"Love You Down" is the title of an R&B song written by Melvin Riley Jr. Riley's former band, Ready for the World, originally recorded the song in 1986 and released it as the lead

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from their second album, '' Long Time Coming'' produced by Gary Spaniola. A

slow jam A slow jam is music with rhythm and blues and soul influences. Slow jams are commonly R&B ballads or downtempo songs, and are mostly soft-sounding with heavily emotional or romantic lyrical content. The earliest known use of the term is the 1983 ...

, "Love You Down" was a hit on the '' Billboard'' pop and R&B charts, spending two weeks atop the R&B chart in December 1986 and peaking at #9 on the pop chart in early 1987. This was Ready for the World's second R&B chart-topper, following the success of " Oh Sheila" in 1985. It also reached #24 on the ''Billboard''

adult contemporary chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...

. The song charted in the United Kingdom at #60 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The song has been covered by artists such as R&B singer INOJ and neo soul musician Me'shell Ndegeocello.

Charts

INOJ version

Female R&B vocalist INOJ recorded a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

of "Love You Down" in 1997 with the assistance of producer Charles "The Mixologist" Roane and Lonnie Hill Jr Known as "Lon2". Featuring a faster beat and more percussion than the original version, INOJ's cover was initially featured on

So So Def Recordings So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B and bass music. So So Def has managed artists such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, T ...

' ''So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. 2'' compilation album. Shortly after the compilation's release in late June 1997, the song began amassing airplay, entering ''Billboards Hot 100 Airplay chart on the issue dated August 2, 1997; it would go on to spend 45 weeks on that chart, becoming especially popular on

rhythmic Rhythmic may refer to: * Related to rhythm * Rhythmic contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic adult contemporary, a radio format * Rhythmic gymnastics, a form of gymnastics * Rhythmic (chart) The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and ...

radio. A music video, directed by Eric Haywood and Rubin Whitmore in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, premiered in August. A physical single, also containing Lathun's "Freak It" from the same So So Def compilation, was later released in January 1998, making the song eligible for the Hot 100. The song ultimately reached #25 on that chart. Whitburn, Joel (2004). ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 303. "Love You Down" was later included on INOJ's debut album, incidentally titled '' Ready for the World'', released by

So So Def So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B and bass music. So So Def has managed artists such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, T ...

and Columbia in the summer of 1999. INOJ released the 20th anniversary of "Love You Down" on July 28, 2017.

Charts

External links

Ready for the World single info from discogs.comINOJ single info from discogs.com

References

{{reflist 1986 songs 1996 songs 1986 singles 1997 debut singles 1980s ballads Ready for the World songs INOJ songs MCA Records singles So So Def Recordings singles Contemporary R&B ballads

Charts

INOJ version

Charts

See also

External links

References