Lobo

Biography

Roland Kent LaVoie (born July 31, 1943), better known by his stage name Lobo (which is Spanish for wolf), is an American singer-songwriter who was successful in the 1970s, scoring several U.S. Top 10 hits including "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo×Me And You And A Dog Named Boo1997 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Me And You And A Dog Named Boo2:592She Didn't Do Magic2:553A Simple Man2:564I'd Love You To Want Me4:055Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend3:386It Sure Took A Long, Long Time3:097How Can I Tell Her4:208Standing At The End Of The Line3:539Rings3:3110Don't Tell Me Goodnight3:06", "I'd Love You to Want Me×I'd Love You to Want Me1972 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1I'd Love You to Want Me2It Sure Took a Long, Long Time3Am I True to Myself4Running Deer", and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend×Don't Expect Me to Be Your FriendDecember 1972 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend3:382A Big Red Kite4:06". These three songs, along with "Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love", gave Lobo four chart toppers on the Easy Listening/Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

1961–1970: Early years

Born in Tallahassee, Florida, LaVoie was raised by his mother in Winter Haven, Florida, with his six siblings. He began his musical career in 1961 as a member of a local band, The Rumours. The band included Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford, as well as drummer Jon Corneal, who later joined Parsons' International Submarine Band.
In 1964, while attending the University of South Florida, LaVoie joined a band called the Sugar Beats and met producer Phil Gernhard. He recorded a regional hit for the band, a cover of Johnny Rivers' song "What Am I Doing Here?"
During the 1960s, LaVoie performed with many other bands, including US Male, The Uglies, and Me and the Other Guys. It was in the latter band that he met musician Billy Aerts, who became a member of Lobo's touring band in the early 1970s and produced Lobo's comeback album in 1989.
Again working with Gernhard, his first solo record was released in 1969 on Laurie Records. It included the original tracks "Happy Days in New York City" backed with "My Friend Is Here".

