Don't Say It's Love

Last updated
"Don't Say It's Love"
Johnny Hates Jazz Don't Say It's Love 1988 single cover.jpg
Single by Johnny Hates Jazz
from the album Turn Back the Clock
B-side "Living in the Past"
Released27 June 1988 [1]
Length3:41
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Clark Datchler
Producer(s)
  • Calvin Hayes
  • Mike Nocito
Johnny Hates Jazz singles chronology
"Heart of Gold"
(1988)
"Don't Say It's Love"
(1988)
"Turn the Tide"
(1989)

"Don't Say It's Love" is a song by British band Johnny Hates Jazz, released in 1988 as the sixth and final single from their debut studio album Turn Back the Clock . It was written by Clark Datchler and produced by Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito. [2] "Don't Say It's Love" reached No. 48 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks. [3] The song did not achieve commercial success in Europe, but reached No. 22 on the European Airplay Top 50 chart. [4]

Contents

Release

For its release as a single, a new mix of "Don't Say It's Love" was created by Bob Kraushaar. Lead vocalist and writer Clark Datchler recalled to Will Harris in 2021, "We were never happy with the mix we had on the album. Bob Kraushaar did a fantastic mix of it." Band member Calvin Hayes had originally wanted the song to be released as the follow-up to the band's US debut single "Shattered Dreams" rather than "I Don't Want to Be a Hero". [5]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Dominic Sena. [6]

Critical reception

On its release, Music & Media described "Don't Say It's Love" as a "melodic pop thrill with a serious groove" and one that is "definitely bound for the top of the charts". [7] Johnny Dee of Record Mirror wrote, "Three nice blokes, in nice suits that make nice records. This is a nice record and I mean that in the nicest possible way!" [8] In a review of Turn Back the Clock, Ernie Long of The Morning Call considered the song, along with the title track, to "help make this accomplished debut effort varied and at times captivating". [9] Billy Warden of The Daily Press described it as "glossy funk in the not-so-grand style of ABC". [10] In a retrospective review, Paul Sinclair of Super Deluxe Edition considered the song to be "slick pop". [11]

Formats

7" single
  1. "Don't Say It's Love" (7" Remix) - 3:43
  2. "Living in the Past" - 3:37
12" single
  1. "Don't Say It's Love" (12" Extended Mix) - 6:10
  2. "Living in the Past" - 3:37
  3. "Don't Say It's Love" (7" Remix) - 3:43
CD single
  1. "Don't Say It's Love" (7" Remix) - 3:43
  2. "Living in the Past" - 3:34
  3. "Don't Say It's Love" (12" Extended Mix) - 6:09
  4. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (12" Mix) - 6:33

Personnel

Johnny Hates Jazz

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart [3] 48

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Hates Jazz</span> British band

Johnny Hates Jazz are a British band, currently consisting of Clark Datchler and Mike Nocito. In April 1987, they achieved international success with their first hit single "Shattered Dreams."

<i>Turn Back the Clock</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz

Turn Back the Clock is the debut studio album by English band Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Virgin Records on 11 January 1988 in United Kingdom and on 29 March 1988 in the United States. The album, whose most famous single was "Shattered Dreams", peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and at number 56 on the US Billboard 200. Kim Wilde sings backing vocals on the title track, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 in New Zealand. The track "Foolish Heart" was originally released as a single in 1986 as "Me and My Foolish Heart".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chains of Love (Erasure song)</span> 1988 single by Erasure

"Chains of Love" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in May 1988 as their ninth single overall. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, and released by Mute Records as the second single from Erasure's third studio album, The Innocents (1988). In the United States, Sire Records released it as the first single. The chorus is memorable for Bell's use of falsetto. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its single release. The accompanying music video featured Clarke and Bell performing the song while being hoisted through the air by thick, metal chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shattered Dreams</span> 1987 single by Johnny Hates Jazz

"Shattered Dreams" is a song by English musical group Johnny Hates Jazz from their debut studio album, Turn Back the Clock (1988). Written by the band's lead singer Clark Datchler, the song was released in March 1987 as the album's lead single. "Shattered Dreams" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 92 and gained popularity through extensive radio play and video rotation on MTV, eventually peaking at number five in May 1987 and spending three weeks at that position. It also reached the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and West Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark Datchler</span> Musical artist

Clark Wynford Datchler is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He first rose to fame in 1987 as the lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the band Johnny Hates Jazz.

<i>The Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz</i> 1993 greatest hits album by Johnny Hates Jazz

The Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz is Johnny Hates Jazz’s first of two compilation albums. Released in May 1993, the majority of the album concentrates on songs from the band’s debut album, although the b-sides from several of the major singles on that album, the non-album single "Turn the Tide," and a few songs from the band’s lesser known second album Tall Stories, are included on the compilation as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Want to Be a Hero</span> 1987 single by Johnny Hates Jazz

"I Don't Want to Be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album Turn Back the Clock.

