BOBBY
GOLDSBORO
MUSIC.com
WE GOTTA START LOVIN’
retitled WATCHING SCOTTY GROW
SIDE ONE
1. MY GOD AND I (John “Buck” Wilkin) (2:53)
2. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME (Terry Cashman/Gene Pistilli/Tommy West) (3:41)
3. HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH (Bobby Goldsboro) (3:38)
4. MARY JACKSON (John “Buck” Wilkin) (2:20)
5. ABOUT TIME (John “Buck” Wilkin) (2:59)
6. DOWN ON THE BAYOU (Bobby Goldsboro) (2:54)
SIDE TWO
1. WE GOTTA START LOVIN’ (Bobby Goldsboro) (3:27)
2. HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER (Bob Russell/Bobby Scott) (3:46)
3. WATER COLOR DAYS (Kenny O’Dell/Larry Henley) (2:45)
4. IT’S GONNA CHANGE (Bobby Goldsboro) (2:41)
5. WATCHING SCOTTY GROW (Mac Davis) (2:28)
6. REQUIEM (Bobby Goldsboro) (2:32)
1970 United Artists Records
UAS 6777
“We Gotta Start Lovin’” Album
Top Position: #20 Country, #120 Pop
Billboard magazine, October 10, 1970, page 66, Album Reviews
Goldsboro’s charm continues to make new inroads as he sings these
dozen tunes in his easy winning style. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My
Brother” rings with that effortless manner; “Heaven Here on Earth” is
relaxed; “We Gotta Start Lovin’” is driving and penetrating.
“It’s Gonna Change” Single (UA 50696)
Top Position: #38 Easy Listening, #108 Pop
Billboard Magazine, July 4, 1970, page 80,
Spotlight Singles, Top 60 Pop Spotlight
Goldsboro wrote this moving rhythm ballad and turns in a top reading
of it. Should fast top the chart success of “Can You Feel It.”
Flip: “Down on the Bayou.”
“My God and I” Single (UA 50715)
Billboard Magazine, September 5, 1970, page 78,
Spotlight Singles, Pop, Special Merit Spotlight
Smooth rhythm ballad with a topnotch Goldsboro performance
should quickly prove a winner in pop and country markets.
First rate material.
“Water Color Days” Single (UA 50727)
Billboard Magazine, November 14, 1970, page 56,
Spotlight Singles, Pop, Special Merit Spotlight
Potent interpretation of this smooth ballad could bring artist to the
best selling Easy Listening and Hot 100 charts.
“Watching Scotty Grow” Single (UA 50727)
Top Position: #1 Easy Listening, #7 Country, #11 Pop
Billboard Soft Rock Hits - 1971 - Rhino Records #R2 72737
“Watching Scotty Grow” peaked at #1 for six weeks beginning in
January 1971. Total weeks charted: 14. Bobby Goldsboro landed
the biggest Adult Contemporary hit of the year and of his 29-hit
career with this tune written by Mac Davis.
Available on Compact Disc:
Entire album released on CD
Available on Tape:
8-Track, cassette, and reel-to-reel
Available on Vinyl Singles:
“My God and I,” “Down on the Bayou,”
“We Gotta Start Lovin’,” “Water Color Days,”
“It’s Gonna Change,” “Watching Scotty Grow,”
“Requiem”
Notable Covers:
“Heaven Here on Earth” was recorded by
television host Chuck Woolery
The album was re-issued in Spring 1971 with a
different cover titled, “Watching Scotty Grow,”
upon the success of that single. The vinyl
record label remained “We Gotta Start Lovin’.”
“Watching Scotty Grow” was written by
Mac Davis about his son, and was originally
considered for Andy Williams. Bobby was
shopping for shirts in a Los Angeles store when
he saw Davis’ producer, Jerry Fuller, which led
to a meeting and the recording of the song.
There was a brief discussion to change the lyric
from Scotty to Danny (Bobby’s son), but Davis
declined.
United Artists Records pressed “We Gotta
Start Lovin’” singles with “Water Color Days,”
before changing to “Watching Scotty Grow,”
which was getting significant radio airplay from
the album. The record company was initially
reluctant to promote the song as a single
because, as Bobby has said, “they thought
nobody would buy a record about a father and
his son.”
“Watching Scotty Grow” led to Bobby’s
involvement in many children’s charities,
including Easter Seals, March of Dimes,
and Jerry Lewis’ MDA Telethon
“Down on the Bayou” features Bobby’s
signature tree frog imitation.
And when I looked around, a world of peace I found
A world where people had no need to fight
And with the newborn Son, a new world had begun
A world where men were neither black or white
- “Heaven Here on Earth”
We gotta start lovin’, before it’s too late
If we take time for lovin’, there’ll be no time for hate
We can learn from the children, they can show us the way
They don’t care about the color of a man
Or the money in his hand
Just a smile will see them through the day
- “We Gotta Start Lovin’”
WITH PEN IN HAND
The Songwriting of Bobby Goldsboro
Back Cover
“Watching Scotty Grow” Back Cover
“Watching Scotty Grow” Front Cover
Side 1
Side 2
Bobby Goldsboro wrote “Watching Scotty Grow” about his son, Scotty.
False.
As noted above, Mac Davis wrote the song about his son, Scotty. Bobby has written songs about his
son, Danny, and there was brief talk about possibly changing the title to “Watching Danny Grow.”
Danny is shown on the reissued cover (below). As Bobby jokes when performing the song in concert,
“I’m glad he let me record it because I got a gold record for it. But Mac says that to this day, because
I recorded it, that Scotty thinks that I’m his father! Not true!”
“I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN THAT” - COMMON BOBBY GOLDSBORO MISCONCEPTION
Later Pressing