"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" is a song written by Miles Gregory and originally recorded by American soul and R&B group Rose Royce. It was produced by former Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield for Whitfield Records. Lead vocals were sung by Gwen Dickey and the song was released as the second single from their third studio album Strikes Again. The song was developed as a result of producer Whitfield's interest to work with Paul Buckmaster, the British arranger and composer. Together they asked songwriter Miles Gregory to write a song for them. Gregory's undergoing medical care for his deteriorating physical health became the inspiration behind the song. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" incorporated the use of the Pollard Syndrum TwinDrum, and was one of the first songs to effectively use the sound reverbs of the instrument. The song was mainly recorded at music contractor Gene Bianco's house, where Dickey was present during the recording.
After its release, the song was critically appreciated, but was only moderately successful commercially. It reached a peak of 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and five on the Hot Black Singles chart. It achieved its highest position in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it reached number two. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" has been covered by a number of artists, including Madonna, Morrissey–Mullen, Billy Idol, Jimmy Nail, and Faith Evans. Madonna's version was included in her second studio album Like a Virgin (1984), and it was the idea of Michael Ostin, the head of the A&R department of Warner Bros. Records, that Madonna record a cover version of the song to include in the album. A remix of Madonna's cover was included in her 1995 ballad compilation album Something to Remember.
The original and the remixed version of the Madonna song differ in that the latter uses more classical instruments. The 1995 version also received a number of club remix treatments. However, it was a commercial disappointment, reaching a peak of only 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was promoted by a music video shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, which portrayed Madonna in an empty suite of an abandoned hotel, and was shot in a single take.
Background and music Producer Norman Whitfield had always wanted to work with Paul Buckmaster, the British arranger and composer. One day he called Buckmaster and invited him to work on some recordings he had finished. After meeting, they decided to contact songwriter Miles Gregory to use one of his songs for Whitfield's record group Rose Royce. Buckmaster found that Gregory was under medication from overuse of drugs and "was in considerable discomfort, if not in outright pain. He didn't write a song and dance about his pain, but I remember him sitting at the piano and wincing. So before jumping on the thing that Miles was merely indulging himself and writing, one has to remember that the guy was in a lot of pain." Nevertheless, Whitfield and Buckmaster encouraged Gregory to write the song and the result was "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", inspired by Gregory's own situation and his deteriorating physical health.
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" incorporated the use of the Pollard Syndrum, and was one of the first songs to effectively use the sound reverbs of the instrument. The Syndrum had been used sparingly in their previous single "Do Your Dance", but in "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" its use was more spontaneous, which Dave Thompson, author of Funk noted as if "it virtually duetted with Dickey, creating one of the most distinctive records of the year—and one of the most imitated of the age." The song was mainly recorded at music contractor Gene Bianco's house, where Rose Royce lead singer Gwen Dickey was present during the recording. Buckmaster recalled: "I was over at [Gene's] place almost every day with Norman, and some days I stayed away to write, or to mix the music. Gene had given me the keys to his apartment, and also let me use the piano to record the song. I didn't want to work on at Miles' because his piano was falling to bits."
Reception Kenny Hill from The San Diego Union-Tribune said that the song "was a lasting impression of Rose Royce's brilliance as a group" and it proved that disco and R&B soul music was not dead." Frederick Douglas from The Baltimore Sun complimented the song saying that "with their soul ballad 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore', Rose Royce is poised to take their place in the musical landscape as the greatest soul group." Bob Kostanczuk from Post-Tribune listed "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" as Rose Royce's greatest song. Jim Mortimer from Deseret News felt that "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" was a perfect example of how gospel and soul music can be clubbed together and complimented producer Buckmaster. Shannon Kingly from Los Angeles Daily News felt that "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" is "a tad bit overrated, and is full of shouting."
Chart performance "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" debuted at 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, and made a slow climb, ultimately reaching a peak of 32. It was more successful on the Hot Black Singles chart, where it reached five, and stayed there for four weeks. In Canada, the song debuted at 100 on the RPM Singles Chart on December 23, 1978. The song began a slow climb, and after nine weeks reached a peak of 41 on the chart. It was present for a total of 12 weeks on the chart. In the United Kingdom, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" became Rose Royce's biggest hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart while in Ireland it reached a peak of number seven. Across Europe, the song failed to chart except in the Netherlands, where it reached number eleven. The song was also successful in Australia and New Zealand.
