A Million Love Songs

Last updated

"A Million Love Songs"
Take-That-A-Million-Love-Songs.jpg
Single by Take That
from the album Take That & Party
Released28 September 1992 (1992-09-28) [1]
Genre Pop
Length3:52
Label Sony Music
Songwriter(s) Gary Barlow
Producer(s)
Take That singles chronology
"I Found Heaven"
(1992)		"A Million Love Songs"
(1992)		"Could It Be Magic"
(1992)
Music video
"A Million Love Songs" on YouTube

"A Million Love Songs" is a song by English boy band Take That that appeared on their debut studio album, Take That & Party (1992). The song was written by lead vocalist Gary Barlow. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 September 1992 by Sony Music and peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart that October. It also reached number 50 in the Netherlands.

Contents

The song was one of three Take That songs nominated at the Brit Awards in 1993 for British Single but lost to their version of "Could It Be Magic". [2]

Song information

Written by lead vocalist Gary Barlow at the age of 15, [3] it was released as the sixth single from the band's debut studio album, Take That & Party , peaking at number seven in the UK Singles Chart. The two primary instruments are piano, played by Barlow, with a saxophone in the bridges originally scored, performed and recorded by Snake Davis. Take That's longtime saxophonist and music director, Mike Stevens went on to perform these sax parts live, many of them using the extended saxophone part written by Davis, at the end of the song. In January 1993, the song entered the Dutch Top 100 and peaked at number 50. The song was released for airplay in the United States in September 1993, but it failed to chart.

The song was performed in the final of The X Factor 's third series in 2006 by eventual winner Leona Lewis, who was joined on stage halfway through the song by all four members of Take That. It was also performed in the second series of The X Factor by eventual winner Shayne Ward and by JLS on the fifth series of X Factor and in sixth series by Lloyd Daniels. Ward's version was released as a B-side to his single "No Promises". The song was also covered by Alexander O'Neal on his 2008 album, Alex Loves... . On the ninth series of The X Factor, the song was performed by eventual winner James Arthur at the bootcamp, playing an uptempo rendition on acoustic guitar.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote "the boys drip with toothy sincerity. Fluttering harp fills are a bit too much for weak stomachs, while the sax lines give the song a '50s retro pop tone that makes you think of sockhops and make-out point. Too bad it's not prom season." [4] British magazine Music Week commented, "Take That change tack with the ballad A Million Love Songs, all Philadelphia creamy harmonies and poignant phrasing, that's bound to cause another stampede among the teenies. A nagging sax that is given free reign[ sic ] to roam is a minor annoyance, but that won't stop this from renewing the group's acquaintance with the Top 20." [5] Simon Williams from NME called it "weepsome", stating the song is "impeccably manufactured", and "one of the few times Take That sound remotely genuine". [6] A reviewer from Staffordshire Sentinel described it as "swooning". [7]

Music video

The music video for the song is shot in black and white, and makes use of the "watercolour" video editing effect which effectively blurs the image. The video is simple and shows the band performing the song with Barlow at the piano. Two versions of the video exist; one has the watercolour effect fading in and out and the other features a hand-drawn cartoon storyline with the members of the band trying to woo an emperor's daughter. [8]

Track listings

  1. "A Million Love Songs" (7-inch edit) – 3:53
  2. "Still Can't Get Over You" – 4:10
  3. "How Can It Be" – 4:57
  4. "Don't Take Your Love" – 4:04
  1. "A Million Love Songs" (7-inch edit)
  2. "A Million Love Songs" (Lovers mix)
  1. "A Million Love Songs" (live version)
  2. "Satisfied" (live version)
  3. "Take That Medley" (live version)
  4. "Why Can't I Wake Up with You" (radio edit)
  5. "A Million Love Songs" (Lovers mix)

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Gold400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect (Fairground Attraction song)</span> 1988 single by Fairground Attraction

"Perfect" is the debut single by the English folk and soft rock band Fairground Attraction, written by Mark E. Nevin. Released on 21 March 1988 by RCA, the single reached number one in the United Kingdom on 8 May 1988, where it stayed for one week. It also reached number one in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa. In the United States, the song peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Perfect" won the award for British Single of the Year at the Brit Awards 1989 and was nominated for the Ivor Novello 'Best Song Musically and Lyrically' award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Love (East 17 song)</span> 1992 single by East 17

