"The Line" is a song recorded by British singer, songwriter and actress

Lisa Stansfield Lisa Jane Stansfield (born 11 April 1966) is an English singer, songwriter, and actress. Her career began in 1980 when she won the singing competition ''Search for a Star''. After appearances in various television shows and releasing her first ...

, released as the third European single from her eponymous album (1997). It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Terry Gamwell, and produced by Devaney and

Peter Mokran Peter Mokran is an American mixer, producer, engineer and musician. Early life Mokran was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, he studied classical guitar, while also learning engineering and programming as a teen.Paul Tingen“Secr ...

. The song received positive reviews from music critics. It was released as a single in Europe on 22 September 1997 and reached number sixty-four in the United Kingdom. The single included remixes created by various British producers: The Boilerhouse Boys, Ashley Beedle,

Black Science Orchestra Black Science Orchestra was a musical project headed chiefly by the British DJ and producer Ashley Beedle, which produced a number of disco and rare groove-inspired house records in the 1990s. History Enlisting the help of Rob Mello and John Howa ...

, Ian O'Brien,

Snowboy Snowboy (a.k.a. Mark Cotgrove) is an English percussionist, bandleader, DJ and journalist.Danny Breaks Danny Breaks (born Daniel Whiddett) is a British drum and bass DJ, record producer and record label owner. He is known for his experimental instrumental hip hop production, and early music career as the breakbeat hardcore artist Sonz of a Loop ...

and Mark Mendoza. An accompanying music video, directed by

Rocky Schenck Rocky Schenck (born April 18, 1955) is an American photographer and music video director. Schenck has photographed several album covers and has written and directed numerous music videos and short films. He has shot fashion, editorial and portr ...

, was also released. After that, Stansfield embarked on a mini-tour in the United Kingdom in October and November 1997. "The Line" (The Black Science Orchestra Mix) was later included on ''

The Remix Album The Remix Album may refer to: * ''The Remix Album'' (4hero album), 2004 * ''The Remix Album'' (All Saints album), 1998 * ''The Remix Album'' (Champion album), 2006 * ''The Remix Album'' (Lisa Stansfield album), 1998 * ''The Remix Album'' (Milli Van ...

'' (1998) and on the two-CD edition of '' Biography: The Greatest Hits'' (2003). In 2014, remixes of "The Line" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of ''Lisa Stansfield''. Additional remixes were featured on '' People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology'' (2014). All was included on '' The Collection 1989–2003''.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine '' Music & Media'' felt that this track does much to reaffirm Lisa Stansfield's status as one of the UK's leading R&B artists. They added, "A midtempo number, The Line shows her at her very best and a host of cleverly constructed remixes are worthy of further investigation by more adventurous music programmers." Editor Dominic Pride described it as a "funky strut". A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' rated it three out of five, noting that "Stansfield finds herself in laid-back, funky mode on this upbeat groove which makes the most of its simple, rhythmic qualities." ''

Press of Atlantic City ''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...

'' stated that the singer "shines" on the "funky" song."Lisa Stansfield Focused With Her Latest Release". ''

''. 10 August 1997.

Track listings

* European CD and UK cassette single #"The Line" (Album Edit) – 3:34 #"The Line" (Boilerhouse Radio Edit) – 4:05 * European CD maxi-single #"The Line" (Album Edit) – 3:34 #"The Line" (Boilerhouse Radio Edit) – 4:05 #"The Line" ( Pure Funk Radio Edit) – 3:28 #"The Line" ( Black Science Magic Vocal) – 6:14 #"The Line" (Ian O'Brien's Desert Funk Mix) – 8:37 #"The Line" (

Snowboy Snowboy (a.k.a. Mark Cotgrove) is an English percussionist, bandleader, DJ and journalist.Loop Da Loop Nicolas Jean-Pierre Dresti (born 5 March 1975), better known by his stage name Space Cowboy, is a French-British singer-songwriter, DJ, and producer. Born in France and raised in England, Dresti first recorded in 1992 under the names of Vibes ...

Gangster House Mix) – 6:56 * European 12" single #"The Line" (Black Science Magic Vocal) – 6:14 #"The Line" (Loop Da Loop Gangster House Mix) – 6:56 #"The Line" (Hippie Torrales Mentor Mix) – 6:41 #"The Line" (Ian O'Brien's Desert Funk Mix) – 8:37 * UK promotional CD single #"The Line" (Album Edit) – 3:34 #"The Line" (Boilerhouse Radio Edit) – 4:05 #"The Line" (Pure Funk Radio Edit) – 3:28 #"The Line" (Hippie Torrales Radio Edit) – 3:39 #"The Line" (Snowboy Radio Edit) – 3:33 * UK promotional 12" single (The Loop Da Loop Mixes) #"The Line" (Loop Da Loop Uptown Mix) – 7:50 #"The Line" (Loop Da Loop Downtown Mix) – 7:48 * UK promotional 12" single (The Vocal Sessions) #"The Line" (Black Science Magic Vocal) – 6:14 #"The Line" (Hippie Torrales Mix) – 6:41 * UK promotional 12" single (The Funk Sessions) #"The Line" (Pure Funk Mix) – 4:20 #"The Line" (Devaney & Mokran Mix) – 5:55 * UK promotional 12" single (Ian O'Brien Remixes) #"The Line" (Ian O'Brien's Desert Funk Mix) – 8:37 #"The Line" (Ian O'Brien's Benfleet 3:30 Mix) – 10:06 * UK promotional 12" single #"The Line" (Boilerhouse Mix) – 4:05 #"The Line" (Snowboy Extended Mix) – 4:20 * European promotional 12" single (Black Science Magic Sessions) #"The Line" (Black Science Magic Session Part 1) – 5:51 #"The Line" (Black Science Magic Session Part 2) – 6:29 * European promotional 12" single (Unreleased Pressure) #"The Line" (Ian O'Brien's Benfleet 3:30 Mix) – 10:06 #"The Line" (Loop Da Loop Downtown Dub) – 5:22 * Other remixes #"The Line" (The Black Science Orchestra Mix) – 5:58

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Line, The Lisa Stansfield songs 1997 singles Songs written by Lisa Stansfield 1997 songs Arista Records singles Songs written by Ian Devaney