Jerry Butler, Just Because I Really Love You | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 172^nd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Just Because I Really Love You” by Jerry Butler.   

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 they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 172^nd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Just Because I Really Love You” performed by Jerry Butler.

“Just because I really love you / I let you treat me bad, let you make me sad.” Love will make you do crazy things or allow yourself to be mistreated.  That’s what Jerry Butler (1939 – ) asserts in his classic, “Just Because I Really Love You”. “Just Because I Really Love You” is the fifth track from his 1968 album, The Ice Man Cometh.  The Ice Man Cometh is Butler’s best charting album, peaking at no. 29 on the Billboard 200. Butler penned “Just Because…” alongside Kenneth Gamble, Mikki Farrow, and Thomas Randolph Bell.  Notably, it was produced by the iconic duo Gamble & Huff (Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff).  The instrumental arrangement and production are superb: articulated, biting horns, robust bass, sweet rhythm guitar, and glorious keys. As epic as the musical accompaniment is, the ‘star of the show’ is Jerry!

“Oh, little girl, I don’t think you mean / To hurt me the way you do,” Butler sings, adding, “So, I let you take a whole lot of liberties / A man in love should never do.” Word.  He questions his decision to give her free reign, singing, “Tell me, isn’t a beautiful illusion / Holding a man in the palm of your little hand?” Food for thought.  The lyrics are memorable throughout, brought to life masterfully by Butler.  He gives his all from a vocal perspective. There is no shortage of authenticity and personality from the legendary musician. His ad-libs towards the end of the song are among his best, showing just how much he loves this woman.  A non-single from The Ice Man Cometh, that doesn’t hold “Just Because I Really Love You” back from being the crème de la crème of the Jerry Butler catalog.

Jerry Butler // The Ice Man Cometh // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1968

Jerry Butler, Just Because I Really Love You: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 172 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]