Turn On Your Love Light

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"Turn On Your Love Light" is a song originally written by Dreadric Malone and Joseph Scott. The song was first recorded by blues singer Bobby Bland in 1961, which featured guitarist Wayne Bennett. It earned Bland a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999, and is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.^[1]

In 1964 Van Morrison's Them band often performed this song live at the Maritime Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was a fan's recording of Them performing this song that brought Them to the attention of Dick Rowe and led to a recording contract with Decca Records. It was one of the tracks including on their 1966 album, Them Again.

In 1966, "Turn On Your Love Light" became a staple for the Grateful Dead as part of their live performances; it became one of the Dead Heads' favorite songs sung by Ron McKernan. Historians believe the official version is the 15-minute rendition on their seminal 1969 double live album Live/Dead. It was last performed by the Grateful Dead at the London Lyceum during the Europe '72 tour.

In 1966, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels had a hit with this song under the title "Let Your Lovelight Shine."

Other artists who have recorded the song include Tom Constanten, Ratdog, Toots Hibbert, Langhorne Slim, and The Blues Brothers.