You Got The Love

August 6, 2011 2:53 PM

Decades before "You Got the Love" was covered by Florence and The Machine, it was a little known gospel record originally recorded for an 80's dieting video by Candi Staton.

Originally released as an R&B version by The Source in 1986, the vinyl included an a capella which got the track it's first chart success in 1991 when it was layered over the underground Jamie Principle anthem "Your Love" -- one of the earliest mash-ups to become a major hit -- reaching #4. (Jamie Principle has his own interesting story)

Since then, it's been an evergreen club hit, covered and remixed multiple times:

New Voyager Remix
Florence & The Machine - You Got the Love (remixed by The XX)
Shapeshifter's Remix
Mark Knight Remixing Florence and the Machine.
Candi Staton performing it in 2008 at Glastonbury
Joss Stone

posted by empath (26 comments total)

Oh crap, I forgot to link the Jamie Principle version, which is the best one, imo.
posted by empath at 2:57 PM on August 6, 2011 [2 favorites]

That's okay empath, I only have to close my eyes to hear both ;-)

It's a perfect song, I think. Every time I hear 'Sometimes I feel...' pop up over the 'Your Love' intro it's as MDMAspinetinglingly wonderful as the first time I heard it.

Flo & the Mac did it justice, just about. There is no fucking way I'm risking the Joss Stone version.

Dum-dum-du-dum-dum
posted by jack_mo at 3:15 PM on August 6, 2011

Touch > Love
posted by Eideteker at 3:23 PM on August 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

it was a little known gospel record originally recorded for an 80's dieting video

This is actually pretty common throughout the history of music. It's a little known fact that Handel's Messiah was originally written to accompany a series of Pilates exercises. The Hallelujah Chorus is specifically designed to work the calves and upper torso.^*

*Disclaimer: Facts mentioned in the comment may not correspond to real facts.
posted by twoleftfeet at 3:43 PM on August 6, 2011 [6 favorites]

After a 'Tube trawl, DJ Eren's version is without doubt the best version, and canonical - it's the first mix of Staton's acapella with the 'Your Love' instrumental.
posted by jack_mo at 3:50 PM on August 6, 2011

Awesome post, thanks.
posted by yerfatma at 3:53 PM on August 6, 2011

Wow I hadnt really heard a lot of F&TM. I have to say I do not like her version at all. She sounds rushed and bored and the music is overproduced and flat.

Anyway, go 80s R&B Gospel!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:05 PM on August 6, 2011

What a great post! Thanks so much for revealing this history behind this jam!
posted by awesomebrad at 4:20 PM on August 6, 2011

The real best version unfortunately has been deleted from Youtube. Thanks a lot!
posted by mike_bling at 4:39 PM on August 6, 2011

I thought that song sounded familiar when I heard the F&TM version. Not the best song on the album. (But the post is great.)
posted by immlass at 4:40 PM on August 6, 2011

Nonsense, mike_bling. Here's the real *real* best version. The Candi Staton/Frankie Knuckles boot, Love/Rock. (Not that ersatz fake version that empath posted.)
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:51 PM on August 6, 2011 [2 favorites]

Also, that version jack_mo posted was a remake of the boot, not the proper tune imo.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:59 PM on August 6, 2011

Also, also: the boot's generally referred to as Candi Staton/Frankie Knuckles, because in the UK where the mash up was created, Your Love was originally credited to Frankie Knuckles as producer, rather than Jamie Principle as vocalist.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:09 PM on August 6, 2011

I just can't get past the Florence version, I love her voice.
posted by liquorice at 6:26 PM on August 6, 2011

A lesser-known, pianotastic version that I happen to love as well...
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:38 PM on August 6, 2011

I'm partial to this more taciturn, mid-90s-style version myself (the "Voyager Radio mix" apparently).
posted by Drexen at 7:26 PM on August 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

omg, i love this post. thanks!
posted by liza at 9:59 PM on August 6, 2011

Sooo HAPPY right now - a long time Candi Staton fan, and admit to putting Young Hearts Run Free on repeat for me to sing along with in the car. Her voice is just so fantastic.
posted by honey-barbara at 3:10 AM on August 7, 2011

So... what is this dieting video this song is taken from?
posted by hippybear at 4:05 AM on August 7, 2011

Just for fun, a rock cover of the Jamie Principle original.
posted by tantrumthecat at 5:46 AM on August 7, 2011

Apparently it was for a Dick Gregory video that never got made.
posted by empath at 9:09 AM on August 7, 2011

Ah. No wonder I kept getting Deja Vu whenever I heard F&tM's version.

That said, the rest of Florence & The Machine's album is far better, and you'd be remiss to avoid it because of this one song. Don't judge the book by its cover!
posted by schmod at 9:47 AM on August 7, 2011

PeterMcDermott: "Also, that version jack_mo posted was a remake of the boot, not the proper tune imo."

Yep, you're right - I thought the version I linked to was the version you linked to (if that makes sense!).
posted by jack_mo at 12:51 PM on August 7, 2011

Yeah, this song is just about as perfect as it gets. Like jack_mo, I get that spine shiver every single time.

[self link spammage: I interviewed Ms. Staton a few years back – sadly over the 'phone rather than in person – and she was lovely; genuine and honest and sweet, which, given some of what she's been through in her life, is no mean feat.]
posted by Len at 1:03 PM on August 7, 2011 [1 favorite]

jack_mo: yeah, they are very similar -- as they would be given yours is an attempt to legally remake mine (if you see what I mean.)
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:34 PM on August 7, 2011

I'm partial to the version on ladytron's softcore jukebox / layer cake soundtrack, which is mostly an update from the bootleg version posted by PeterMcDermott and jack_mo.
posted by palbo at 4:44 AM on August 8, 2011