Song of the Day 6/17: Boz Scaggs, “We Were Always Sweethearts”

This one’s for El Somnambulo, the biggest Boz Scaggs fan I know — and not just of the “Silk Degrees” tunes that remain in classic-rock rotation today.

This song led off 1971’s “Moments,” Scaggs’ second solo album after leaving the Steve Miller Band, but it was his first-ever single. You’d think its Latin rhythm and Stax-inspired horns and organ would have made it at least a minor hit, but it only reached No. 61 on the Hot 100.

The song helped Scaggs land a spot on the underbill of the Beach Boys’ 1971 Good Vibrations from Central Park TV broadcast. The tape quality dips a bit towards the end, but it’s still a treat to see how he sounded 50 years ago.