Love Will Lead You Back

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For the upcoming TV series, see Love Will Lead You Back (TV series).
"Love Will Lead You Back"
CD single cover
Single by Taylor Dayne
from the album Can't Fight Fate
B-side"You Meant the World to Me"
ReleasedJanuary 12, 1990 (1990-01-12)
GenrePop[1]
Length4:38
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)Ric Wake
Taylor Dayne singles chronology
"With Every Beat of My Heart"
(1989) 		"Love Will Lead You Back"
(1990) 		"I'll Be Your Shelter"
(1990)
Alternative cover
Music video
"Love Will Lead You Back" on YouTube

"Love Will Lead You Back" is a song recorded by American singer Taylor Dayne for her second studio album, Can't Fight Fate (1989). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ric Wake, the song was released on January 12, 1990, by Arista Records as the second single from the album.

"Love Will Lead You Back" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1990 and spent 15 weeks in the top 40, becoming Dayne's sole chart-topping hit in the US. It also reached number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to its US success, the song peaked at number two in Canada, number 11 in Australia, number 28 in New Zealand, and number 69 in the United Kingdom.

Background[edit]

The song, written by American songwriter Diane Warren, is about a woman who is willing to set her lover free because she is confident that one day his love will lead him back to her; "Sometimes it takes some time out on your own now / to find your way back home". Warren has stated that she began writing the song while in a hotel in Russia and that she had Whitney Houston in mind, but Arista Records president Clive Davis wanted to let Dayne record the song.

Critical reception[edit]

Matthew Hocter from Albumism stated that "Love Will Lead You Back" is "going on to be one of Dayne's most synonymous songs", noting "the phenomenal balladry" the singer delivered on the song.[2] Jose F. Promis from AllMusic described it as a "lush and dramatic" ballad.[3] David Giles from Music Week wrote, "Something of a change in style for Taylor Dayne, this track from her current album is a big ballad in the Lionel Richie tradition and recently a US chart topper — so expect that success to be repeated over here."[4] A reviewer from People Magazine noted that the singer can "dig for depth and rich tone on such ballads as Warren's "Love Will Lead You Back"."[5]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for "Love Will Lead You Back" was very simple. Directed by English director Nigel Dick, it shows Dayne and her band in a studio performing the song. The music video was released both in black-and-white and sepia tones. In the music video, Dayne holds in her hand what seems to be the lyrics of the song, or possibly a letter from her lover.

Personnel[edit]

  • Taylor Dayne – lead vocals
  • Bob Cadway – guitars
  • Rich Tancredi – keyboards, arrangements
  • Joey Franco – drums
  • Jamillah Muhammad, Ricky Nelson, Billy T. Scott – backing vocals

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 12, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Arista [18]
Japan March 7, 1990 Mini-CD [19]
United Kingdom July 16, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [20]

Covers[edit]

The song was covered by Brazilian singer Sandra de Sá, by Filipina singers Kyla, Nina, and Marika Sasaki and also Filipino crooner Jun Polistico and Australian pop group Young Divas. Mexican showgirl Yuri recorded a Spanish-language adaptation of the song as "Quién eres tú" on her studio album Soy Libre (1991).[21] Yuri's version peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the US.[22]

In 2000, Grammy Award-winning artist Patti LaBelle covered the composition for her album, When a Woman Loves. Dutch pop singer Gordon also covered the song in 1994 and American Crooner Johnny Mathis also covered his version of the song from his 1998 album, Because You Loved Me.

On American Idol it has been covered three times, by Carmen Rasmusen (season 2), Mikalah Gordon (season 4) and Karen Rodriguez (season 10). All three were eliminated the next night after their performances of that song.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (September 10, 2021). "The Number Ones: Taylor Dayne's 'Love Will Lead You Back'". Stereogum. Retrieved December 2, 2023. ...it's all exactly what you'd expect from one of this period's wack-ass pop ballads..
  2. ^ Hocter, Matthew (October 5, 2019). "Taylor Dayne's 'Can't Fight Fate' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Promis, Jose F. "Taylor Dayne – Can't Fight Fate". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Giles, David (July 21, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Can't Fight Fate". People. January 8, 1990. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Taylor Dayne – Love Will Lead You Back". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8994." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9135." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Taylor Dayne – Love Will Lead You Back". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Taylor Dayne Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "Taylor Dayne Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "1990 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved July 27, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved July 27, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  16. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  17. ^ "The Year in Music 1990: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-36.
  18. ^ a b "American single certifications – Taylor Dayne – Love Will Lead You Back". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  19. ^ "愛に帰りたい | テイラー・デイン" [I Want to Return to Love | Taylor Dayne] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. July 14, 1990. p. 37. Misprinted as July 9 on source. The New Albums section uses the correct date.
  21. ^ "Soy Libre - Yuri | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  22. ^ "Yuri - Chart History: Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  • The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996
  • The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition, 2003
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