Uploaded January 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
You Want Lovin' (But I Want Love)
Words and music by Sam Coslow, Larry Spier and Jack Osterman
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, vocal refrain by Carmen Lombardo
Recorded May 17, 1929
Columbia 1848-D
About the Songwriters:
Sam Coslow (1902 - 1982) was born in New York City and attended Erasmus Hall High School. He began writing songs while he was still a teenager. His first success came in 1920, with a song called "Grieving For You". He had a number of hit songs over the next few years, and contributed songs to Broadway's Artists and Models revues. Together with composer Larry Spier, he founded his own publishing company, the Spier & Coslow Music Company and in those beginning years, he also had a minor career as a performer, recording for RCA Victor, Decca and Columbia Records.
In 1929, Spier and Coslow sold their publishing firm to Paramount Pictures. Spier continued on in publishing, while Coslow signed up with Paramount as a songwriter for their movies. It was the early days of sound movies, and Coslow was the first Broadway songwriter to be hired by Paramount. During his decade with Paramount, he wrote songs for many of their films, including most of the early Bing Crosby pictures. His songs from this period include "True Blue Lou" (written in 1929 with Leo Robin and Richard Whiting for The Dance of Life); "Sing You Sinners" (1930, with W. Frank Harling, included in Honey); "Just One More Chance" (1931, with Arthur Johnston); "Thanks" and "The Day You Came Along" (both songs written with Arthur Johnston for 1933's Bing Crosby picture Too Much Harmony); "Learn To Croon" (1933, with Arthur Johnston, for a Bing Crosby film College Humor); "Cocktails For Two" (1934, with Arthur Johnston, for Murder at the Vanities); and "My Old Flame" (1934, with Arthur Johnston for a Mae West film Belle of the Nineties).
After the duo split, Larry Spier (1901 - 1955) starting a successful stretch as general manager of Chappell Music. While at Chappell, Spier was involved in such Broadway hits as Oklahoma, Bloomer Girl, State Fair and culminating in South Pacific in 1949. While during a brief stay at The Bourne Co. in 1949, Larry persuaded Nat King Cole to record the hit, "Unforgettable." In 1950, he partnered with legendary singer Johnnie Ray, writing "The Little White Cloud that Cried," the B-side to Ray's career defining hit, "Cry".
In 1955 Spier died unexpectedly and Larry Jr. took over as president of Larry Spier Inc. Larry Jr. picked up right where is father left off with The Four Lads hit "Moments to Remember" which reached #2 on the Billboard Charts in 1955.
You Want Lovin' (But I Want Love)
Words and music by Sam Coslow, Larry Spier and Jack Osterman
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, vocal refrain by Carmen Lombardo
Recorded May 17, 1929
Columbia 1848-D
About the Songwriters:
Sam Coslow (1902 - 1982) was born in New York City and attended Erasmus Hall High School. He began writing songs while he was still a teenager. His first success came in 1920, with a song called "Grieving For You". He had a number of hit songs over the next few years, and contributed songs to Broadway's Artists and Models revues. Together with composer Larry Spier, he founded his own publishing company, the Spier & Coslow Music Company and in those beginning years, he also had a minor career as a performer, recording for RCA Victor, Decca and Columbia Records.
In 1929, Spier and Coslow sold their publishing firm to Paramount Pictures. Spier continued on in publishing, while Coslow signed up with Paramount as a songwriter for their movies. It was the early days of sound movies, and Coslow was the first Broadway songwriter to be hired by Paramount. During his decade with Paramount, he wrote songs for many of their films, including most of the early Bing Crosby pictures. His songs from this period include "True Blue Lou" (written in 1929 with Leo Robin and Richard Whiting for The Dance of Life); "Sing You Sinners" (1930, with W. Frank Harling, included in Honey); "Just One More Chance" (1931, with Arthur Johnston); "Thanks" and "The Day You Came Along" (both songs written with Arthur Johnston for 1933's Bing Crosby picture Too Much Harmony); "Learn To Croon" (1933, with Arthur Johnston, for a Bing Crosby film College Humor); "Cocktails For Two" (1934, with Arthur Johnston, for Murder at the Vanities); and "My Old Flame" (1934, with Arthur Johnston for a Mae West film Belle of the Nineties).
After the duo split, Larry Spier (1901 - 1955) starting a successful stretch as general manager of Chappell Music. While at Chappell, Spier was involved in such Broadway hits as Oklahoma, Bloomer Girl, State Fair and culminating in South Pacific in 1949. While during a brief stay at The Bourne Co. in 1949, Larry persuaded Nat King Cole to record the hit, "Unforgettable." In 1950, he partnered with legendary singer Johnnie Ray, writing "The Little White Cloud that Cried," the B-side to Ray's career defining hit, "Cry".
In 1955 Spier died unexpectedly and Larry Jr. took over as president of Larry Spier Inc. Larry Jr. picked up right where is father left off with The Four Lads hit "Moments to Remember" which reached #2 on the Billboard Charts in 1955.
