Bobby Caldwell, What You Won’t Do For Love | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 113^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “What You Won’t Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 113^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “What You Won’t Do For Love”, performed by 🎙 Bobby Caldwell. 

“I guess you wonder where I’ve been / I searched to find a love within.” The keyword is L-O-V-E. The late, great 🎙 Bobby Caldwell does a fabulous job of singing about the universal four-letter word on his beloved song, 🎵 “What You Won’t Do For Love”. Caldwell continues singing, “I came back to let you know / Got a thing for you and I can’t let go.” Oh, the feeling is SOOO relatable, sigh. “What You Won’t Do For Love” is by far the most successful single of Caldwell’s career, peaking at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. He penned this beloved record from his 1978 album, also titled 💿 What You Won’t Do For Love, alongside 🎼 ✍ Alfons Fernando Kettner.

First and foremost, the biggest selling point of “What You Won’t Do For Love” is Bobby Caldwell. He sounds utterly amazing delivering commanding, nuanced lead vocals. Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, featuring the titular lyric:

“What you won’t do, do for love

You’ve tried everything, but you don’t give up

In my world, only you

Make me do for love what I would not do.”

WOO! That’s hits different, don’t it? Beyond awesome vocals, relatable songwriting, and a tuneful melody, the sound of “What You Won’t Do For Love” is DEFINITELY A BIG DEAL.  The horns sound utterly fantastic, while the strings add warmth and lushness.  The rhythm section cooks with the prominent bass line, chill electric piano, rhythm guitar, and of course, the drum groove, which is lit from the onset.  The sound of this record is idiomatic of blue-eyed soul and pop-soul.  Adding to the allure of 🎵 “What You Won’t Do For Love” is the fact that the record is in no rush, allowing the celestial instrumental to ride out well beyond the final note Caldwell sings.  This certified classic NEVER gets old.

🎙 Bobby Caldwell • 💿 What You Won’t Do for Love • 🏷 Big Deal • 🗓 1978

Bobby Caldwell, What You Won’t Do For Love: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 113 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Big Deal; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]