Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is occasionally referred to as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to Eugene Williams; in the late 1940s she was identified in RCA Victor record company files as "D. L. McMurley." She was the niece of blues singer Merline Johnson and was also related to Memphis Minnie.
She began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949. She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, and then became LaVern Baker when singing with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
In 1953 she signed for Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" reaching #4 on the R&B chart and #14 on the national US pop charts. Georgia Gibbs' note-for-note cover of Baker's "Tweedle Dee" reached #1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
Baker had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group The Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" (#3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (#2 R&B), and "Still" (#4 R&B). At the end of 1956 she had another smash hit with "Jim Dandy" (#1 R&B, #17 pop). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Further hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (#7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (#2 R&B, #6 pop in 1959), "I Waited Too Long" (#5 R&B, #3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (#17 R&B, written by Leiber and Stoller), and "See See Rider" (#9 R&B in 1963).
In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded a Bessie Smith tribute album, before leaving Atlantic and joining Brunswick Records, where she recorded the album "Let Me Belong to You".
In 1966, Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song, "Think Twice", featured raunchy lyrics that were not considered appropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the X-rated version with the raunchy lyrics.
In the late 1960s, Baker became seriously ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers. While recovering at the US Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, her husband, Slappy White filed for a divorce. A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at the Marine Corps Staff NCO club there, and she remained there for 22 years.
In 1988 she returned to perform at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She then worked on the soundtracks to films such as Shag, (1989), Dick Tracy, (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), which were all issued on CD.
In 1990, she made her Broadway debut replacing Ruth Brown as star of the hit musical Black and Blue. In 1991, Rhino Records released a new album Live in Hollywood recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill, as well as a compilation of her greatest Atlantic hits entitled Soul on Fire. In 1992, she recorded a well-received studio album, Woke Up This Morning, for DRG Records. She continued performing after having both legs amputated from diabetes complications in 1994 and made her last recording, "Jump Into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.
She received the 1990 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Baker became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987. Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
LaVern Baker died from cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. Originally buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, her grave received a headstone on May 4, 2008, after a fundraiser was held by local historians.
Loads of Love
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never have demanded much
I just want money, a nice position
And loads of lovely love
I never have expected much
I never have rejected much
I want my dinner, some conversation
And loads of lovely love
The dumb ones go for quantity
The wise ones go for quality
I've got the answer now
It's not how much is how
I do not ask for bliss, I guess
It all boils down to this, I guess
I just want money and then some more money
And loads of lovely love
I never have been handed much
I never have demanded much
I just want money, a nice position
And loads of lovely love
I never have expected much
I never have rejected much
I want my dinner, some conversation
And loads of lovely love
Of birds and bees and men ensnared
So first things first, I always say
The horse proceeds the cart
It isn't helped this heart
I do not ask for bliss, I guess
It all boils down to this, I guess
I just want money and then some more money
And loads of lovely love
I just want money and then some more money
And loads of lovely love
The song "Loads of Love" by LaVern Baker is a soulful tune that speaks to the longing for both material wealth and emotional affection. The singer in the song sings about their humble beginnings and their desire for a better life that includes plenty of money and love. The first two stanzas reflect the singer’s modest expectations in life. They do not demand or expect much, but simply hope for a comfortable life filled with nice things, good food, and meaningful conversations, but above all else, they want plenty of love from their loved ones.
However, the singer seems to have gained some wisdom on the matter of love and the acquisition of material wealth as they sing in the third stanza that the "dumb ones go for quantity" while the "wise ones go for quality." The singer realizes that money cannot buy happiness and suggests that it is not "how much," but rather "how" one loves that matters. The final two stanzas reinforce this idea, as the singer emphasizes that money is essential but it’s love that completes a fulfilling life.
Overall, "Loads of Love" is a song that speaks to the universal longing for love and prosperity. It acknowledges the importance of both and that one cannot substitute for the other.
Line by Line Meaning
I never have been handed much
I haven't been given a lot in life without working for it.
I never have demanded much
I don't expect others to give me what I want.
I just want money, a nice position
I desire financial stability and a respectable job.
And loads of lovely love
In addition, I want a lot of fulfilling, caring relationships.
I never have expected much
I don't have high hopes or standards for what I deserve.
I never have rejected much
I don't turn down opportunities or possibilities when they come to me.
I want my dinner, some conversation
I expect basic needs to be met, including food and social interaction.
Of birds and bees and men ensnared
Love can be difficult and confusing, much like the unpredictability of nature and society.
So first things first, I always say
Prioritizing and taking things step by step is the best approach.
The horse proceeds the cart
One must take care of the essentials before worrying about the details.
It isn't helped this heart
My feelings and desires can't be controlled or changed easily.
I do not ask for bliss, I guess
I'm not searching for a perfect or ideal life.
It all boils down to this, I guess
Ultimately, what I want is simple.
I just want money and then some more money
I want enough financial stability to feel secure and provide for myself and others.
And loads of lovely love
In addition, I want a lot of fulfilling, caring relationships.
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.