Original Album Released in 1974 (Atlantic Records)
Recorded and released in 1974 by Atlantic Records, Let’s Love is best remembered for its title song, which was presented to Peggy as a gift by a longtime admirer named Paul McCartney. The former Beatle also produced the song and played piano on its instrumental track, recorded at EMI’s Abbey Road studios in London. He later joined Peggy in Los Angeles for her vocal overdub.
Let’s Love is among the most thoroughly contemporary albums by Peggy. All but one of its ten songs were recent compositions, including cover versions of James Taylor’s Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight and the recent Stylistics hitYou Make Me Feel Brand New. The album’s sole standard, Irving Berlin’s Always, received a decidedly modern, downright funky instrumental setting. The jazz- and R&B-influenced arrangements were by veteran composer and arranger Dave Grusin, who co-produced the album with Peggy and shared writing credit with her on the song The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Peggy added lyrics to his theme for the 1968 film of the same name.
Let’s Love has appeared on CD several times. Its first release, in 2003, was a limited-edition pressing by Rhino Handmade, which included five bonus tracks. The album was subsequently released on CD by Collectors’ Choice (2004) and Wounded Bird Records (2016)
Track Listing
1. Let’s Love
2. He Is the One
3. Easy Evil
4. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
5. Always
6. You Make Me Feel Brand New
7. Sweet Lov’liness
8. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
9. Sweet Talk
10. Sometimes
11. Let’s Love (Reprise)
12. I Am His Lady *
13. I Wanna Be Seduced *
14. The Nickel Ride *
15. Let’s Keep Dancing *
16. Let’s Love – Alternate *
*Bonus Tracks