Love on a Two-Way Street
Encyclopedia
"Love on a Two-Way Street" is a Soul
ballad
written by Sylvia Robinson
and Bert Keyes in 1968. The song was originally recorded by Lezli Valentine, an artist signed to All Platinum, the record label that Sylvia Robinson co-owned with her husband, Joe. The song was then recorded by The Moments
, an R&B vocal group signed to All Platinum subsidiary
Stang Records, as filler for their 1968 album Not on the Outside, But on the Inside, Strong!. Sylvia and Joe decided to release the song as a single in March of 1970 and it went on to become one of the biggest R&B hits of that year, spending five weeks at number one on Billboard's Soul Singles
chart and reaching number three on the Hot 100
chart.. It was also certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies. Willie and The Mighty Magnificents provided most of the musical backing on the song and Burt Keyes created the string arrangement that was overdubbed onto the track while also playing piano on the recording session.
In 1981, Cotillion Records
artist Stacy Lattisaw
recorded and released her own version of the song and it too was a chart success in the U.S.
, peaking at number two R&B and number twenty six on the Hot 100. . The song was also covered by Gloria Estefan
for her 1994 album, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".
According to the song's original vocalist, Lezli Valentine, she was a third contributor to the song writing most of the song's lyrics:
The Moments' version of the song has been sampled by The AB's formally known as Asamov in 2005 for the song "Supa Dynamite," by Caribou
in the track "Supotnik" from 2005's The Milk of Human Kindness
, and by Jay-Z
and Alicia Keys
' single "Empire State of Mind
" in 2009.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
written by Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
and Bert Keyes in 1968. The song was originally recorded by Lezli Valentine, an artist signed to All Platinum, the record label that Sylvia Robinson co-owned with her husband, Joe. The song was then recorded by The Moments
Ray, Goodman & Brown
Ray, Goodman & Brown is an American R&B vocal group. The group originated as The Moments, who formed in the mid-1960s and whose greatest successes came in the 1970s with hits including "Love on a Two-Way Street", "Sexy Mama" and "Look at Me "...
, an R&B vocal group signed to All Platinum subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
Stang Records, as filler for their 1968 album Not on the Outside, But on the Inside, Strong!. Sylvia and Joe decided to release the song as a single in March of 1970 and it went on to become one of the biggest R&B hits of that year, spending five weeks at number one on Billboard's Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart and reaching number three on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart.. It was also certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies. Willie and The Mighty Magnificents provided most of the musical backing on the song and Burt Keyes created the string arrangement that was overdubbed onto the track while also playing piano on the recording session.
In 1981, Cotillion Records
Cotillion Records
Cotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was originally formed as an outlet for blues and deep Southern soul; its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About A Mover", reached the R&B charts. Cotillion's catalog quickly expanded...
artist Stacy Lattisaw
Stacy Lattisaw
Stacy Lattisaw is an American R&B, dance, and gospel singer. Since the 1990s, she has exclusively sung gospel music, as a callback to her Christian roots.-Career:...
recorded and released her own version of the song and it too was a chart success in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, peaking at number two R&B and number twenty six on the Hot 100. . The song was also covered by Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
for her 1994 album, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".
According to the song's original vocalist, Lezli Valentine, she was a third contributor to the song writing most of the song's lyrics:
The Moments' version of the song has been sampled by The AB's formally known as Asamov in 2005 for the song "Supa Dynamite," by Caribou
Caribou (musician)
Daniel Victor Snaith is a composer, musician and recording artist under stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. Under the supervision of Kevin Buzzard, he obtained a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London.- Career:...
in the track "Supotnik" from 2005's The Milk of Human Kindness
The Milk of Human Kindness
The Milk of Human Kindness is a 2005 album by Caribou. Caribou is the performing name of Dan Snaith who was previously known as Manitoba until he was forced to change it after a threat of a lawsuit by American punk musician Handsome Dick Manitoba of The Dictators.While the title is a quote from...
, and by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
' single "Empire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind
"Empire State of Mind" is a song by American rapper and hip hop artist Jay-Z, featuring vocals and a chorus from R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys. It was released as the third single from Jay-Z's 11th studio album The Blueprint 3 by his Roc Nation label in October 2009...
" in 2009.