Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop and R&B (#1); 1975
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
An early incarnation of the Ohio Players, the Ohio Untouchables, first tasted chart action backing the Falcons on their 1962 hit, I Found A Love (#6 &B, #75 Pop).
The Players also racked up some minor airplay on their own in the ensuing years, however, it took until 1973 for them to score a genuine hit; Funky Worm (#1 R&B, #15 Pop). Its next R&B #1 – Fire – arrived in January of 1975, and another – Sweet Sticky Thing – in November.
Hot on the heels of Sweet Sticky Thing came Love Rollercoaster. Rollercoaster’s ride began in the confines of a small twin engine plane caught in a monster thunderstorm.
As their plane was tossing around, one of the Players yelled out, “We have got to love what we’re doing, because this is a love rollercoaster!” Lead vocalist Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner came up with lyrics to match the phrase, although he claims they didn’t make sense even to him. No matter. Love Rollercoaster closed out the year as Fire had opened it: at #1 R&B and Pop.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Ohio Players
Lyrics Written by:
- William Beck
- Leroy Bonner
- Marshall Jones
- Ralph Middlebrooks
- Marvin Pierce
- Clarence Satchell
- James Williams
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).