Although today’s BBC Radio 2 “Ultimate 80s Duet” list features Annie Lennox & Al Green’s spirited 1988 rendition of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”, the song’s true origin traces back to Jackie DeShannon—a pioneering force in ’60s pop and rock.
DeShannon began singing country tunes on local radio at just six, and by eleven, hosted her own show in Illinois. Her early recordings leaned rockabilly—she even released a Buddy Holly tribute titled “Buddy” in 1958 before relocating to Los Angeles in 1960.
DeShannon found acclaim as one of rock ’n’ roll’s first female singer-songwriters. She opened for The Beatles during their 1964 U.S. tour, co-wrote hits like “Dum Dum”, “When You Walk in the Room”, and “Come and Stay with Me”, and penned the Burt Bacharach cover “What the World Needs Now Is Love”.
In June 1969, at age 27, DeShannon co-wrote “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” with brother Randy Myers and Jimmy Holiday. It became her biggest U.S. hit, climbing to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and even topped the charts in South Africa.
More than just a catchy melody, the song echoed the idealism of the late ’60s—an era crying out for unity and hope.
Nearly twenty years later, the song was revitalized by Annie Lennox and Al Green for the Christmas-themed film Scrooged. Their duet climbed to #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. Today, it’s celebrated in BBC Radio 2’s “Ultimate 80s Duet” list—an acknowledgement of DeShannon’s timeless composition.
Jackie DeShannon’s impact echoes far beyond her own recordings:
• Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, hailed as a trailblazer for female songwriters .
• Writer of “Bette Davis Eyes”, earning the 1982 Grammy for Song of the Year .
• Her songs have been covered by legends: Brenda Lee, The Byrds, Kim Carnes, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, Ella Fitzgerald, and yes, Al Green and Annie Lennox .
From her teenage radio shows through an eclectic career spanning rockabilly, pop, folk, R&B, country, gospel, reggae, and jazz, Jackie has not only performed but created enduring music .
The inclusion of Lennox & Green’s duet on BBC Radio 2’s list is a testament to Jackie DeShannon’s songwriting brilliance. Her version captured 1969’s optimistic spirit; theirs brought it into the soulful warmth of the late ’80s—and now it’s being honored decades later.
Jackie’s life—from her beginnings as Sherry Lee on small-town radio to touring with The Beatles, penning pop standards, and earning industry-wide respect—epitomizes the power of heartfelt songwriting. Songs like “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” transcend generations, carried forward by voices like Lennox’s and Green’s, but forever rooted in Jackie’s heart and talent.
When we hear the upbeat duet on BBC Radio 2’s “Ultimate 80s Duet,” it’s easy to overlook the woman who first breathed life into it. Jackie DeShannon’s legacy isn’t just in her performance—it’s in the songwriting that continues to inspire decades later.
Her message? A little love never goes out of style.