The Untold Story of the Bellamy Brothers’ Breakthrough hit ‘let Yoru Love Flow’
In a twist of fate, Neil Diamond unknowingly let go of a golden opportunity when he declined a song penned by his roadie, Larry E. Williams, back in 1975. At that time,Diamond was immersed in recording demos for his upcoming album,Beautiful Noise,in Los Angeles.
Simultaneously occurring, the song found its way to the Bellamy Brothers, Howard and David, who had just moved to Los Angeles. Their debut single, “Let Your Love Flow,” not only made waves in the U.S. but also soared to the top of the charts in Germany, while securing a spot in the Top 10 across various countries worldwide.
A Unique Connection: How a Shared Passion Led to a Hit
The backstory of how the Bellamy Brothers came to possess this iconic song is as intriguing as the song itself, and it all began with a shared love for homegrown cannabis.
in 1974, the Bellamy Brothers where struggling artists from Darby, Florida, with limited experience that included writing jingles for local advertisements. Their collaboration with comedian Jim Stafford resulted in the co-writing of “Spiders & Snakes,” which became a number-three hit for Stafford in 1974. This success was pivotal for the brothers, providing them with the stability they desperately needed to pursue their music career in los Angeles.
“Jim and that song were crucial for us because we were financially struggling at the time,” David recalls. “That break allowed us to relocate to los Angeles and explore new opportunities.”
It was in L.A. that they crossed paths with Diamond’s band. “We met through mutual friends and quickly became close,” David shares.
“We spent a lot of time together,often enjoying some homegrown weed,which helped us bond,” Howard adds with a chuckle. “Those moments really solidified our friendship.”
The birth of a Classic
As the brothers began recording demos with the help of Diamond’s backing band, they received an unexpected proposition from Diamond’s drummer, Dennis St. John.
“He approached us and said, ‘Hey, our roadie Larry wrote a fantastic song that you guys should check out.’ That song was ‘Let Your love Flow,’” Howard recalls.
Interestingly, the song had already been turned down by both Neil Diamond and johnny Rivers before reaching the Bellamy Brothers.
“When we first heard it, we were blown away,” David admits. “It was just a fantastic song.”
“Dennis mentioned, ‘This sounds like something you two would perform,’ and I couldn’t agree more,” David adds.
With the creative atmosphere enhanced by their shared experiences, the bellamys got to work, utilizing Diamond’s band and their equipment.
“We recorded the track using Richard Bennett’s acoustic guitars,” David explains.”One was a black Gibson Everly Brothers J-180, and the other was a Martin D-28. I remember Richard frequently taking it out of its case to play.”
“We didn’t have to start from scratch; we recorded the single in just five or six takes.”
The recording sessions were seamless. “the band had already played on the original demo, and the arrangement was spot on,” David notes. “We didn’t need to overhaul anything; we managed to capture the single in just a handful of takes.”
“Though, the mixing process took three days!” Howard interjects.”We were on a quest for the perfect sound. I vividly remember those late nights, with our engineer getting frustrated and throwing his headset against the wall. It was a challenge, but we eventually found the right mix.”
Chart-Topping Success
Released by Warner Bros. Records in January 1976, “Let Your Love Flow” climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 by May, also making its mark on the Adult Contemporary and Country charts. David mentions that their label shared the single with visiting executives from the Netherlands, who then introduced it to their counterparts in Germany. The song subsequently topped the charts in both countries, as well as in Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, the U.K., South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
“I’m not sure if Neil ever regretted passing on it, but he has always spoken highly of the song.”
Over the years, the Bellamy Brothers have continued to flourish, especially within the country music scene, with hits like “If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)” and ”Do You Love as Good as You Look,” contributing to their impressive tally of 26 Top 10 country singles. This year, they are set to embark on their 50 Years of Hits tour, which includes their inaugural headlining performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on June 25.
As for Neil Diamond, did he ever reflect on his decision to pass on “Let Your Love flow”? David shares, ”I can’t say for certain if he regretted it, but he has always been very supportive of us. We’ve maintained a friendly relationship over the years.”