"House of Love" is a song by British boy band East 17, released in August 1992 by London Records as their debut single from their first studio album, Walthamstow (1993). The song was written by band member Tony Mortimer with its producer, Robin Goodfellow, becoming a number-one hit in Finland, Israel, and Sweden. It was also a top-40 hit in several other countries between 1992 and 1994. In the United Kingdom, "House of Love" peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Two different music videos were produced to promote the single. Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 75 in their list of "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush song)</span> 1984 single by Jennifer Rush

"The Power of Love" is a pop song co-written and originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Jennifer Rush in 1984. It was released in December 1984 by CBS Records as the fifth single from her debut album, Jennifer Rush (1984), and has since been covered by Air Supply, Laura Branigan, and Celine Dion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Alive (Love and Rockets song)</span> 1989 single by Love and Rockets

"So Alive" is a song by British alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1989 as the second single from their self-titled fourth album. The song reached No. 1 in Canada and charted within the top 30 in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for five weeks and was ranked No. 1 on that listing's year-end chart for 1989. The song's music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and produced by Pamela James.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driven by You</span> 1991 single by Brian May

"Driven by You" is a song by Queen lead guitarist Brian May from his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as the lead single on November 25, 1991, a day after the death of May's Queen bandmate Freddie Mercury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pray (Take That song)</span> 1993 single by Take That

"Pray" is a song by English boy band Take That. Written by band member Gary Barlow, the ballad was released on 5 July 1993 by RCA and BMG as the second single from the band's second studio album, Everything Changes (1993). It is the first of twelve singles by the band to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart, staying at number one for four weeks, and starting a streak of four consecutive number-one singles. The song has received a Gold sales status certification and sold over 438,000 copies in the UK, won British Single of the Year and British Video of the Year at the 1994 Brit Awards, and was the finale of Take That's Beautiful World Tour 2007. The music video for "Pray" was directed by Gregg Masuak and filmed in Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Relight My Fire</span> 1979 single by Dan Hartman

"Relight My Fire" is a disco song written and released by American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer Dan Hartman as the title track from his 1979 album of the same name. It was also performed by Costa Anadiotis' band Café Society in 1984 and British boy band Take That in 1993, five months before Hartman died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Won't Wait</span> 1997 single by Gary Barlow

"Love Won't Wait" is a song by English singer Gary Barlow from his debut studio album, Open Road (1997). It was released as the second single from the album on 9 April 1997 by BMG and RCA Records. The song was written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and was an unreleased demo from her Bedtime Stories (1994) studio sessions. Barlow came by the demo in 1997, while looking to record more songs for Open Road. He changed the lyrics to represent a male point of view rather than Madonna's, and recorded the track with Stephen Lipson as producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Help Me Girl</span> 1995 single by Joe Diffie

"So Help Me Girl" is a song written by Howard Perdew and Andy Spooner and recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie. It was released in January 1995 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Third Rock from the Sun (1994). The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, where it debuted at number 59 for the week of February 4, 1995, and number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Can't I Wake Up with You</span> 1993 single by Take That

"Why Can't I Wake Up with You" is a song by English boy band Take That. Written by band member Gary Barlow, the song was released on 8 February 1993 by RCA and BMG as the lead single from their second album, Everything Changes (1993). The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number seven in Ireland

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babe (Take That song)</span> 1993 single by Take That

"Babe" is a song by English boy band Take That, released in December 1993 by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from the band's second album, Everything Changes (1993). Written by bandmember Gary Barlow, it features Mark Owen on lead vocals. Production was led by David Clayton, who later spent 10 years as keyboard player and backing vocalist with Simply Red. Accompanied by a music video directed by Gregg Masuak, the song was a Number One hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything Changes (Take That song)</span> 1994 single by Take That

"Everything Changes", sometimes "Everything Changes But You", is a song by English boy band Take That. Released as the fifth single from the band's second studio album, Everything Changes (1993), and written by Gary Barlow and producers Michael Ward, Eliot Kennedy and Cary Bayliss, the song features Robbie Williams on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Ain't Here Anymore</span> 1994 single by Take That

