Peak
37
Weeks
17
Score
1,449
Chart Year
1982
///
"Love Plus One" was the first of four UK Top 10 hits from Haircut 100's debut album, and their only song to crack the Hot 100 in America. Led by 20-year-old Nick Heyward, the group was a sensation in their homeland, winning over the British music press with an unusual blend of horns, percussion and completely nonsensical lyrics that brought about a feeling of tranquil joy. They were also utterly naïve and non-threatening, which was reflected in their anodyne outfits of sensible sweaters and trousers tucked into their socks. Heyward, their songwriter, used love as a theme for most of their songs, but being so young his reference points were undeveloped. The result can be heard on this track: Ring, ring, ring, ring When I call love Love plus one There are very prominent marimbas in this song, which the group's producer, Bob Sargeant, came up with. Early on this section is followed by a soprano sax part played by band member Phil Smith. Later, the sax and the marimbas play together. With flourishes of steel drum and bongos, it's a very distinctive track. Nick Heyward credits Sergeant, known for his work with the English Beat, for finding this sound. "You can hear everything on 'Love Plus One,' but it's punchy," he said in a Songfacts interview. "Bob Sargeant was lovely to work with. We were young and we saw him as our George Martin. He was this person who organized everything properly. He knew how to make singles." This song owes its American success to its video, which was directed by David Mallet. British bands, especially those with heartthrob lead singers like Haircut 100, often made videos to air across Europe, but in America videos were rarely seen until MTV launched in 1981. When they did, many of their videos came from Mallet, who used lots of striking imagery, like David Bowie as a clown in "Ashes To Ashes." For the "Love Plus One" video, Mallet went with a tribal motif set on an island of savages. Heyward appears in a loincloth swinging from a rope, and various beauties show up in equally skimpy dress. This stuff played very well on MTV, which aired it quite often at a time when their selection was lean. When Haircut 100 set out to make their second album, they went minus one because Nick Heyward left the group, claiming they wanted to follow the same formula from their debut, Pelican West. Heyward started a solo career and the band released that second album, Paint and Paint, in 1984 with percussionist Marc Fox moving to lead vocals. It went nowhere, and the band split. Heyward fared better with his solo debut, but never came close to his Haircut 100 success. The band got back together for the 2004 VH1 series Bands Reunited, and have made sporadic appearances since. A line in this song really tweaked some listeners: Where does it go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear? According to Heyward, Paul Weller took him to task for that one. He also told Melody Maker that there is a lot more to it. "In my mind I know exactly what that song means. When I sing, 'Is it down to the lake I fear?,' I know what place, what person and everything. But nobody else does." The group toured America but couldn't grow their audience there. "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)," their first UK single, was released as the follow-up to "Love Plus One" in the US, but it stalled at #101, in large part because the video was set in a bowling alley, not a tropical island where beautiful women are boiled for comic effect. They are generally considered one-hit-wonders in the States
I, I went off to the right Without saying good goodbye Where does it go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear? Ay ay ay ay ay ah Ay ay ay ay ay ah Then I call Ring, ring, ring, ring La la love plus one Ring, ring, ring, ring When I call love Give love some soul If I may be quite so bold Where does it go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear? Ay ay ay ay ay ah Ay ay ay ay ay ah Then I call Ring, ring, ring, ring La la love plus one Ring, ring, ring, ring When I call love Love plus one
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 15, 1982 | 89 | 37 |
| 2 | May 22, 1982 | 78 | 48 |
| 3 | May 29, 1982 | 68 | 58 |
| 4 | Jun 5, 1982 | 58 | 68 |
| 5 | Jun 12, 1982 | 53 | 73 |
| 6 | Jun 19, 1982 | 49 | 77 |
| 7 | Jun 26, 1982 | 49 | 77 |
| 8 | Jul 3, 1982 | 46 | 80 |
| 9 | Jul 10, 1982 | 43 | 83 |
| 10 | Jul 17, 1982 | 40 | 86 |
| 11 | Jul 24, 1982 | 38 | 88 |
| 12 | Jul 31, 1982 | 38 | 88 |
| 13 | Aug 7, 1982 | 37 | 89 |
| 14 | Aug 14, 1982 | 54 | 72 |
| 15 | Aug 21, 1982 | 65 | 61 |
| 16 | Aug 28, 1982 | 96 | 30 |
| 17 | Sep 4, 1982 | 96 | 30 |