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.
Stop! In The Name Of Love
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you break my heart
Baby, baby, I'm aware of where you go
Each time you leave my door
I watch you walk down the street
Knowing your other love you'll meet
This time before you run to her
(think it over) after I've been good to you ?
(think it over) after I've been sweet to you ?
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over
Think it over
I've known of your, your secluded nights
I've even seen her maybe once or twice
But is her sweet expression
Worth more than my love and affection?
But this time before you leave my arms
And rush off to her charms
(think it over) haven't I been good to you?
(think it over) haven't I been sweet to you?
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over
Think it over
I've tried so hard, hard to be patient
Hoping you'll stop this infatuation
But each time you are together
I'm so afraid I'll be losing you forever
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! in the name of love
Before you break my heart
The lyrics of James Last And His Orchestra's "Stop! In The Name Of Love" is a plea from a woman to her partner to stop pursuing an affair with another woman. She is aware of his infidelity and has seen him with the other woman but is questioning if her partner values the other woman's "sweet expression" over her love and affection. She implores him to think it over and stop before he breaks her heart by leaving her for the other woman. She has been patient and loyal to him, but she fears losing him forever if he continues with his infatuation with the other woman.
This song is an example of the Motown sound and was originally performed by The Supremes. The lyrics convey a message that resonates with many people, both romantic partners and those outside of the realm of romantic relationships. It encourages the listener to pause and reflect on their actions before selfishly pursuing their own desires at the expense of someone else's emotions. The connotation is powerful, and James Last And His Orchestra's instrumental version does an excellent job of conveying the same message without any words.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop! in the name of love
Please halt your actions in order to not hurt me
Before you break my heart
Before you cause me emotional pain
Baby, baby, I'm aware of where you go
I know where you are going
Each time you leave my door
Whenever you depart from my residence
I watch you walk down the street
I observe you as you proceed on the roadway
Knowing your other love you'll meet
Understand that you will rendezvous with your other partner
This time before you run to her
Before you go to her exultantly this moment
Leaving me alone and hurt
Abandoning me by myself with emotional suffering
(think it over) after I've been good to you ?
Reflect why I have been kind to you
(think it over) after I've been sweet to you ?
Contemplate why I was affectionate to you
I've known of your, your secluded nights
I am aware of your covert evenings
I've even seen her maybe once or twice
I observed her possibly one or two times
But is her sweet expression
However, does her pleasant countenance
Worth more than my love and affection?
Surpass more than my fondness and tenderness?
But this time before you leave my arms
But presently, refrain from departing from my embrace
And rush off to her charms
And hastily depart to experience her attraction
(think it over) haven't I been good to you?
Consider whether I have treated you well
(think it over) haven't I been sweet to you?
Think about whether I have been sweet to you
I've tried so hard, hard to be patient
I made a strenuous effort to be forbearing
Hoping you'll stop this infatuation
With the expectation that you will cease this passionate love
But each time you are together
However, whenever you are in each other's company
I'm so afraid I'll be losing you forever
I am extremely fearful that I could lose you forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind