The Things We Do for Love (song)

"The Things We Do for Love" is a song by British band 10cc, released as a single in 1976. It later featured on the album Deceptive Bends released in 1977 and was the group's first release after the departure of band members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.

"The Things We Do for Love"
Artwork for UK/European release, also used for Japanese edition with different text layout
Single by 10cc
from the album Deceptive Bends
B-side"Hot to Trot"
Released3 December 1976 (UK)
Recorded1976
Genre
Length3:32
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
Producer(s)10cc
10cc singles chronology
"I'm Mandy Fly Me"
(1976)
"The Things We Do for Love"
(1976)
"Good Morning Judge"
(1977)
Music video
"The Things We Do for Love" on YouTube

The song originated during the How Dare You! sessions, but was unpopular with Godley and Creme. Eric Stewart recalled, "While we were recording it, Kevin was coming out with some heavy statements like, 'I don't want to do any more crap like this,' after I played 'The Things We Do for Love' to him and Lol."[3]

Record World called it a "well crafted tune with a crisp, pop sound".[4] Cash Box called it a "pop record that combines the best of a strong Beatles influence with solid rock ’n’ roll and the luxuriant harmonies that characterized [10cc's] past efforts".[5]

Track listing

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UK 7" single
A. "The Things We Do for Love" – 3:32
B. "Hot to Trot" – 4:28

Personnel

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  • Eric Stewart - lead & backing vocals, electric lead guitar, piano, organ
  • Graham Gouldman - bass, electric & acoustic rhythm guitars, tambourine, handclaps, backing vocals
  • Paul Burgess - drums, tambourine, handclaps, gong

Chart performance

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The song was a hit in various countries worldwide, reaching No. 1 in Canada,[6] as well as peaking at No. 6 in the UK,[7] No. 5 in Australia, No. 13 in the Netherlands,[8] No. 2 in Ireland[9] and No. 5 in the US,[10] where it reached gold status and became the band's best-selling single.

Amy Grant version

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"The Things We Do for Love"
 
Single by Amy Grant
ReleasedFebruary 1996
GenreAdult contemporary
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
Amy Grant singles chronology
"Oh How the Years Go By"
(1995)
"The Things We Do for Love"
(1996)
"Takes a Little Time"
(1997)

"The Things We Do for Love" was covered by Amy Grant for the soundtrack to the 1996 film Mr. Wrong. Her version reached number 24 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. It was a bigger hit in Canada, where it reached number 41 on the Pop singles chart[25] and number eight Adult Contemporary.[26] It is ranked as the 96th biggest Adult Contemporary hit of 1996.[27]

Charts

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Tina Arena version

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"The Things We Do for Love"
Single by Tina Arena
Released4 November 2014
Recorded2014
GenrePop
Length3:08
LabelPositive Dream, EMI
Songwriter(s)Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
Tina Arena singles chronology
"Still Running"
(2014)
"The Things We Do for Love"
(2014)
"I Want to Love You"
(2015)

Australian singer Tina Arena released her version in November 2014, with money raised going towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation.[29][30]

Australian department store David Jones Limited used the song in their 2014 Christmas campaign.[31][32]

Track listing

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1-track download[29]

  1. "The Things We Do for Love" - 3:08

4-track download[33]

  1. "Last Christmas" - 3:59
  2. "The Things We Do for Love" (pop mix) - 3:21
  3. "Only Lonely" - 3:22
  4. "You Set Fire to My Life" (acoustic mix) - 4:22

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 709 [34]

Other versions

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The song was covered in 2007 by American alternative rock band Lazlo Bane for their '70s covers album Guilty Pleasures.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Should 10cc Be Taken Seriously?". Music Aficionado.
  2. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000), Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, St. Martin's Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3
  3. ^ Bensley, Lin (24 June 2023). ""When they make documentaries about the 70s, they talk about glam and prog rock. 10cc weren't either so we don't get a mention..." The rise and fall of 10cc's original line-up". Louder.
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 25 December 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 25 December 1976. p. 40. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Top Singles". RPM Magazine. 16 April 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ "10 C.C. | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  8. ^ Steffen Hung. "10cc – The Things We Do For Love". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Hot 100". Billboard. 14 April 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 307. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Things We Do for Love". Irish Singles Chart.
  14. ^ "10cc – The Things We Do for Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 4/16/77". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  18. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 238.
  19. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 129. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  20. ^ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  21. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – TEN cc – The Things We Do for Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
  25. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 15 April 1996. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 15 April 1996. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1996 ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com.
  28. ^ "Amy Grant Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  29. ^ a b "Tina Arena 'The Things We Do For Love' (smooth mix) - single". iTunes Australia. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  30. ^ "The Things We Do for Love, de Tina Arena en écoute gratuite et illimitée". All for Music. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  31. ^ "DAVID JONES – XMAS CAMPAIGN". Trailer Media. November 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Tina Arena and David Jones tie up for Christmas". Ad News. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  33. ^ "The Things we Do (single)". iTunes AUS. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Response from ARIA re: Tina Arena ARIA singles chart history, received 21 November 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 28 November 2017. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the single's peak on the national chart.
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