What a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, as there can never be too much love in this fractured world and in these fractious times.
“I Found Love“
The Free Design (1968)
“I Found Love” by The Free Design is such an obvious choice for an A-side release (which it was in June of 1968), although I respectfully disagree with Dave Meritt — Music Director & DJ for Chico, California’s KPAY — who deemed this instant classic a ‘Leftfield Pick‘ in the July 13, 1968 edition of Billboard. Later that year, Billboard selected “I Found Love” as a ‘Special Merit Pick’ in their December 14, 1968 edition, noting that “Chuck Dedrick, a member of the group, has written some compelling material in ‘I Found Love,’ ‘Daniel Dolphin‘ and the title tune.”
Kites Are Fun EP
Hey, I just learned that The Free Design collaborated with labelmate Tony Mottola on a fun and fresh near-instrumental arrangement of “I Found Love” that was also released in 1968 on Mottola’s Warm, Wild and Wonderful LP:
“I Found Love“
The Free Design & Tony Mottola (1968)
Gary James‘s interview with The Free Design’s Sandy Dedrick reveals “I Found Love” to have been used on The Gilmore Girls television show. On a related note, I remember how delighted I was when another television show – Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba! – honored the song with a contemporary cover by Trembling Blue Stars in 2008:
“I Found Love“
Trembling Blue Stars (2008)
Animated by Bran Dougherty-Johnson
Zero to 180 is puzzled why more hasn’t been written about this beautiful song but pleased, nevertheless, that Yo Gabba Gabba! and The Gilmore Girls soundtrack have drawn new attention to The Free Design, who set the gold standard in “sunshine pop” although they may not have received enough credit as such.
Record World
May 18, 1968
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Q: Is it a stretch to categorize this song as “God Pop“?
