The Love I Lost

"The Love I Lost"
The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.jpg
Single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
from the album Black & Blue
A-side"The Love I Lost" (Part 1)
B-side"The Love I Lost" (Part 2)
ReleasedSeptember 1973
Recorded1973
GenreSoul, disco
Length3:35 (single version)
6:24 (full-length version)
LabelPhiladelphia International
Songwriter(s)Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Producer(s)Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes singles chronology
"Yesterday I Had the Blues"
(1973)
"The Love I Lost"
(1973)
"Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)"
(1974)
Official audio
"The Love I Lost" on YouTube

"The Love I Lost" is a song by American R&B group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed into a disco song and features drummer Earl Young. It was released from the Black & Blue album in late 1973 and sold more than a million copies. In the 21st century, the track has been the subject of extended re-edits by notable remixers Tom Moulton and Dimitri From Paris.

Background

"The Love I Lost" is considered an early example of disco. The track was one of the transitional songs marking the emergence of disco from traditional rhythm and blues as a distinctive style of music.

Charts

it peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It also reached number 21 in the United Kingdom in early 1974.

Chart (1973–1974) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 39
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 31
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 97
UK Singles (OCC) 21
US Billboard Hot 100 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 48
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

West End featuring Sybil version

"The Love I Lost"
The Love I Lost.jpg
Single by West End featuring Sybil
from the album Doin' It Now! and Good 'N' Ready
ReleasedJanuary 4, 1993 (1993-01-04)
Length3:25
LabelPWL International
Songwriter(s)Gamble and Huff
Producer(s)
Sybil singles chronology
"You're the Love of My Life"
(1993)
"The Love I Lost"
(1993)
"When I'm Good and Ready"
(1993)
Music video
"The Love I Lost" on YouTube

On January 4, 1993, American R&B and pop singer-songwriter Sybil released a cover of "The Love I Lost" with West End. It was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman. This version reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number three in the United Kingdom. The cover also reached number nine in Ireland. Additionally, "The Love I Lost" was also a Top 20 hit in Finland and the Netherlands. And it reached number nine on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1993.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Justin Kantor described the song as a "vibrant, disco-styled cover" and noted further that Sybil's "high-energy delivery is soulful, spirited, and commanding". Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "While urban-ites continue to chew on the sweet "You're The Love Of My Life", popsters are served a sparkling pop/NRG rendition of a Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic. This timeless tune gains its current top 40 muscle by Sybil's lively and soulful vocal, and the distinct hand of producers Stock & Waterman. A top-five U.K. smash that should have little trouble making the grade here." The Gavin Report complimented the singer's "sweet, strong vocals". Music writer James Masterton said in his weekly UK chart commentary, "A fairly faithful cover of the Harold Melvin original, the classic song, coupled with the powerful voice of Sybil makes for one of those soul covers which if anything adds to the original. Notice as well the production credits on the back of such a trendy record - Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, showing that there is life after Kylie and Jason." Alan Jones from Music Week stated that the 1974 hit "makes an easy transition from Philly soul to commercial garage", adding that "its uplifting, hustling. instrumental track is strangely at odds with the downbeat lyrics, but it's tight, commercial, bright and breezy. A monster in the clubs, and likely to become an equally large pop hit." Another editor, Andy Beevers called it a "very solid garage reworking". James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update wrote that it is "superb".

Track listing

  • CD single, UK (1993)
  1. "The Love I Lost" (7-inch version) – 3:27
  2. "The Love I Lost" (12-inch club mix) – 5:23
  3. "The Love I Lost" (Unrequited Mix) – 6:37
  4. "Sybil-It" – 3:42

Charts


This page was last updated at 2022-03-04 01:30 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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