Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City explained

"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.

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 #9, as well as peaking at #91 on the Hot 100.[2]

Cover versions and samples

Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
Cover:WSAin'tNoLoveSingle.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Whitesnake
Album:Snakebite and Live...in the Heart of the City
B-Side:"Bloody Mary"
"Take Me With You" (live)
Released:June 1978
November 1980 (live)[3]
Recorded:April 1978
23 November 1978 (live)
Genre:Hard rock, blues rock
Length:5:07
8:18 (live)
Label:United Artists, Geffen, EMI (studio)
Liberty, Sunburst (live)
Producer:Martin Birch(both versions)
Prev Title:Ready an' Willing
Prev Year:1980
Next Title:Don't Break My Heart Again
Next Year:1981

It is known through several cover versions and samples:

Other notable cover versions have been recorded by:

Popular culture

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 100109

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jo-Ann Greene . Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City - Al Brown : Listen, Appearances, Song Review . . 2001-08-14 . 2013-03-26.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 64.

  3. Book: The Great Rock Discography. 1995. 894 . 9780862415419 . Strong . Martin Charles . Canongate Press .
  4. Web site: Hamilton . Andrew . Something to Talk About - Willie Clayton : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . 1998-06-02 . 2013-03-26.
  5. Web site: Beforeigners - Season 1 Soundtrack. 2019-09-15. Soundtrack Mania. en-US. 2020-03-09.
  6. Web site: The Lincoln Lawyer and 2019 Netflix film, Shaft (Soundtrack) . Blogs.indiewire.com . 2011-03-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110407093920/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/the_lincoln_lawyer_soundtrack_features_erik_b._rakim_gang_starr_deadmau5_mo . 2011-04-07 .
  7. Web site: Whitesnake – Official Charts . . 25 April 2015 .
  8. Web site: US Hot 100 Bubbling Under Chart History . Top40 Weekly . 2 August 2024.