"Loving Arms" is a song written by Tom Jans and first recorded as a duet by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge for their 1973 album Full Moon.
The song was notably covered by Dobie Gray that same year, then by a number of artists including Elvis Presley and Petula Clark in 1974.
History "Loving Arms" was written by Tom Jans. Jans recorded the song and released his version on his 1974 self-titled album.
Dobie Gray's version of the song peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 6, 1973.
Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge's version was released as a single in late 1973, and became a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit in the spring of 1974. The song first appeared on their 1973 duet album Full Moon.
Elvis Presley's version was first released on his 1974 album Good Times. In 1975, it was included as a B-side on some editions of his "My Boy" single. In 1981, it appeared on Presley's posthumous album Guitar Man and was released as the second single from it, with "You Asked Me To" on side B. In the UK, the song spent 6 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 47 for the week of April 14. In the United States, the single charted as a double A-side ("Lovin' Arms"/"You Asked Me To") on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, peaking at number 8 on the week of June 20.
Petula Clark's version reached number 12 on the US AC chart and number 9 on the Canadian AC/Pop charts on February 1, 1975. Livingston Taylor’s cover peaked at number 14 on the US AC chart in 1988.
In total, the song has been covered over 50 times. Other notable covers include ones by Olivia Newton-John, Etta James, the Dixie Chicks,, Demis Roussos and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott.
Personnel Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge – vocals Sammy Creason – drums Leland Sklar – bass Jerry McGee – guitar, harmonica Bobbye Hall – percussion Randy Scruggs – guitar Booker T. Jones – keyboards
Personnel on Dobie Gray's version Dobie Gray, vocals David Briggs, keyboards Mike Leech, bass Kenny Malone, drums Troy Seals, acoustic and electric guitar Reggie Young, acoustic and electric guitar, banjo Weldon Myrick, pedal steel guitar Buddy Spicher, violin Charlie McCoy, harmonica Gray, Dobie, Dobie Gray: Drift Away, Loving Arms, Hey Dixie, BGO Records, liner notes, 2011
Musical style and lyrics As Steven Blanton notes in his book The Songwriter's Toolkit: From Pen to Push Play, "[t]he song is written using the method of holding the title until the last line effectively."
Charts Dobie Gray version Chart (1973) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 61 Canada (RPM) 67
Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge version Chart (1974) Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 86 Canada (RPM) 83 Canada AC (RPM) 9
Elvis Presley version Chart (1981) Peakposition UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 47 US Billboard Hot Country Singles 8* * as "Lovin' Arms"/"You Asked Me To"
References