Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City

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"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh, and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for his Dreamer album on the ABC Dunhill label.

Contents

Background

While it is ostensibly a love song, some critics and fans have also heard it as a lament on urban poverty and hopelessness, as well as a lament upon the struggle to achieve one's goals in life in the absence of external support. "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" remains a cult favorite, and is considered a classic. [1]

Chart performance

In the US, Bland scored a top ten hit on the Hot Soul Singles chart, where it peaked at number 9, as well as peaking at number 91 on the Hot 100. [2]

Cover versions and samples

"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City"
WSAin'tNoLoveSingle.jpg
Single by Whitesnake
from the album Snakebite and Live...in the Heart of the City
B-side "Bloody Mary"
"Take Me With You" (live)
ReleasedJune 1978
November 1980 (live) [3]
RecordedApril 1978
23 November 1978 (live)
Genre Hard rock, blues rock
Length5:07
8:18 (live)
Label United Artists, Geffen, EMI (studio)
Liberty, Sunburst (live)
Songwriter(s) Michael Price
Dan Walsh
Producer(s) Martin Birch(both versions)
Whitesnake singles chronology
"Ready an' Willing"
(1980)
"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City"
(1978)
"Don't Break My Heart Again"
(1981)
Music video
"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" on YouTube

It is known through several cover versions and samples:

Other notable cover versions have been recorded by:

Charts

1980-1981 chart performance for "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City"
Chart (1980)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [7] 51
Chart (1981)Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 [8] 9
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] 109

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References

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  3. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 894. ISBN   9780862415419.
  4. Hamilton, Andrew (1998-06-02). "Something to Talk About - Willie Clayton : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
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  6. "The Lincoln Lawyer and 2019 Netflix film, Shaft (Soundtrack)". Blogs.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
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  8. 1 2 "US Hot 100 Bubbling Under Chart History". Top40 Weekly. Retrieved 2 August 2024.