The Love I Lost

"The Love I Lost" is a song by American R&B group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Originally written as a ballad by Philly soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the song was transformed into a disco song and features drummer Earl Young. It was released from the Black & Blue album in late 1973. Selling more than a million copies, it peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It also reached number 21 in the United Kingdom in early 1974.

"The Love I Lost"
Single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
from the album Black & Blue
A-side"The Love I Lost" (Part 1)
B-side"The Love I Lost" (Part 2)
ReleasedSeptember 1973
Recorded1973
GenreSoul, disco
Length3:35 (single version)
6:24 (full-length version)
LabelPhiladelphia International
Songwriter(s)Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Producer(s)Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes singles chronology
"Yesterday I Had the Blues"
(1973)		 "The Love I Lost"
(1973)		 "Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)"
(1974)

In the 21st century, the track has been the subject of extended re-edits by notable remixers Tom Moulton and Dimitri From Paris. A reimagining by R&B singer Sybil, credited as "West End featuring Sybil", was released in 1993, reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number three in the United Kingdom.

Charts
Chart (1973–1974) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[1] 39
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2] 31
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[3] 97
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[6] 48
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

West End featuring Sybil version
"The Love I Lost"
Single by West End featuring Sybil
from the album Doin' It Now! and Good 'N' Ready
Released1993
Recorded1992
Genre
Length3:25
LabelPWL International
Songwriter(s)Gamble and Huff
Producer(s)
West End featuring Sybil singles chronology
"You're the Love of My Life"
(1993)		 "The Love I Lost"
(1993)		 "When I'm Good and Ready"
(1993)
Music video
"The Love I Lost" on YouTube

In 1993 American R&B and pop singer–songwriter Sybil released a cover of "The Love I Lost" with West End. It was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman. The cover reached number 3 in the United Kingdom, number 9 in Ireland and number 18 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally "The Love I Lost" was also a Top 20 hit in Finland and the Netherlands. And it reached number 9 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1993.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Justin Kantor described the song as a "vibrant, disco-styled cover" and noted further that Sybil's "high-energy delivery is soulful, spirited, and commanding".[9] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "While urban-ites continue to chew on the sweet "You're The Love Of My Life", popsters are served a sparkling pop/NRG rendition of a Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic. This timeless tune gains its current top 40 muscle by Sybil's lively and soulful vocal, and the distinct hand of producers Stock & Waterman. A top-five U.K. smash that should have little trouble making the grade here."[10] Gavin Report complimented Sybil's "sweet, strong vocals".[11] Music Week stated that the 1974 hit "makes an easy transition from Philly soul to commercial garage", adding that "its uplifting, hustling. instrumental track is strangely at odds with the downbeat lyrics, but it's tight, commercial, bright and breezy. A monster in the clubs, and likely to become an equally large pop hit."[12]

Charts

References
  1. "Ultratop.be – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – The Love I Lost" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4943." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  3. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4967." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  5. "Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  6. "Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  7. "Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  8. "American single certifications – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – The Love I Lost". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 27, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  9. "Sybil - Doin' It Now!". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  10. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1993-03-13. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  11. "Urban: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. 1993-06-11. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  12. "Market Preview: Next Week's Essential Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1992-12-26. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 6. February 6, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  14. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – West End feat. Sybil – The Love I Lost". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Love I Lost". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. "West End featuring Sybil - The Love I Lost" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  18. "WEST END FEAT. SYBIL - THE LOVE I LOST" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  20. "Sybil Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  21. "Sybil Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  22. "Sybil Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  23. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  24. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.


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