Scribbler's Throwback of the Week: The Nutty Professor Quartet, Part 3

So now that we've covered Lillo Thomas and Peabo Bryson, it's time for the third member of "The Nutty Professor Quartet": the late, great Lou Rawls.  As a kid, I remember his annual "Parade of Stars" (started back in 1980) in which proceeds from the telethon went to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).  Unfortunately, I didn't--and still don't--hear that many of his songs on the radio.  He's one of those artists that unless you grew up during his era, you probably one only know like one or two songs of his.  While he's not quite as unsung as Lillo, he's probably not as widely recognized or celebrated as a singer like Teddy P or Peabo in the R&B world--although he has such a uniquely silky smooth voice.

So I was more than ready to plug the biggest hit of his career, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine".  (Not only is it my favorite song of his, but it kinda cracks me up every time I hear it.  Don't ask why,)  However, that's too typical and I like to be the antithesis of typical from time to time.  Thus, I decided to go with a song that (much like Jennifer Holliday's "Hard Times For Lovers") I discovered through LAUNCH: "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing".  I remember hearing this song at work for the first time back in 2002 as it randomly played and I thought, "Hey, I've never heard this before...I kinda like it!"  Taken from his Soulin' album (1966, Capitol Records), the song was his first chart-topper on the R&B charts and his first Top 40 pop hit (#13).  Beyond that, it's just a solid mid-60s soul record.  Although I knew something about Lou Rawls the man and charitable contributor, this song made me want to find out more about Lou Rawls the singer.  Hopefully, it will have the same effect on y'all.

We wrap up "The Nutty Professor Quartet" with Teddy P, so please come back next week!