“Baby Let Me Kiss You” by King Floyd

Celebrated New Orleans soul singer King Floyd released the infectious and tremendously funky “Baby Let Me Kiss You” in March 1971. It was the follow-up to his crossover smash “Groove Me.” The syncopation on this powerful groove is tremendous. It moves at a sexy, funky strut and features a massive bassline, a killer horn arrangement, and extra-nasty guitar licks. Floyd delivers a dynamic, fervent vocal performance. The narrator expresses his intense desire and physical attraction for a woman who has completely captivated him.

“Baby Let Me Kiss You” was written by King Floyd and produced by Elijah Walker. Renowned New Orleans producer, arranger, bandleader, and composer Wardell Quezergue was the song’s arranger. It was a single from Floyd’s self-titled second album, released in May 1971 on Cotillion Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. The song performed well on the charts, peaking at #5 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart and #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The musicians who played on “Baby Let Me Kiss You” included Vernie Robbins (bass), Wardell Quezergue (organ), James Stroud (drums), Jerry Puckett (guitar), Jimmy Honeycutt (saxophone), and Bob Chessman (trumpet).

“Baby Let Me Kiss You” has been sampled on 18 songs, including “Bombastic” (Shaggy) and “Shoot ‘Em Up” (Cypress Hill). R&B and disco singer Fern Kinney’s cover of the track was featured in an episode of the three-time Emmy-winning Netflix series GLOW  (season 3, episode 2, 2019). “Baby Let Me Kiss You” was Floyd’s last song to make the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40. 

"Baby Let Me Kiss You" is available on Amazon

Related blog entry:

"Groove Me" by King Floyd