"Where Is the Love" is a popular song written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, and recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Released in 1972 from their album, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent a week each at number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart (July 1972)[3] and R&B chart (August 1972).[4] Billboard ranked it as the No. 58 song for 1972. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
| "Where Is the Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 One of side-A labels of the US single | ||||
| Single by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway | ||||
| from the album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway | ||||
| B-side | "Mood" | |||
| Released | June 1972 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:43 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Roberta Flack singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Donny Hathaway singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Where Is the Love" on YouTube | ||||
In the lyrics, the singer realizes that the one (s)he loves remains in love with someone else. The singer remarks "I guess it must have been my fate to fall in love with someone else's love. Now all I can do is wait."[5]
Chart performance
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 55 |
| Canada | 35 |
| UK | 29 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 1 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[7] | 7 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1972) | Rank |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] | 58 |
| U.S. Cash Box[9] | 78 |
Cover versions
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2019) |
There have been numerous cover versions of this song:
- The Ray Conniff Singers recorded a version in 1972 for their album Alone Again (Naturally).
- Helen Reddy recorded a version in 1972 for her Capitol album I Am Woman.
- Both Jerry Vale and Andy Williams released versions in 1972, each on different albums named Alone Again (Naturally).
- Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 had a top 20 easy listening hit with their 1973 cover version.
- Liza Minnelli covered it on her 1973 album The Singer.
- Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana recorded a version in the mid-1970s.
- Jazz musician Woody Herman recorded an Alan Broadbent arrangement for his album Children of Lima that featured a bassoon solo by Frank Tiberi.
- Stephanie Mills and Robert Brookins recorded a version that peaked at number 18 on the R&B Songs chart in 1988.
- Guitarist Zachary Breaux recorded an instrumental version for his album Groovin' in 1992.
- Australian singer Rick Price and New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich had a hit on the Australian charts with the song in 1993.
- In 1995, Jesse & Trina covered the song for the soundtrack to the film Dead Presidents, and this version reached number 40 on the R&B chart.[10]
- In 1996, Paul Jackson Jr covered the song on the album Never Alone Duets.
- Amel Larrieux and Glenn Lewis were featured on a version on Stanley Clarke's 12 To the bass, which was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
- Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis and American singer Raul Midon recorded a version for Midon's album State of Mind in 2006.
- American pop singer Johnny Mathis covered the song on his 2008 album, A Night to Remember.
Mica Paris and Will Downing version
edit| "Where Is the Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Mica Paris and Will Downing | ||||
| from the album So Good | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:33 | |||
| Label | 4th & Broadway | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ralph MacDonald William Salter[2] | |||
| Mica Paris singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| Mica Paris – "Where Is The Love" ft. Will Downing on YouTube | ||||
British soul singer Mica Paris and American singer-songwriter Will Downing released a cover of "Where Is the Love" in 1989 for Paris' debut album So Good.
"Where Is the Love" debuted at number twenty-eight on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number nineteen in its second week before accumulating a total of eight weeks on the chart.
Track listing
editCD single[11]
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Where Is the Love" | Mica Paris & Will Downing | 3:33 |
| 2. | "My One Temptation" (Radio Mix) | Mica Paris | 3:40 |
| 3. | "A Love Supreme" | Will Downing | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Same Feeling" | Mica Paris | 3:59 |
Vinyl[12]
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Where Is the Love" | Mica Paris & Will Downing | 3:33 |
| 2. | "My One Temptation" (Radio Mix) | Mica Paris | 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Love Supreme" | Will Downing | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Same Feeling" | Mica Paris | 3:59 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 21 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 51 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 19 |
Rick Price and Margaret Urlich version
edit| "Where is the Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Rick Price and Margaret Urlich | ||||
| from the album Live | ||||
| Released | November 29, 1993[16] | |||
| Length | 2:58 | |||
| Label | Columbia Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ralph MacDonald William Salter | |||
| Producer(s) | Rick Price | |||
| Rick Price singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Margaret Urlich singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Where is the Love" was recorded by Australian singer songwriter Rick Price and New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Margaret Urlich. It was released on November 29, 1993, and peaked at number 31 in Australia. It was included as a bonus track on Ulrich's 1994 album, Live.
In 1993, Price and Urlich were part of Export Music Australia (EMA) and Austrade's second Wizards of Oz promotion. They toured Japan together with the group Yothu Yindi.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, the song was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album but lost to The Journey by Tommy Emmanuel.[17]
Track listing
editCD single (659884 2)
- "Where Is the Love" – 2:58
- "If You Were My Baby" by Rick Price (acoustic) – 4:14
- "Love Train" by Margaret Ulrich (live) – 4:21
Charts
edit| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[18] | 31 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Molanphy, Chris (December 18, 2021). "Chestnut Roasters Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Where Is the Love Allmusic.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 109.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 206.
- ^ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0xFEmIZc7w YouTube.com Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway "Where Is The Love" 1972 with lyrics. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top 100 1972-08-12". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1983/Top 100 Songs of 1983". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1972". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ 1995 chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
- ^ "Mica Paris & Will Downing – Where Is The Love (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ "Mica Paris & Will Downing – Where Is The Love (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ "Chart Track: Week 5, 1989". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Mica Paris & Will Downing – Where Is The Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Mica Paris And Will Downing: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "ARIA New Releases 29 November 1993". www.ariacharts.com.au. November 29, 1993. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1994: 8th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ "Rick Price & Margaret Urlich – Where is the Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
