Caravan of Love

For the album, see Caravan of Love (album). For the film, see Karavan Lyubvi.

"Caravan of Love"
Single by Isley-Jasper-Isley
from the album Caravan of Love
B-side	"I Can't Get over Losin' You"
Released	1985 (1985)
Recorded	East Orange, New Jersey, 1985 (1985)
Genre	R&B, soul
Length	5:42
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley
Producer(s)	Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley

"Caravan of Love" is a 1985 song originally recorded by American R&B group Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of the Isley Brothers' 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s. A cover version by the British band the Housemartins became an international hit, reaching number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986.

Original Isley-Jasper-Isley version

After breaking away from the family group, the splinter group including Chris Jasper wrote and produced this single, which was Jasper's interpolation intending to reach audiences by presenting Christian beliefs in his music. The song became the trio's biggest hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 51 on the Billboard pop chart in 1985; ^[1] it would be their only prominent hit before they embarked on solo careers in 1988. The music video was filmed on-location in New York City.

Personnel

• Chris Jasper: Keyboards, lead vocals, piano, production
• Ernie Isley: Guitar, backing vocals, production
• Marvin Isley: Bass, backing vocals, production

Track listings

7" vinyl single

Side one

1. "Caravan of Love" – 4:15

Side two

1. "I Can't Get over Losin' You" – 4:05

12" vinyl single

Side one

1. "Caravan of Love" – 5:43

Side two

1. "I Can't Get over Losin' You" – 4:05

Chart performance

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 [2]	51
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks [2]	1
Chart (1986)	Peak position
Canada (RPM) [3]	74
Canada (RPM AC) [4]	24
Dutch Top 40 [5]	21
US Billboard Adult Contemporary [2]	16

The Housemartins version

"Caravan of Love"
Single by the Housemartins
B-side	"When I First Met Jesus"
Released	November 24, 1986 (1986-11-24)
Genre	A cappella
Length	3:40
Label	Go! Discs
Songwriter(s)	Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley
Producer(s)	John Williams
The Housemartins singles chronology
"Think for a Minute" (1986) "Caravan of Love" (1986) "Five Get Over Excited" (1987)

British indie band the Housemartins released "Caravan of Love" on November 24, 1986. ^[6] The a cappella song was a success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart on December 16, 1986 (only the second a cappella recording to do so, after "Only You" by the Flying Pickets in 1983), before being denied the Christmas number one single by a posthumous re-release of Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite". ^[7] The song was an international hit, reaching the top three in several countries, including topping the charts of Ireland and Sweden. It is included on the Housemartins' greatest hits compilation Now That's What I Call Quite Good .

Track listings

7-inch vinyl single

Side one

1. "Caravan of Love" – 3:40

Side two

1. "When I First Met Jesus" – 2:46

12-inch vinyl single

Side one

1. "Caravan of Love"
2. "We Shall Not Be Moved"

Side two

1. "When I First Met Jesus"
2. "So Much in Love"
3. "Heaven Help Us All (Sermonette)"

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Caravan of Love"

Chart (1986–1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8]	24
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [9]	7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [10]	5
Ireland (IRMA) [11]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [12]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [13]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [14]	2
Norway (VG-lista) [15]	2
Spain (AFYVE) [16]	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [17]	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [18]	2
UK Singles (OCC) [19]	1
West Germany (GfK) [20]	2

Year-end charts

1986 year-end chart performance for "Caravan of Love"

Chart (1986)	Position
UK Singles (OCC) [21]	19

1987 year-end chart performance for "Caravan of Love"

Chart (1987)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [22]	58
European Top 100 Singles (Music & Media) [23]	38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [24]	40
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [25]	24
New Zealand (RIANZ) [26]	13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [27]	19
West Germany (Media Control) [28]	16

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [29]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Pixie Lott version

In November 2014, British pop singer Pixie Lott released a charity version of the song as the lead single from her first hits collection, Platinum Pixie: Hits . The song charted at number 129 on the UK Singles Chart. ^[30]

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 279.
2. "Billboard charts at Allmusic" . Retrieved November 22, 2008.
3. "RPM Magazine - March 22, 1986 - Page 6" (PDF).
4. "RPM Magazine - March 1, 1986 - Page 12" (PDF).
5. "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 8, 1986". Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
6. "New Singles". Music Week . November 22, 1986. p. 45.
7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 469. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 142. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
9. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
10. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Housemartins". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Housemartins" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
13. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
14. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
15. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". VG-lista. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
16. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
17. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
18. "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
19. "Housemartins: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
21. "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1986". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
22. "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
23. "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 11. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
24. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
25. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". Dutch Charts Portal (in Dutch). Retrieved April 9, 2022.
26. "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart . Retrieved April 9, 2021.
27. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987". Swiss Chart Portals (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2022.
28. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1987" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved April 9, 2022.
29. "British single certifications – Housemartins – Caravan of Love". British Phonographic Industry.
30. "Chart Log UK" (TXT). Zobbel.de. Retrieved March 31, 2022.