ROCK MOMENT – Tesla ‘Love Song’
When Tesla set out to create The Great Radio Controversy in 1988, they aimed to build on the honest, hard-working rock identity they had established with Mechanical Resonance. The album’s title referenced the long-running debate over who truly invented radio—Nikola Tesla or Guglielmo Marconi. For the band, it symbolized creativity, truth, and the idea that real artistry rises above noise. Recorded between Bearsville Studios in New York and Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, the album balanced rugged rockers with heartfelt melodies, all grounded in the band’s no-nonsense approach to production.
‘Love Song’ grew naturally from that creative environment. Frank Hannon first crafted the song’s tender acoustic intro while experimenting during downtime. Jeff Keith immediately connected with the optimistic feel and began shaping lyrics around the idea that love develops gradually and has the power to mend emotional wounds. Among the many reflections he’s shared about the track throughout the years, Keith has summed up its message simply, saying that love is the most powerful thing in the world, and the song is about how it carries people through their hardest times.
Producer Steve Thompson encouraged the band to preserve the purity of Hannon’s acoustic work and allow the track to unfold patiently before bursting into its uplifting full-band section. The contrast made ‘Love Song’ feel bigger, more meaningful, and deeply authentic.
Upon the album’s release in 1989, The Great Radio Controversy steadily grew in popularity, driven by standout tracks like ‘Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)’ and ‘Hang Tough.’ But when ‘Love Song’ became a single in 1990, it pushed the album into multi-platinum territory. The live performance video filmed in Sacramento showed fans embracing the song’s message just as strongly as the band did.
Today, ‘Love Song’ remains the emotional heart of The Great Radio Controversy—a timeless reminder of Tesla’s sincerity and of the healing power Keith always believed love could bring.
