Larry E. Williams, Neil Diamond’s guitar technician, wrote “Let Your Love Flow” in the mid-1970s despite not being a professional songwriter. Diamond declined to record it but arranged for its publication, while the song’s optimistic, country-tinged message offered an appealing contrast to the era’s political and economic troubles.

Gene Cotton released the first recording in 1975, but it failed to chart. The song later came to the attention of Florida-born brothers David and Howard Bellamy, experienced musicians raised on country music who had performed in gospel, soul and country settings, toured Southern clubs, and worked on studio sessions and local advertising jingles.