Love Me for a Reason

"Love Me for a Reason" is a song by American musician Johnny Bristol. It was recorded most famously by American family music group the Osmonds, and released in 1974. Twenty years later, Irish boy band Boyzone covered the song. Both versions were successful, reaching the top 10 of the charts in many countries.

"Love Me for a Reason"
Single by the Osmonds
from the album Love Me for a Reason
B-side	"Fever"
Released	August 31, 1974
Recorded	May 21, 1974
Genre	Pop
Length	4:02
Label	MGM
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Bristol Wade Brown, Jr. David Jones, Jr.
Producer(s)	Mike Curb
The Osmonds singles chronology
"I Can't Stop" (1974) "Love Me for a Reason" (1974) "Having a Party" (1975)

Original song and covers

The original version by Johnny Bristol, from his 1974 album Hang On In There Baby, was released as a single on MGM in 1974, but "Love Me for a Reason" quickly became associated with another MGM act, the Osmonds. It was their last top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reaching number 10; it peaked at number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In the UK Singles Chart it fared even better, spending three weeks at the top in August 1974.^[1] There was a lovers rock version of the song issued on Trojan records in 1976, credited to the Fabulous Five Inc (aka Fab Five Inc), that scored well in Jamaica and in the United Kingdom.

Track listing

• 7-inch single

1. "Love Me for a Reason" — 4:02
2. "Fever" — 3:15

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[2]	26
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3]	18
Canada Adult Contemporary[4]	5
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[5]	2
Netherlands (Dutch Singles Chart)[2]	19
UK Singles (OCC)[6]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	10
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[7]	2
US Cash Box Top 100[8]	8
West Germany (GfK)[9]	39

Year-end charts

Chart (1974)	Rank
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10]	134
UK[11]	12
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[12]	103

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Boyzone version

"Love Me for a Reason"
Single by Boyzone
from the album Said and Done
B-side	"Daydream Believer"
Released	November 28, 1994 (1994-11-28) (UK)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:39
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Wade Brown David Jones Jr. Johnny Bristol
Producer(s)	Ray Hedges
Boyzone singles chronology
"Working My Way Back to You" (1994) "Love Me for a Reason" (1994) "Key to My Life" (1995)

"Love Me for a Reason" was revived by Irish boy band Boyzone in 1994, released by Polydor Records as the second single from their debut album, Said and Done (1994). The song was released in Ireland in late 1994 and was issued in the United Kingdom several weeks later, on November 28, 1994. It also became their breakthrough single, reaching number one on the Irish Singles Chart, In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart in early December 1994 and peaked at number two in January 1995. In the UK, it was the 19th-best-selling single of 1994 and received a Platinum sales certification for over 600,000 copies sold in the UK.

Critical reception

Peter Fawthrop from AllMusic named the song a "peppy tribute" to the Osmonds.^[14] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian praised it as a "gem" from their debut album.^[15] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Be warned. This is just the first instalment of a cover battle over this song and could well be the start of a mini-Osmonds revival in the new year. [...] The timing of the release is impeccable. I'm a sucker for a good pop record, well made and this ranks with the best of all of them, the harmonies are impeccable and the song has a proven track record. Now strongly in the running for the coveted seasonal No.1 slot, Boyzone are off and running."^[16] Alan Jones from Music Week said that the band "enter the overcrowded teen heart-throbs staker, with a competent if uninspired rendition of the old Osmonds' hit, which should win them plenty of children's TV slots, and a place in the bottom half of the Top 40."^[17] Smash Hits gave it a top score of five out of five, writing, "It still sounds perfect to us!"^[18]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote "Love Me for a Reason". It features the band performing the song in a basement, wearing black and white costumes. They are surrounded by large candelabras, curtains and pub height tables covered with candles. In between, a girl dressed in white appears.^[19]

Track listings

• UK CD1 (jewel case)^[20]

1. "Love Me for a Reason" – 3:41
2. "Daydream Believer" – 3:06

• UK CD2 (limited-edition digipak with poster)^[21]

1. "Love Me for a Reason" – 3:41
2. "Daydream Believer" – 3:06

• Japanese CD single^[22]

1. "Love Me for a Reason" – 3:39
2. "Daydream Believer" – 3:07
3. "Working My Way Back to You" (original) – 3:41
4. "Father and Son" (original demo) – 2:40

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1996) Peak position Argentina (CAPIF)[23] 2 Australia (ARIA)[24] 48 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[26] 12 Denmark (IFPI)[27] 4 El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón)[28] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[29] 6 Europe (European AC Radio)[30] 8 Europe (European Hit Radio)[31] 12 France (SNEP)[32] 28 Germany (GfK)[33] 47 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[34] 35 Ireland (IRMA)[35] 1 Israel (IBA)[36] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[39] 16 Scotland (OCC)[40] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 28 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 15 UK Singles (OCC)[43] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position UK Singles (OCC)[44] 19 Chart (1995) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[45] 45 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[46] 42 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[47] 62 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[48] 34 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 49 UK Singles (OCC)[50] 87 Chart (1996) Position France (SNEP)[51] 96

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[52]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Ireland	1994	CD	Polydor
United Kingdom	November 28, 1994	7-inch vinyl CD cassette		[53]
Japan	June 10, 1995	CD		[54]