"Love Ain't Here Anymore" is a song by English boy band Take That. Released on 27 June 1994 by RCA and BMG, it was the sixth and final single taken from the band's second studio album, Everything Changes (1993). The song peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart, ending their string of consecutive number-one singles. It failed to overtake Wet Wet Wet's cover of "Love Is All Around" at number one, and American R&B group, All-4-One, who reached number two with "I Swear". "Love Ain't Here Anymore" was re-recorded for release in the United States and included on their first Greatest Hits compilation in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sure (Take That song)</span> 1994 single by Take That

"Sure" is a single by English boy band Take That, released as the lead single from their third studio album, Nobody Else (1995). It was written by Take That's lead singer Gary Barlow and fellow band members Robbie Williams and Mark Owen. Released on 3 October 1994 by RCA and BMG, the song became the band's fifth number one on the UK Singles Chart and has received a silver disc certification in the UK for selling over 200,000 copies. Q Magazine ranked "Sure" at number 86 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paying the Price of Love</span> 1993 single by Bee Gees

"Paying the Price of Love" is the first single from the Bee Gees' 20th studio album, Size Isn't Everything (1993). The song was released in August 1993 by Polydor, reaching the top-10 in Belgium and Portugal, and the top-40 in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 74, and peaked within the top-30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The promotional video for the song, directed by Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom, shows the brothers performing the song as holograms on a futuristic version of MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constant Craving</span> 1992 single by k.d. lang

"Constant Craving" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang and Ben Mink, performed by lang and included on her second solo album, Ingénue (1992). The song was released in the United Kingdom in April 1992 and won lang a Grammy Award in the category for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1993, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video. The accompanying music video was directed by Mark Romanek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreams (The Cranberries song)</span> 1992 single by the Cranberries

"Dreams" is the debut single of Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was originally released in September 1992 by Island Records and later appeared on the band's debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). The song reached the top 50 of the US Hot 100 and the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart in early 1994. A 1990 demo version was released in Ireland only in the summer of that year under their initial band name, the Cranberry Saw Us. At the end of the song, the backing vocals are sung by Mike Mahoney, ex-boyfriend of Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shake Your Head</span> 1983 song by Was (Not Was)

"Shake Your Head" is a song by American pop rock group Was. It was originally released in 1983 by Geffen on their second album, Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (1983). In 1992, it was re-recorded and remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, and features actress Kim Basinger alongside a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. It appears on the group's third compilation album, Hello Dad... I'm in Jail (1992), and was released as a single in June 1992 by Fontana.

"Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by English musician Elton John in 1977 and first released in the UK in 1979 as the first single from the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. It was written by LeRoy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell, who had already produced a series of hits for the Spinners, the Delfonics and the Stylistics. While the song "Mama Can't Buy You Love" from the EP charted in 1979, this song and the other track on the three-track 12-inch vinyl disc, "Three Way Love Affair", were only minor footnotes at the time. The song originally peaked at number 42 on the UK Single Charts in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Shines (song)</span> 1992 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Love Shines" is a song by British-American band Fleetwood Mac. The song was released as a single in 1992 to support the compilation album 25 Years – The Chain. This was the first single released after the departure of vocalist Stevie Nicks and guitarist Rick Vito. The song was released as a single in Europe, but in North America, "Paper Doll" was released instead.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 26 September 1992. p. 25. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "History". Brits.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  3. ↑ http://www.smoothradio.com The Story of... A Million Love Songs by Take That
  4. ↑ Flick, Larry (16 October 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 61. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 3 October 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Williams, Simon. "TAKE THAT – Greatest Hits". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Staffordshire Sentinel . 29 July 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Take That - A Million Love Songs (Official Music Video)". 25 October 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2021– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ A Million Love Songs (UK & European CD EP disc notes). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. 74321116002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ A Million Love Songs (UK & European 7-inch EP sleeve). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. 74321116307.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ A Million Love Songs (UK & European 7-inch single sleeve). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. 74321116007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ A Million Love Songs (UK cassette single sleeve). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. 74321116004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ A Million Love Songs (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. BVDP-85.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ A Million Love Songs (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Take That. RCA Records. 1992. BVCP-1022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 45. 7 November 1992. p. 47. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "European Adult Contemporary Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 4. 21 January 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  17. ↑ November 3, 1992
  18. ↑ "Take That – A Million Love Songs". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Take That – A Million Love Songs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week . 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Take That – A Million Love Songs". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 6 December 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.