About the Song
Before the mirror balls and dance-floor anthems of the disco era defined her legacy, Loleatta Holloway was already a force to be reckoned with—a woman whose voice could shake the rafters and break your heart all in the same breath. One of the most powerful examples of that early fire is “Hit and Run,” a scorching soul-funk track released in 1976 that put Holloway’s emotional intensity and fearless vocal style front and center.
Taken from her Loleatta album on Gold Mind Records, “Hit and Run” is a masterclass in musical confrontation. It tells the story of a woman who’s been misled and mistreated by a smooth-talking lover—someone who swooped in, stirred her heart, then disappeared without a trace. But this isn’t a tearful ballad of heartbreak—it’s a soulful reckoning. Holloway doesn’t plead for sympathy. She demands accountability.
From the very first bars, you know this song means business. Backed by the tight, funky instrumentation of The Salsoul Orchestra, the track swaggers with horns, bass, and rhythm guitars that echo the emotional tension in Holloway’s voice. And then she comes in—fiery, fearless, and full of conviction:
“Now I lay me down to sleep, hoping I might find you in my dreams…”
—but by the chorus, she’s no longer dreaming. She’s calling him out:
“You’re just a hit and run lover!”
What makes “Hit and Run” such a standout is its balance between musical groove and lyrical grit. It’s a danceable track, yes, but there’s a deep undercurrent of empowerment—especially rare and refreshing for its time. In an era when many female singers were cast as passive victims of love, Holloway flipped the script. She owned her pain, and in doing so, reclaimed her power.
For fans of deep soul, early disco, and gospel-rooted vocals that burn with authenticity, “Hit and Run” is essential listening. It’s a song that doesn’t whisper or ask—it shouts, it stands its ground, and it sings with the kind of truth that only Loleatta Holloway could deliver. Bold, brilliant, and way ahead of its time, it remains one of her fiercest and most unforgettable recordings.