1976 L.T.D. – Love Ballad – What Was Left In

1976 L.T.D. – Love Ballad

“Love, Togetherness, and Devotion” seems a tad long for the name of a band, so in 1968, a group of five musicians formed L.T.D. in Greensboro, North Carolina. They picked up a sixth member when they moved to New York City.

More importantly, when the band went to Providence, Rhode Island, for a show, they discovered Jeffrey Osborne and he joined as their drummer and singer.

Two years later, the band relocated to California and picked up four more members. The group signed with A&M Records and then added another drummer so that Jeffrey could become their front man.

The band began recording singles and albums in 1974, but their first arrival on the charts came with Love Ballad in 1976.

That single took the band to the top of the R&B chart. They even peaked at #20 on the Hot 100.

Other than a single that spent a week at #40, the band only had one other single on the Hot 100. Back In Love Again reached #4 on the Hot 100 and again took them to the top of the R&B chart in 1977. Sadly, I have a hard time remembering the last time I even heard that song on an oldie station.

Jeffrey left the group to pursue a solo career in 1980.

The band recorded new albums after Jeffrey left in 1981 and 1983, but never charted with another single again after those releases. Three of the members reformed the group in 1999 and they continue to appear in live shows.

Love Ballad had a second run at the charts in 1979 when George Benson covered the song. His single did slightly better than the original on the Hot 100, peaking at #18. The record also reached #3 on the R&B chart.