About The Song
“Pure Love” is an upbeat country anthem by Ronnie Milsap, released in March 1974 as the lead single from his RCA Victor album of the same name. Written by Eddie Rabbitt, it became Milsap’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, holding the top spot for one week in June 1974 and charting for 14 weeks. The 2:21 track, with its infectious chorus—“Pure love, baby, it’s pure love / Milk and honey and Captain Crunch and you in the morning”—celebrates the joy of simple, heartfelt romance. Milsap’s soulful, blind-born tenor, blending country with R&B flair, delivers it with infectious energy, as Billboard praised: “Ronnie’s voice makes every note sparkle.” He told CMT in 2006, “Eddie’s song was a gift—it felt like my life with Joyce, pure and real.” The song’s crossover appeal landed it at No. 13 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, cementing Milsap’s rising star status.
Recorded in January 1974 at RCA Studio B in Nashville, the track was produced by Tom Collins and Jack D. Johnson, with uncredited Nashville A-Team players likely including Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano, Charlie McCoy on harmonica, and The Jordanaires on backing vocals, per Discogs. The lively arrangement—bright guitar, steady drums, and a touch of steel—captures the song’s playful spirit, as AllMusic notes: “It’s a burst of sunshine in country form.” The album Pure Love hit No. 8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The G-C-D chord progression and “hallelujah, I love to be with you” hook, per Chordify, made it a radio and jukebox hit. Spotify data shows its enduring popularity, often featured in 1970s country playlists.
Ronnie Milsap, born January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina, overcame blindness and poverty to become a country music titan, with 40 No. 1 country hits and six Grammys. Starting with R&B in the 1960s, he transitioned to country in 1973, blending genres with hits like “Smoky Mountain Rain.” Wikipedia details his 1990 Country Music Hall of Fame induction and influence on artists like Alabama. “Pure Love” was a live favorite, performed at his 1974 Grand Ole Opry debut and a 1975 Pop! Goes the Country appearance, with a YouTube clip showcasing his piano prowess. Covers include a 1974 version by Eddie Rabbitt and a 1998 take by The Oak Ridge Boys, per SecondHandSongs. Reddit fans on r/country call it “the happiest country song ever,” praising its feel-good vibe.
No major film or TV placements are noted, but the song thrives on streaming platforms, with Shazam users tagging it for its catchy melody. No controversies surround it—just Milsap’s genuine joy, as No Depression notes: “Ronnie’s optimism was contagious.” Milsap, still performing at 82, left a legacy of cross-genre warmth, and “Pure Love” remains a timeless ode to love’s simple pleasures, as fresh as morning coffee.
Video
Lyric
Pure love, baby, it’s pure love
Milk and honey and Captain Crunch and you in the morning
Pure love, baby, it’s pure love
Hallelujah, I love to be with you when the sun comes up shiningYou give me reason for livin’, you give me reason to be
You’re my sunrise in the morning, you’re every song that I sing
Pure love, you’re the reason my heart keeps on beating
Pure love, you’re the reason my life is completePure love, baby, it’s pure love
Milk and honey and Captain Crunch and you in the morning
Pure love, baby, it’s pure love
Hallelujah, I love to be with you when the sun comes up shiningWhen I’m out there on the road, and the nights get so long
I just think about you, baby, and I’m back where I belong
Pure love, you’re the reason my heart keeps on beating
Pure love, you’re the reason my life is completePure love, baby, it’s pure love
Milk and honey and Captain Crunch and you in the morning
Pure love, baby, it’s pure love
Hallelujah, I love to be with you when the sun comes up shining
yenhu