<i>Tall Stories</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz

Tall Stories is the second studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Virgin in 1991. The follow-up to 1988's Turn Back the Clock, Tall Stories features producer and songwriter Phil Thornalley as lead singer, following the departure of the band's frontman Clark Datchler. On the eve of the album's release, Thornalley and keyboardist Calvin Hayes were involved in a serious car crash that depleted the band's momentum. The album failed to chart, and the band subsequently folded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Magic (song)</span> 1987 single by Belouis Some

"Animal Magic" is a song by English new wave musician Belouis Some, from his 1987 self-titled second album. Released as the second single from the album, the song reached No. 6 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. A popular club remix appeared on the U.S. 12" release on Capitol Records, with remix and additional production by Justin Strauss and Murray Elias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Changes (Everything)</span> 1987 single by Climie Fisher

"Love Changes (Everything)" is a 1987 single by British pop duo Climie Fisher that gained international success after a re-release in 1988. The song was later covered and released by house music duo Musikk. Songwriters Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan and Rob Fisher received the 1988 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Lucky (Jermaine Stewart song)</span> 1988 single by Jermaine Stewart

"Get Lucky" is a song by American singer Jermaine Stewart, released in 1988 as the second single from his third studio album Say It Again. It was written by Errol Brown and Simon Climie, and produced by Aaron Zigman and Jerry Knight. For its release as a single, "Get Lucky" was given a remix by Phil Harding. The song was a commercial success, particularly in Europe, but failed to chart in the United States, although it did reach No. 12 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It reached No. 13 in the UK, and No. 6 in both Switzerland and Germany.

<i>Raindance</i> (Clark Datchler album) 1990 studio album by Clark Datchler

Raindance is the debut solo album from English singer and musician Clark Datchler. It was released in 1990 by Virgin Records. Datchler had left Johnny Hates Jazz in 1988 to continue his solo career. He moved to Amsterdam and began work on his debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn the Tide (Johnny Hates Jazz song)</span> 1989 single by Johnny Hates Jazz

"Turn the Tide" is a song by the British pop band Johnny Hates Jazz, released as a non-album single in 1989. It was written by Phil Thornalley, Scott Cutler and Chris Murrell, and produced by Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito.

<i>Swamp</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Phil Thornalley

Swamp is the debut and only solo studio album from English songwriter-producer Phil Thornalley, released in 1988 by MCA.

"Irresistible" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley. It was released three times as a single; the first being in 1985 as a non-album single under his band's name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel In 1986, a remixed version of the song was released by Harley as a solo single in the UK, and in 1992, he re-released this version as a single in Europe from his solo album Yes You Can. "Irresistible" was written by Harley and produced by English producer Mickie Most.

Magnetized is the third studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz released on May 24, 2013. This album was the band's first album in 22 years, after Tall Stories and the departure of members Calvin Hayes and Phil Thornalley, and the return of founding vocalist Clark Datchler. The album, was followed by the release of the same-titled lead single, along with a corresponding music video. The album peaked at #102 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Back the Clock (song)</span> 1987 single by Johnny Hates Jazz

"Turn Back the Clock" is a song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It is the title track of their debut album and was the third single release from the LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown of Thorns (song)</span> 1990 single by Clark Datchler

"Crown of Thorns" is a song by English singer-songwriter Clark Datchler, which was released in 1990 as the lead single from his debut solo studio album Raindance. The song was written by Datchler, and produced by Datchler and Humberto Gatica. "Crown of Thorns" peaked at No. 100 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me and My Foolish Heart</span> 1986 song by Johnny Hates Jazz

"Me and My Foolish Heart" is the debut single by English band Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Rak in 1986. It was written by Phil Thornalley, Calvin Hayes, Iain MacDonald and Mike Nocito, and was produced by Hayes and Nocito. The song was included on the band's 1988 debut album Turn Back the Clock as "Foolish Heart".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of Gold (Johnny Hates Jazz song)</span> 1987 song by Johnny Hates Jazz

"Heart of Gold" is a song by English band Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Virgin in 1988 as the fourth single from their debut studio album Turn Back the Clock (1987). The song was written by Clark Datchler and produced by Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito. It reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.

References

  1. Smith, Robin (25 June 1988). "News: You don't say". Record Mirror . p. 6. ISSN   0144-5804.
  2. Michael Sutton. "Turn Back the Clock - Johnny Hates Jazz | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  3. 1 2 "JOHNNY HATES JAZZ | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  4. "European Airplay Top 50". Music & Media. 6 August 1988.
  5. Harris, Will (13 March 2021). "Johnny Hates Jazz, Turn Back the Clock — An Oral History (Part 3)". willharris.substack.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  6. Harris, Will (12 March 2021). "Johnny Hates Jazz, Turn Back the Clock — An Oral History (Part 2)". willharris.substack.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  7. "Previews: Singles". Music & Media . 16 July 1988.
  8. Dee, Johnny (2 July 1988). "45". Record Mirror . p. 38. ISSN   0144-5804.
  9. Long, Ernie (16 April 1988). "Records". The Morning Call.
  10. Warden, Billy (25 April 1988). "Johnny Hates Jazz and the Christians are storming the shores". The Daily Press.
  11. "Review / Johnny Hates Jazz: Turn Back The Clock 30th anniversary reissue". superdeluxeedition. Retrieved 2019-06-09.