gives you the right to be free
Love should make you feel liberated and unrestricted
You said be patient just wait a little longer
You asked me to wait and be more patient
But that's just an old fantasy
That idea is no longer realistic
I've got to get ready just a few minutes more
I am preparing myself for your arrival
Gonna get that old feeling when you walk through that door
I am anticipating the same emotions I had before when I see you
'Cause tonight is the night for feeling alright
Tonight is the perfect night to be happy again
We'll be making love the whole night through
We will be intimate throughout the entire night
So I'm saving all my love for you
I am still keeping myself exclusively for you
Yes I'm saving all my love
I have saved everything just for you
Yes I'm saving all my love for you
I have saved everything I have just for you
No other woman is gonna love you more
No one can love you more than I can
'Cause tonight is the night that I'm feeling alright
I am finally happy tonight
So I'm saving all my love
I have saved everything just for you
Yeah I'm saving all my lovin'
I have saved all of my affection for you
Yes I'm saving all my love for you
I have saved everything I have just for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OLD SKOOL MUSIC
I TOLD YALL A STAGE FULL OF WHITE PEOPLE COULD JAM HARD 2