L.T.D. was never supposed to be just a backdrop for Jeffrey Osborne's solo career. But when you hear the opening notes of Every Time I Turn Around Back in Love Again, it’s impossible not to focus on that voice. It’s thick. It’s soulful. It’s got that 1978 grit that somehow feels smooth as silk at the same time. This wasn't just another R&B track hitting the Billboard charts; it was a cultural shift for a band that started as a 10-piece outfit in Greensboro, North Carolina.
You know the feeling. You think you're over someone. You’ve done the work, you’ve moved on, and then—bam. You see them at a grocery store or hear a specific laugh, and the cycle starts all over. That’s the emotional hook of Every Time I Turn Around Back in Love Again. It captures that frustrating, beautiful, and absolutely relentless cycle of human attraction.
The 1978 Funk Evolution
By the time 1978 rolled around, the music landscape was weird. Disco was screaming toward its peak, but the "real" funk bands were trying to figure out how to stay relevant without losing their soul. L.T.D. (Love, Togetherness, and Devotion) nailed it. They released the album Togetherness, and this track was the standout.
It’s interesting because the song was written by Grey and Hanks—Zane Grey and Len Ron Hanks. These guys were hitmakers. They understood that a great soul song needs a tension between the rhythm section and the vocals. If you listen closely to the bassline, it’s busy. It’s driving. But Jeffrey Osborne stays patient. He doesn't rush the delivery. He lets the groove breathe.
Honestly, the horn section is the unsung hero here. Most people remember the chorus, but those staccato horn blasts during the bridge? That’s what gives the song its "strut." It’s music you can’t help but walk differently to.
Why This Song Still Slaps in the 2020s
Music critics often talk about "timelessness" like it’s some magical, unexplainable quality. It’s not. It’s math and emotion. The chord progression in Every Time I Turn Around Back in Love Again follows a classic soul structure, but the production by Bobby Martin—who worked extensively with the Philadelphia International crew—gave it a polished sheen that hasn't aged a day.
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Think about the modern samples. While this specific track hasn't been sampled as heavily as "Love Ballad," its influence is all over "sophistifunk" and modern neo-soul. When you hear artists like Lucky Daye or Leon Bridges, they are pulling directly from the L.T.D. playbook. They’re looking for that balance of high-end production and raw, church-trained vocal ability.
Jeffrey Osborne was actually the drummer for the band initially. Can you believe that? Imagine having a voice like that and sitting behind a kit. It was only after some encouragement that he moved to the front of the stage. This song is the result of that transition being fully realized. He wasn't just a singer by then; he was a star.
The Narrative of the "Reluctant Lover"
The lyrics tell a story most of us are embarrassed to admit. It’s about a lack of control. The protagonist is basically saying, "I tried to quit you, but my heart is an idiot." It’s relatable because it’s messy.
"I thought that we were through..."
That opening line sets the stage for a total collapse of willpower. It’s a song for the people who delete a phone number only to realize they have it memorized anyway. In the late 70s, this kind of vulnerability was a staple of the "Quiet Storm" radio format, yet the tempo of this track kept it in the clubs. It’s a rare hybrid: a danceable heartbreak song.
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Breakdown of the Musicality
If we look at the technical side, the song sits at a comfortable mid-tempo groove, roughly 110-115 BPM. This is the "sweet spot" for R&B. It’s fast enough to keep the energy up at a house party but slow enough for a meaningful two-step.
The arrangement is dense. You’ve got:
- Layered backing vocals that act like a cushion for Osborne’s lead.
- A funky, syncopated rhythm guitar that stays in the pocket.
- The "Martin" touch—lush string arrangements that enter during the second verse to elevate the emotional stakes.
One thing people get wrong is thinking L.T.D. was a one-man show. It wasn't. The "Togetherness" album was a group effort. Carle Vickers, Jimmy Davis, Abraham Locke—these guys were monsters on their instruments. The tightness of the band is why Every Time I Turn Around Back in Love Again feels so cohesive. It wasn't just a studio band for hire; it was a unit that had been playing together since the early 70s.
The Chart Success and Legacy
The song hit number one on the R&B charts and cracked the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. For a funk-leaning band, crossing over to the pop charts was the holy grail. It proved that "Black music"—as the industry categorized it then—had universal appeal when the songwriting was this tight.
But the legacy isn't just about numbers. It’s about the "Auntie’s Cookout" factor. There are certain songs that are baked into the DNA of Black American culture, and this is one of them. If this song comes on at a wedding, the floor is full. It doesn't matter if you're 20 or 70.
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Interestingly, Osborne’s departure from the group a few years later actually solidified the song's place in history. It became a definitive marker of his peak years with the band. When he performs it live today, the audience usually takes over the chorus. It’s a collective experience.
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people confuse this track with Osborne's solo work like "On the Wings of Love." They are worlds apart. While his solo ballads are great, they lack the "stink" of the L.T.D. era. There’s a rawness in Every Time I Turn Around Back in Love Again that disappeared once the 80s synth-pop production took over.
Another mistake? People think the song is a happy love song. It’s actually kind of tragic if you think about it. It’s about a cycle the singer can’t break. He’s "back in love again" not necessarily because he wants to be, but because he can't help it. It’s an obsession disguised as a groove.
How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
To get the most out of this song, you have to stop listening to it through crappy phone speakers. The low-end on the original master is incredible.
- Find the Original Vinyl or a High-Res FLAC: The compression on standard streaming services kills the "air" around the drums.
- Focus on the Bass: Follow the bass guitar through the entire track. It’s a masterclass in melodic funk.
- Watch the 1978 Live Clips: Seeing the band in their flared pants and oversized collars adds a layer of context that the audio alone can't provide. The energy was electric.
What really happened with L.T.D. after this was a slow decline as the 80s arrived and the group struggled to keep their sound fresh without Osborne. But for that one moment in 1978, everything was perfect. They had the right singer, the right writers, and a groove that refused to quit.
If you’re looking to build a playlist that captures the essence of late-70s soul, this is your anchor. It bridges the gap between the psychedelic funk of the early 70s and the polished R&B of the 80s.
Actionable Steps for the Soul Music Fan
- Audit Your Playlists: Compare this track to "Hold On" or "Love Ballad." Notice how the band’s sound shifted from pure soul to a more structured pop-funk hybrid.
- Deep Dive the Songwriters: Look up Zane Grey and Len Ron Hanks. They wrote for the Emotions and The Whispers too. Following the writers is the best way to find "hidden" gems that sound just like your favorites.
- Check Out the Live Versions: Jeffrey Osborne still tours. His voice has aged remarkably well. Comparing a 1978 vocal to a 2024 vocal is a great way to see how a professional maintains their "instrument" over five decades.
- Explore the "Togetherness" Album: Don't just stick to the hits. Tracks like "Holding On (When Love is Gone)" offer a deeper look into the band's versatility.