Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Encyclopedia
"Thin Line Between Love and Hate" is the title of a 1971 song by the New York City
-based R&B vocal group The Persuaders
. The song was written and produced by the Poindexter brothers, Robert and Richard, and was also co-written by Jackie Members.
This was the group's biggest hit song, spending two weeks atop the Billboard
R&B chart
in late 1971. It also reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart and was a certified Gold Record by the RIAA.
or sampled
by many musical acts.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based R&B vocal group The Persuaders
The Persuaders (band)
The Persuaders are a New York based R&B vocal group, with some fame in the 1970s, best known for their hit single, "Thin Line Between Love and Hate"...
. The song was written and produced by the Poindexter brothers, Robert and Richard, and was also co-written by Jackie Members.
This was the group's biggest hit song, spending two weeks atop the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart
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,...
in late 1971. It also reached #15 on the Billboard 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 and was a certified Gold Record by the RIAA.
Cover versions
The song has been coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
or sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by many musical acts.
- Roots reggae artist BB SeatonB.B. SeatonHarris Lloyd "B.B." Seaton , also known as "Bibby" is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer who was a member of The Gaylads, The Astronauts, Conscious Minds, and The Messengers , and who has had a long solo career which dates back to 1960.-Biography:Seaton first recorded as a solo...
did a version on his 1973 album of the same name - The rock band The PretendersThe PretendersThe Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
recorded a version of this song that was included on their 1984 album Learning to CrawlLearning to CrawlLearning to Crawl is the Pretenders' third album, released in 1984 after a two-year hiatus, during which time James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon both died of drug overdoses....
. Featuring Paul CarrackPaul CarrackPaul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
on keyboards and backing vocals, this version peaked at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #49 on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. - A sample of "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" was featured in the song "Washed Away" by the hip-hop band Arrested Development. This song can be found on their 1992 album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... is the debut album by American hip hop group Arrested Development, released in 1992 . The album's chart success was the beginning of the popularization of Southern hip hop. 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... stood in stark contrast to the...
. - Also in 1992, rapper Kid Frost sampled this song on his track "Thin Line". This song is included on his album East Side StoryEast Side Story (Kid Frost album)East Side Story is the second album by rapper, Kid Frost. The album was released in 1992 and was not only his last for Virgin Records but also his last album under the alias of Kid Frost, as he would change his name to Frost...
and reached #82 on the Billboard R&B chart. - In 1995, Annie LennoxAnnie LennoxAnnie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
recorded a cover of this song that was featured on her second solo album MedusaMedusa (Annie Lennox album)Medusa is the second solo album by the Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released in March 1995. It consists solely of cover songs, all originally recorded by male artists. It entered the UK album chart at No. 1 and peaked in the US at number 11, spending 60 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. It has...
. - In 1996, R&B vocal trio H-TownH-Town (band)H-Town is an American R&B/hip hop vocal group. It was originally founded by twin brothers Keven “Dino” Conner, Solomon “Shazam” Conner, and their longtime friend Darryl “G.I.” Jackson in 1992.-Formation:...
recorded the song, which was included in the film A Thin Line Between Love and HateA Thin Line Between Love and HateA Thin Line Between Love and Hate is a 1996 dark comedy-romance film that was directed and co-written by Martin Lawrence, who also stars in the film. Lawrence co-wrote the screenplay alongside Kenny Buford, who has also written for Lawrence's hit television sitcom, Martin...
starring Martin LawrenceMartin LawrenceMartin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
. Released as "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate", this version featured Shirley MurdockShirley MurdockShirley Murdock is an American R&B singer, who is best known for her 1986 R&B hit single "As We Lay" and for her vocals on Zapp and Roger hit single Computer Love.-Career:...
on female vocals and reached #6 on the Billboard R&B chart and #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. - In 2000, Chrissie HyndeChrissie HyndeChristine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
performed a cover version on Da Ali G ShowDa Ali G ShowDa Ali G Show is the name of two related satirical TV series created by and starring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and featuring the character Ali G....
. During the performance, Ali GAli GAli G is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's Eleven O'Clock show, Ali G is the title character of Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, original episodes of which aired in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, and is the...
said the song was "depressing", and sped it up into a jungleOldschool jungleJungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
song, with backup dancers.
External links
- 1971 Persuaders single info From discogs.com
- 1984 Pretenders single info From discogs.com