1971–1975: Success with Big Tree

By 1971, LaVoie had started calling himself Lobo (Spanish for wolf). Gernhard was an executive for Big Tree Records, and the company released his first single, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo×Me And You And A Dog Named Boo1997 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Me And You And A Dog Named Boo2:592She Didn't Do Magic2:553A Simple Man2:564I'd Love You To Want Me4:055Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend3:386It Sure Took A Long, Long Time3:097How Can I Tell Her4:208Standing At The End Of The Line3:539Rings3:3110Don't Tell Me Goodnight3:06", in March 1971. The first major hit for the label, it reached No. 5 in the US and No. 4 in the UK by May, launching a successful series of singles. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc in September 1971.
His debut album, Introducing Lobo×Introducing LoboApril 1971 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksIntroIntro0:53A1Me and You and a Dog Named Boo2:57A2The Albatross3:07A3We'll Make It... I Know We Will2:53A4A Little Different3:00A5Reaching Out for Someone3:06B1She Didn't Do Magic2:52B2Little Joe (They're Out to Get Ya)3:13B3I'm the Only One3:17B4We'll Be One by Two Today3:20B5Another Hill to Climb2:34RepriseCountry Feelings1:05, came in May 1971. In June his second single, "She Didn't Do Magic", was released. In September, "California Kid and Reemo×California Kid And Reemo1971 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksACalifornia Kid And Reemo2:44BA Little Different2:59" was released, followed by The Albatross. When Big Tree Records merged with Bell Records, Lobo's second project album Close Up was never released.
Under the Lobo alias, he then released Of a Simple Man in 1972, which included back-to-back U.S. Top 10 hits, including "I'd Love You to Want Me×I'd Love You to Want Me1972 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1I'd Love You to Want Me2It Sure Took a Long, Long Time3Am I True to Myself4Running Deer" (No. 2, November 18–25, 1972) and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend×Don't Expect Me to Be Your FriendDecember 1972 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend3:382A Big Red Kite4:06" (No. 8, February 17–24, 1973). The former became Lobo's biggest hit, a million-seller gaining gold disc status in November 1972 and internationally reaching No. 1 in Germany in December 1973 and No. 5 in the United Kingdom in July 1974.
With the release of Calumet in 1973, Lobo had three more Top 40 hits: "It Sure Took a Long, Long Time", "How Can I Tell Her", and "Standing at the End of the Line×Standing at the End of the Line1974 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAStanding at the End of the Line2:45BStoney3:45". He made an appearance on American Bandstand that year. There were two further minor hit singles from the album: "There Ain't No Way" and "Love Me for What I Am×Love Me for What I Am2011 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1I'd Love You to Want Me2Standing at The End of The Line3I'm The Only One4You'll Never Need Me5Don't Expect Me Be Your Friend6Me and You and A Dog Named Boo7Walk Away From It All8My First Time9You10Love Me For What I Am11How Can I Tell Her12A Simple Man13She Will Always Be Mine14Stoney15Goodbye is Just Another Word".
In June 1974 Lobo's fourth album, Just a Singer×Just a Singer1974 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Rings3:24A2The Shelter of Your Eyes2:32A3I'm Only Sleeping2:15A4Daydream Believer3:31A5Reason to Believe3:27B1Armstrong2:37B2Universal Soldier3:15B3Let's Get Together4:43B4Lodi3:26B5All for the Love of a Girl2:29, was released. It was the first album by Lobo to contain tracks not written by him. The only single from the album was "Rings". "Don't Tell Me Goodnight" in 1975 became his last Top 30 single for Big Tree. Lobo also released the album, A Cowboy Afraid of Horses×A Cowboy Afraid of Horses1975 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Would I Still Have You3:42A2The War to End All Wars1:39A3My Momma Had Soul2:38A4Three Pick-Ups3:08A5Morning Sun3:46A6Don't Tell Me Goodnight3:03B1A Cowboy Afraid of Horses4:32B2Then I Met You3:02B3Something to See Me Through3:13B4Thinking of You3:17B5Everyday Is My Way3:32B6However...0:54, with "Would I Still Have You" released as a single. The label followed it up with a compilation album that year entitled The Best of Lobo×The Best of Lobo1977 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Me and You and a Dog Named Boo2:59A2She Didn’t Do Magic2:55A3I’m the Only One3:18A4Simple Man2:56A5I’d Love You to Want Me4:04A6Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend3:35B1It Sure Took a Long Long Time3:09B2How Can I Tell Her4:20B3There Ain’t No Way3:16B4Standing at the End of the Line3:53B5Rings3:31B6Don’t Tell Me Goodnight3:08.

1976–1985: Curb Records, and move to Nashville

In 1976 Lobo broke away from Big Tree, releasing the album Come with Me×Come With Me1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1At First Sight2:162We Can Make It3:073Someone to Love2:364One More Time3:205I Believe in Everything3:276Come With Me3:187It's Everywhere3:258Why Is It Me2:559My First Time3:1110He's Right-Damn Him3:0311Don't Spend Too Much of Today4:20 in Europe on the Philips label. "At First Sight" and "It's Everywhere" were the singles. Neither was released in the US.
Lobo signed with Curb Records in 1977, releasing the single "Afterglow×Afterglow1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAfterglow3:28BOur Best Time3:18", co-produced by Lobo and Gernhard, and in 1978 "You Are All I'll Ever Need". No full-length album materialized from these sessions.
In 1979 Lobo was signed to Curb/MCA Records, where he worked with producer Bob Montgomery, releasing the single "Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love", which reached No. 23. The song also reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. He also released his first US album in four years, Lobo. Other singles for Curb were "Holding On for Dear Love", "With a Love Like Ours×With A Love Like Ours1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWith A Love Like Ours2:35BI Can't Believe You Anymore3:20", and "Fight Fire with Fire".
Reportedly dissatisfied with the production of his records, Lobo sought a release from his Curb contract. He moved to Nashville and, in 1981, started his own label, Lobo Records, releasing several singles including "I Don't Want to Want You" (written by his brother, Roger LaVoie), "Come Looking for Me", and "Living My Life Without You", all of which charted in the country charts. He also released "Bull Smith Can't Dance the Cotton Eye Joe" with the group Wolfpack, which included Narvel Felts and Kenny Earl.
Lobo Records was renamed Evergreen Records in 1985. The label released two of his singles: "Am I Going Crazy" and "Paint the Town Blue", the latter a duet with Robin Lee.

