Yvonne Elliman gained recognition as a backing singer in the 1970s before landing the role of Mary Magdalene in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Her performance in the film adaptation earned her a Golden Globe nomination and a hit single with "I Don't Know How to Love Him." Elliman's debut album, titled after the hit single, was released in 1972. She later collaborated with Pete Townshend on her second album, Food of Love, and joined Eric Clapton's band for five years after singing backup on "I Shot the Sheriff."
In 1975, Elliman signed with RSO Records and released Rising Sun, produced by Steve Cropper. Her breakthrough came with the 1976 album Love Me, featuring the title track written by Barry and Robin Gibb. This success led to her prominent role on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, with The Bee Gees penning several songs for her, including the chart-topping "If I Can't Have You." Elliman continued to release music intermittently, with a return in 2004 for the Simple Needs EP and ongoing performances through the 2010s.
