Love Don't Live Here Anymore

"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" is a song written by Miles Gregory and originally recorded by Rose Royce. It was produced by former Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield for the Whitfield Records. Lead vocals were sung by Gwen Dickey and the song was released as the second single from their third studio album Rose Royce III: Strikes Again! The song was developed as a result of producer Whitfield's interest to work with Paul Buckmaster, the British arranger and composer. Together they asked songwriter Miles Gregory to write a song for them. Gregory was undergoing medications for his drug overuse problem, and this situation and his deteriorating physical health became the inspiration behind the song. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" incorporated the use of the Electronic LinnDrum machine, and was one of the first songs to effectively use the sound reverbs of the instrument. The song was mainly recorded at music contractor Gene Bianco's house, where Dickey was present during the recording.

After its release, the song was critically appreciated, but was only moderately successful commercially. It reached a peak of 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and five on the Hot Black Singles chart. Its highest position was in the United Kingdom, where it reached two. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" has been covered by a number of artists, including Morrissey – Mullen, Ms. Dynamite, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, City and Colour and most notably by Madonna. Her version was included in her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984), and it was the idea of Michael Ostin, the head of the A&R department of Warner Bros. Records, that Madonna record a cover version of the song to include in the album. It was further included in her 1995 ballad compilation album Something to Remember, in a remixed form.

The original and the remixed version of the Madonna song differs in the usage of more classical instruments in the latter. The 1995 version also received a number of club remix treatments. Critics were not impressed with the version present in Like a Virgin, calling it "awful", while they warmed to the version present in Something to Remember. However, it was a commercial disappointment, reaching a peak of only 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was promoted by a music video shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, which portrayed Madonna in an empty suite of an abandoned hotel, and was shot in a single frame.

Read more about Love Don't Live Here Anymore:  Background and Music, Reception, Track Listing, Credits and Personnel, Charts, Cover Versions, Madonna Version

Famous quotes containing the words love and/or live:

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