1987–present: Asian popularity and recent years

Although he is far less followed now in the United States, Lobo's popularity grew in Asia, fanned by the release of his greatest hits compilations in 1987 and 1988. This encouraged him to release in 1989 his first new album in 10 years, entitled Am I Going Crazy. It was recorded in Taiwan on UFO/WEA Records and was produced by Billy Aerts. He signed a multi-album deal with PonyCanyon Records in Singapore, and in 1994 released Asian Moon×Asian Moon1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1It Doesn't Matter Anymore3:352That Shows You What I Know3:293Asian Moon2:474Faithful3:375This Old Love3:366Between the Tears and Goodbye3:577Back Bay3:548I Don't Want to Want You3:249Still in Love4:5410Sanctuary of Your Love4:0311It Just Feel Right Tonight2:4412Here You Are3:4113Over2:3714Life Doesn't Get Sweeter Than This3:1015Let Me Leave You3:3516Am I Going Crazy3:4617Singapore Moon2:4718Hong Kong Moon2:4719Bangkok Moon2:4720Jakarta Moon2:4421Malaysia Moon2:46, repackaging some of the tracks from Am I Going Crazy along with newly recorded material. His follow-up album Classic Hits in 1995 were re-recordings of Lobo hits and some cover versions. In 1996 he released the album Sometimes×Sometimes1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1I Long To See My Home / Yellow River4:252Sometimes4:323Love Works4:224Like Love's Brand New5:145Now I Know How It Feels3:366She Took It Too Well4:187I'm Glad I've Got Someone (Who Loves Me Like That)3:548Love Is Approaching4:339I'd Do It Again4:2110Wide Open Spaces4:1211Tell Me Something I Don't Know4:0312It's The Thought That Counts4:0113You Are My Need4:31, containing all new original songs.
On another Asian label, Springroll Entertainment, he released You Must Remember This in 1997, an album of pop standards that was released in two formats, one with vocals and the other with instrumental tracks.
In 2000, Lobo signed with a German record company, Gmbh Entertainment, and recorded a few tracks for various hits CDs. He also co-wrote two Christmas songs with Billy Aerts, "A Big Kid's Christmas" and "Late Christmas Eve", which have been released on various Christmas compilations from 2000 to present. Singles recorded during this period include "Let It Be Me", "Who'll Stop the Rain", and "Different Drum".
In 2006, based on his Asian popularity, he toured in Southeast Asia. In 2008, Lobo released Out of Time with old favorites and some new songs. A tribute album to the original era of the early Lobo recordings was made available from the website.

Compilations

1975 The Best of Lobo (Big Tree)
1990 Greatest Hits (Curb)
1993 The Best of Lobo (Rhino)
1996 The Best of Lobo (Curb)
1996 I'd Love You to Want Me (Rhino)
1997 Me & You & a Dog Named Boo & Other Hits (Rhino)
2004 The Very Best of Lobo (WEA International)
2005 Introducing Lobo/Of a Simple Man (Wounded Bird)
2005 Platinum Collection
2006 Ultimate Collection (EMI) Malaysia
2006 Me & You & a Dog Named Boo & Other Hits (Collectables)
2007 Greatest Hits (Lobo Records)

Singles

US chart is Billboard unless otherwise noted. * Cash Box singles chart.