Let the Music (Lift You Up)

"Let the Music (Lift You Up)" is a song by British house music group Loveland featuring singer Rachel McFarlane, released in 1994 as their debut single. It is a cover of a song by American singer Darlene Lewis and some of the single releases also featured both versions. The Loveland version was included on their only album, The Wonder of Love (1995), and peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number-one on both the UK Dance Singles Chart and the UK Club Chart, and won the Best Dance Record of the Year award at the Silver Clef Award.[1]

"Let the Music (Lift You Up)"
Single by Loveland featuring Rachel McFarlane
from the album The Wonder of Love
B-side"Loveland's Theme"
Released1994
Genre
Length3:29
Label
  • 12INC
  • Eastern Bloc Records
  • KMS
Songwriter(s)
  • Hassan Watkins
  • Loveland
  • Mike Banks
Producer(s)Loveland
Loveland featuring Rachel McFarlane singles chronology
"Let the Music (Lift You Up)"
(1994)
"(Keep On) Shining/Hope (Never Give Up)"
(1994)
Music video
"Let the Music (Lift You Up)" on YouTube

Critical reception edit

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Virtually flawless disco/house number is poised to glide from atop U.K. dance charts onto stateside dancefloors within seconds. Track pumps a heavy beat, which is tied in flowing ribbons of strings and horns. Rachel McFarlane provides a bright flash of diva belting, proving her moxie by holding her own against a busy, effect-filled arrangement. Rhythm/crossover radio tastemakers are advised to open their minds and ears."[2] Andy Beevers from Music Week declared it as a "huge house track from Manchester".[3] He added, "The Full On Vocal Mix, with its pounding pianos and hackneyed lyrics, is undeniably old-fashioned and is about as cheesy as a lorryload of Wotsits. But it comes with a guarantee to create absolute mayhem on all but the most elite of dancefloors."[4] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update felt that the Loveland cover version of the Darlene Lewis song is "much more exciting".[5] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, viewing it as "a routine rave-up stomper by some blokes you've never heard of that will nonetheless "storm" the charts."[6]

Track listing edit

  • 12", Europe (1994)
  1. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Full On Vocal Radio Edit)
  2. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Full On Vocal Extended Mix)
  3. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Bottom Dollar Big Room Dub)
  4. "Loveland's Theme"
  • CD single, France (1994)
  1. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Full On Vocal Radio Edit) — 3:29
  2. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Big Room Dub) — 5:40
  • CD maxi, US (1994)
  1. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Full On Vocal Mix) — 6:14
  2. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Bottom Dollar Remix) — 5:34
  3. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Publicly Executed Dub) — 6:32
  4. "Let the Music (Lift You Up)" (Big Room Dub) — 5:40
  5. "Loveland's Theme" — 4:13

Charts edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Dance music meets classical at intu Trafford Centre's spectacular Christmas lights switch-on". ilovemanchester.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (2 July 1994). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy". Billboard. p. 84.
  3. ^ Beevers, Andy (2 April 1994). "Market Preview: Dance - Single of the Week". Music Week. p. 13.
  4. ^ Beevers, Andy (5 March 1994). "Hot Vinyl". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7.
  5. ^ Hamilton, James (19 March 1994). "Dj directory". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7.
  6. ^ Sutherland, Mark (30 March 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. ^ "The RM Club Chart". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 26 March 1994. p. 8.
  8. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100". Music & Media. 30 April 1994. p. 14.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 03 April 1994 - 16 April 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Dance Singles". Music Week. 16 April 1994. p. 28.
  11. ^ "The RM Club Chart". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 12 March 1994. p. 4.
  12. ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year". Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 December 1994. p. 10.