"Take the L" is a song by American new wave band
The Motels, which was released in 1982 as the second single from their third studio album ''
All Four One
''All Four One'' is the third studio album by new wave band the Motels, released in 1982. It features the Top 10 hit "Only the Lonely", and the follow-up hit " Take the L". Both songs were assisted by popular MTV music videos. The album was recor ...
''. The song was written by Marty Jourard,
Martha Davis and
Carter, and produced by
Val Garay. "Take the L" peaked at number 52 on the US ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...
.
Background
"Take the L" originated with the band's keyboardist and saxophone player Marty Jourard, who had been working on the song for a while.
He had a simple progression, but felt "it didn't sound right" until Martha Davis suggested he swap the order of the two chords around. The song's title and repeated line of the chorus ("Take the L out of lover and it's over") came from the producer of the band's first two albums,
Carter. During a conversation with the producer, Jourard revealed he was in the process of breaking up with his girlfriend, to which Carter responded with the line. Jourard told the ''Messenger-Press'' in 1982, "When I first heard the
ine it was beyond corny, it was almost camp." The Motels recorded "Take the L" in one take on December 7, 1981.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by
Russell Mulcahy.
Critical reception
On its release, ''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' commented, "Here, the songstress' mournful wailings are accompanied by a marching rhythm on the oft-repeated hook. It's undeniably catchy if not exactly upbeat." Jim Whiteford of the Scottish newspaper ''
The Kilmarnock Standard'' described the song as a "mid-tempo rocker" with a "very reasonable American production". He added, "The band haven't issued anything
n the UK
N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''.
History
...
for over a year, so this new beginning may get them noticed if the radio folk give them some breathing space."
Track listing
7–inch single (US and Canada)
#"Take the L" – 3:42
#"Mission of Mercy" – 3:02
7–inch promotional single (US)
#"Take the L" – 3:42
#"Take the L" – 3:42
7–inch single (UK, Ireland and the Netherlands)
#"Take the L (Out of Lover)" – 3:42
#"Change My Mind" – 3:21
7–inch single (Germany and South Africa)
#"Take the L" – 3:42
#"Change My Mind" – 3:21
7–inch single (Australasia and Spain)
#"Take the L" – 3:42
#"
He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)
"He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King for girl group the Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector in 1962. Goffin and King wrote the song after discovering that their babysitter and singer ...
" – 2:28
7–inch single (Japan)
#"Take the L" – 3:42
#"So L.A" – 3:35
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the ''All Four One'' LP inner sleeve notes.
The Motels
*
Martha Davis – vocals
* Marty Jourard – keyboards
* Michael Goodroe – bass
*
Brian Glascock – drums
* Guy Perry – guitar
Production
*
Val Garay – producer
Charts
References
{{authority control
1982 songs
1982 singles
The Motels songs
Capitol Records singles
Songs written by Martha Davis (musician)