"Love Is the Groove" is the debut single by the American-born singer-songwriter Betsy Cook, released on January 6, 1992,[1] by East West Records from her debut studio album, The Girl Who Ate Herself (1992). The song was written and produced by Cook and Bruce Woolley. It peaked at number 88 in the UK Singles Chart.
| "Love Is the Groove" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Betsy Cook | ||||
| from the album The Girl Who Ate Herself | ||||
| B-side | "Diving" | |||
| Released | January 6, 1992 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Electronic, pop | |||
| Length | 4:40 | |||
| Label | East West | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Betsy Cook singles chronology | ||||
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The song was covered by American singer-actress Cher for her Grammy-winning 1998 album Believe. Cher's version featured similar, yet more updated techno-sounding instrumentation and slightly altered lyrics.
Critical reception
editUpon its release, The Arbroath Herald awarded "Love Is the Groove" an eight out of ten rating and wrote, "There's rather a nice melody to this track, which has an almost Christmassy sound about it, and it certainly is a grower – given the right exposure it could easily make the top ten. If it has a fault, it is that it falls into the 'currently popular female vocalist who could just about be anybody' category."[2] The Chorley Guardian rated it nine out of ten and called it a "beautifully atmospheric track that makes its dance backing at first surprising". The reviewer continued, "The love lyrics would sit comfortably on any Enya album, but the quality of the production is enough to convince us that the two can be put together very successfully."[3] Sally Margaret Joy of Melody Maker was negative in her review, writing, "Betsy's singing is in tune to no tune at all. The tune got lost in all the fussiness that surrounds it."[4]
Track listings
edit7–inch single (UK and Europe) and cassette single (UK)[5][6]
- "Love Is the Groove" – 4:40
- "Diving" – 5:36
12–inch single (UK and Europe)[7]
- "Love Is the Groove" (Heavens to Betsy mix) – 7:17
- "Love Is the Groove" (Funky Phantom mix) – 6:41
- "Love Is the Groove" (7" mix) – 4:40
- "Love Is the Groove" (Cookie Monster mix) – 6:33
CD single (UK and Europe)[8]
- "Love Is the Groove" – 4:40
- "Love Is the Groove" (Heavens to Betsy mix) – 7:17
- "Love Is the Groove" (Funky Phantom mix) – 6:41
- "Diving" – 5:36
Personnel
edit"Love Is the Groove"
- Betsy Cook – vocals
- Bruce Woolley – general musical input, drums, harmonics, backing vocals
- Stephen Lipson – loopy guitar, extra drums
- Wil Malone – interesting noises
- Tony Phillips – extra drums
Production
- Bruce Woolley – production and engineering ("Love Is the Groove")
- Betsy Cook – production ("Love Is the Groove", "Diving")
- Tony Phillips – mixing ("Love Is the Groove")
- Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing assistance ("Love Is the Groove")
- Ren Swan – additional mixing ("Love Is the Groove"), mixing (all remixes of "Love Is the Groove")
- Justin Vikkerman – additional mixing assistance ("Love Is the Groove")
- Jon Marsh – special remix production (all remixes of "Love Is the Groove")
Other
- Kate Garner – front photography
- Stylorouge – design
Charts
edit| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)[9] | 88 |
| UK Top 50 Airplay Chart (Music Week)[10] | 48 |
References
edit- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. January 4, 1992. p. 5. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ "On the Right Track: Single Reviews". The Arbroath Herald. January 17, 1992. p. 19. Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Record Reviews: Singles". Chorley Guardian. January 23, 1992. p. 67. Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Joy, Sally Margaret (January 11, 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27. ISSN 0025-9012.
- ^ Love Is the Groove (UK and European 7-inch single sleeve). Betsy Cook. East West Records. 1992. YZ 621, 9031-75732-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Love Is the Groove (UK cassette single sleeve). Betsy Cook. East West Records. 1992. YZ 621 C.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Love Is the Groove (UK and European 7-inch single sleeve). Betsy Cook. East West Records. 1992. YZ 621 T, 9031-75733-0.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Love Is the Groove (UK and European CD single sleeve). Betsy Cook. East West Records. 1992. YZ 621 CD, 9031-75734-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Singles - Positions 76 to 200". Charts Plus. Spotlight Publications. January 25, 1992. p. 2.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart". Music Week. January 25, 1992. p. 18. ISSN 0265-1548.