Love Inc. (group)

{{Short description|Canadian dance music band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Love Inc.

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| genre = House, Eurodance

| years_active = 1997–2000, 2002–2003

| label = VIK/RCA

| associated_acts = BKS

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members = Chris Sheppard
Brad Daymond
Simone Denny

}}

Love Inc. were a Canadian Eurodance music group from Toronto, Ontario. The group was formed by DJ/remixer/producers Chris Sheppard and Brad Daymond, with Simone Denny on vocals.

Musical career

Sheppard and Denny previously worked together in dance outfit BKS.

The group scored its first major hit on the Canadian pop chart with "Broken Bones", which won Best Video at the 1998 MuchMusic Video Awards.{{Cite web|title=Best Video Winners 1991-2003 |url=http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva04/rewind/bestvideo/ |publisher=MuchMusic |accessdate=2010-05-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120011022/http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva04/rewind/bestvideo/ |archivedate=2008-11-20 }}

"Broken Bones" peaked at number 6 (Canadian Airplay) and #23 (Top 100 singles) in 1998. The group performed it during the halftime show at the 86th Grey Cup.

It was followed that same year by "You're a Superstar". "You're a Superstar" also became the band's only hit in the United States, where it peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1999. The singles "Who Do You Love" and "Homeless" followed in 1999.

In 1999, Daymond left the group to pursue a remix and production career with Alex Greggs as "Riprock & Alex G". After Love Inc.'s self-titled album was released, Sheppard and Denny continued as a duo and in 2000 released Into the Night, which included the title track, "Come On (It's Only Love)", and "Here Comes the Sunshine". It would also be their last album. Five singles in total reached the # 1 position on the Canadian Dance Charts published by the now-defunct publications The Record and RPM Magazine.

The group's debut album remains the only dance album created domestically in Canada to achieve platinum certification (sales over 100,000 units).

Love Inc. were also aided by Frankfurt-based pop dance innovator Peter Ries, who co-produced both albums with the band. Other participants included composer Vincent DeGiorgio and Germany's Doug Laurent and award-winning songwriter/artist Dan Hill.

A few years after their break up, they would achieve success overseas when "You're a Superstar" and "Broken Bones" became hits in the UK and Ireland. "You're a Superstar" spent four weeks at number 7 in the UK Singles Chart in December 2002, and "Broken Bones" reached number 8 in May 2003.{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 331}} "Do Ya (Feel The Love)", co-written with Ms. Denny, was also featured on the initial Queer As Folk soundtrack, released on RCA Victor worldwide. You're a Superstar was featured on the Christmas special series finale of The Office as music in the background.

In 2003, Denny provided the vocals for Widelife's track "All Things (Just Keep Getting Better)", the theme from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/35046/queer-eye-for-the-straight-guy-goes-into-the-record-business | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630092925/http://www.chartattack.com/news/35046/queer-eye-for-the-straight-guy-goes-into-the-record-business | url-status=usurped | archive-date=June 30, 2009 | title=Queer Eye For The Straight Guy Goes Into The Record Business | date=25 November 2003 | magazine=Chart | accessdate=2008-11-22 }}{{cite magazine | url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/35333/duran-duran-debut-new-song-on-queer-eye-soundtrack | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607103455/http://www.chartattack.com/news/35333/duran-duran-debut-new-song-on-queer-eye-soundtrack | url-status=usurped | archive-date=June 7, 2011 | title= Duran Duran Debut New Song On Queer Eye Soundtrack | date=14 January 2004 | magazine=Chart | accessdate=2008-11-22 }}

In 2013, Denny returned to performing with a touring version of Love Inc., this time billing themselves as "Love Inc. Featuring Simone Denny," performing the band's songs at nightclubs across Canada.

Brad Daymond (born Bradley Daymond Ralph on February 22, 1970, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) died on August 3, 2018, from complications after a cardiac arrest he had suffered three months earlier, at the age of 48.{{cite web|url=https://www.peacefultransition.ca/obituary/bradley-daymond-ralph/ |title= Bradley Raymond Ralph February 22, 1970 - August 3, 2018 |website= Peaceful Transition |accessdate= January 26, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/bradley-daymond-love-inc-member-who-worked-with-n-sync-dies-at-age-48-1.4044700|title=Bradley Daymond, Love Inc. member who worked with 'N Sync, dies at age 48|first=David|last=Friend|date=8 August 2018|website=Ctvnews.ca|accessdate=8 August 2018}}

An unrelated band of the same name released a single called "Love is the Message" in 1991, which in February of that year charted for three weeks, peaking at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://officialcharts.com/artist/10334/love-inc-/|title=love-inc- - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|accessdate=5 June 2017}}

Legacy

  • "Broken Bones" would be used as a sampled track on Canadian rapper Belly's 2011 single "Purple Drugs," using the main lyrics from "Broken Bones" ("...Take a ride on a purple airplane, honey I don't know when I'll be back again") as the basis for the song.

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title

! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details

! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:45px;"| CAN
{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7928&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=jmkgoammhjbu71i430et8hh171|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca|accessdate=5 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7166&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=jmkgoammhjbu71i430et8hh171|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca|accessdate=5 June 2017}}

scope="row"| Love Inc.

|

  • Release date: 1998
  • Label: BMG Music Canada
  • Formats: CD

| 33

|

  • MC: Platinum{{cite certification|region=Canada|artist=Love Inc.|access-date=June 11, 2023}}
scope="row"| Into the Night

|

  • Release date: August 29, 2000
  • Label: BMG Music Canada
  • Formats: CD

| 46

|

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| CAN
*[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3544&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181 Canada Top Singles peak for "Broken Bones"] *[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7063&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181 Canada Top Singles peak for "You're a Superstar"] *[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7495&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181 Canada Top Singles peak for "Homeless"] *[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8383&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181 Canada Top Singles peak for "Who Do U Love"] *[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7172&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181 Canada Top Singles peak for "Here Comes the Sunshine"]

! width="35"| CAN
Dance

[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=7rhdmi40huquupo77cpmpnd181&q1=love+inc.&q2=Dance%2FUrban&interval=20 Canada Dance peaks] RPM

! width="35"| AUS
{{cite Ryan|page=171}}

! width="35"| NED
{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/love-inc/love-inc-you-re-a-superstar_10346|title=Love Inc. - You're A Superstar|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|website=Top40.nl|accessdate=5 June 2017}}

! width="35"| UK

! width="35"| US
Dance

{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p173645/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Love Inc. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))|website=Allmusic|accessdate=27 July 2009}}

1997

| align="left"| "Broken Bones"

| 23

| 1

| 52

| —

| 8

| —

|

  • MC: Gold

| rowspan="4"| Love Inc.

rowspan=2| 1998

| align="left"| "You're a Superstar"

| 13

| 1

| 57

| 23

| 7

| 22

|

  • MC: Gold
  • BPI: Platinum{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=Love Inc|access-date=August 23, 2024}}
align="left"| "Homeless"

| 21

| 1

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

1999

| align="left"| "Who Do U Love"

| 18

| 1

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

rowspan=3| 2000

| align="left"| "Come On (It's Only Love)"

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

| rowspan="3"| Into the Night

align="left"| "Here Comes the Sunshine"

| 14{{Efn|"Here Comes the Sunshine" reached number 14 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.}}

| 1

| —

| —

| —

| —

|

align="left"| "Into the Night"

| —

| —

| —

| —

| 39

| —

|

colspan="15" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}