Track listing 7-inch single "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" – 3:56 "Do It, Do It" – 4:09
Credits and personnel Gwen Dickey – lead vocals Norman Whitfield – production, acoustic guitar Paul Buckmaster – production, piano, bass drum, Pollard Syndrum Miles Gregory – writing Rose Royce – background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1978) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)41
Year-end charts Chart (1979) PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)55
Certifications
Jimmy Nail version
English actor Jimmy Nail released a cover of the song in 1985 as his debut single, and on his first album Take It or Leave It. The song was produced by David Richards and Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who also played drums on the track, along with Rick Parfitt of Status Quo on lead guitar. It was a hit in the UK where it peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Track listings 7-inch (VS 764) "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" – 3:57 "Night for Day" – 3:45
12-inch (VS ) "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (extended version) – 6:38 "Night for Day" – 3:45
Personnel Jimmy Nail – vocals Roger Taylor – drums, synthesisers, arrangement, co-producer Rick Parfitt – lead guitar Jo Burt – bass guitar David Richards – co-producer, engineer Jill Furmanovsky – photography
Charts Chart (1985)Peakposition
I'm Talking version
Australian band I'm Talking covered the song, whose production was handled by the band alongside Ross Cockle. It was first available as the B-side on the 12-inch single "Lead the Way", before being released by Regular Records as a standalone single on August 26, 1985. The song peaked at number 21 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart.
Track listing 7-inch single (K 9817) "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" "Cry Me a River"
Charts Chart (1985)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)21
Madonna version
Background Madonna had originally covered "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" for her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). The idea to cover the song originated from Michael Ostin, the head of the A&R department of Warner Bros. Records. In author Warren Zanes book Revolutions in Sound: Warner Bros. Records, the First 50 Years, he recalled: "I had the good fortune of finding material that Madonna really responded to, 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore' for instance, which was the old Rose Royce record. I was driving into work one day and heard it on the radio, I called producer Nile Rodgers and Madonna, they were in the studio. I said, 'I have an idea,. You know the old Rose Royce record, 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'? Why don't you try and record a version of it for Like a Virgin?" Initially both Rodgers and Madonna were apprehensive of tackling an already well-known ballad, but in the last minute they decided that if Madonna wanted to bring diversity to the album, there could be no better song than "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". According to Rodgers, although Like a Virgin was mainly driven by Madonna, he was instrumental in adding "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" to the track list. The song was a favorite of Madonna.
Initially, the song was released as a single in 1986, exclusively in Japan. In 1995, Madonna released the ballad compilation album Something to Remember, with a slightly remixed version of the song by David Reitzas. For its release as a single in 1996, the song was completely reworked in a remix produced by Soulshock and Karlin, and was released as the second single from the album in North America and the third single in Europe and Australia, and was also used for the music video. The 1996 single mix has never been reissued anywhere else outside of this single. The original 1984 release was included in the 1996 Japanese box set CD Single Collection on 3" CD single and includes the track listing from the 1986 7-inch Japanese vinyl version.
Composition
Madonna's version of the song begins with the sound of acoustic guitars and synth strings. Madonna's voice sounds high-pitched, eluding the deeper resonance of the tune. After the first verse, Tony Thompson starts playing the drums, which moves along the rhythm of the song. Towards the end, Madonna sings the song like a soul singer and the song ends with a gasp of breath. The song was recorded at Power Station Studio in Manhattan, New York. Rodgers recalled: "Madonna had never performed with a live orchestra before. I was very much into doing everything live, so I just said, 'Madonna, you go out there and sing and we will follow you.' At first Madonna was hesitant, but the live setting ended up producing memorable results. She sang and she was overcome with emotions and she started crying, but I left it on the record."
The 1995 remix on Something to Remember begins with the sound of violins and Uilleann pipes, followed by Madonna beginning the first verse. As the song progresses, the sound of the violin fades in and the drum machine starts, and the piano is played along with it. As the chorus is sung the third time, a bass drum is also added in the flow. The violin again fades in as Madonna sings "Through the windmills of my eye, Everyone can see the loneliness inside me." Near the end, she utters the chorus a number of times, emphasizing on the word "anymore" and the phrase "live here anymore". It ends with the Uilleann pipes fading out. The song was also treated with remixes which were released on promotional 12-inch and CD singles on May 6, 1996. SoulShock & Karlin provided an R&B styled remix while Marcus Schulz created a house remix which paired Madonna's voice with an energetic beat, coupled with vibrant organ lines and blipping synth effects.
Critical response