Take Me Back to Love Again
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Take Me Back to Love Again
| cover = Take_Me_Back_to_Love_Again.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kathy Sledge
| album = Heart
| released = 1992
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance
| length = 3:55
| label = Epic Records
| writer =
- Kenny Harris
- Mark Holden
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Heart
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Rhd--QWLnE4|"Take Me Back to Love Again"}}}}
}}
"Take Me Back to Love Again" is a 1992 song by American singer-songwriter Kathy Sledge. It was written by Kenny Harris and Mark Holden, and was the first single from Sledge's first solo album, Heart (1992).{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Kathy-Sledge-Take-Me-Back-To-Love-Again/release/1215073|title=Kathy Sledge - Take Me Back to Love Again|publisher=Discogs}} The producers were Charles Farrar and Troy Taylor. The single went to number-one on the US Billboard dance chart for one week.{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=237}} It did not make the Billboard Hot 100 but went to number 24 on the Billboard soul singles chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=533}} In Europe, it peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.
Critical reception
Craig Lytle from AllMusic noted that the song "has a progressive rhythm with flashbacks of disco".{{cite web|first= Craig |last= Lytle |title= Kathy Sledge – Heart |publisher= AllMusic |date= |accessdate= 9 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/heart-mw0000679071}} Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "This festive, garage-vibed houser benefits from the maturing remix hand of Roger S., who takes it through six strong variations." He added, "Of course, the real reason to check this jam out is Sledge's instantly recognizable voice, which sounds as powerful as it did on classics like "We Are Family".{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Sledge Is Back; Sims Simmers; Abdul Exudes Club Vibe |magazine= Billboard |date= 8 February 1992 |page= 23 |accessdate= 7 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-02-08.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}
John Martinucci from the Gavin Report said, "I find my ears gravitating toward the LP edit because it presents her soft-smooth vocals in a Jazz/Fusion setting. Check it out."{{cite magazine|first= John |last= Martinucci |title= Urban: New Releases |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 6 March 1991 |page= 19 |accessdate= 17 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-03-06.pdf}} Andy Beevers from Music Week commented, "Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge fame has returned with a bang up-to-date single, the classy Roger Sanchez mixed Take Me Back To Love. Import copies have already been filling garage-orientated dancefloors and the track is now getting a UK release."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-05-02.pdf |title= Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= 2 May 1992 |page= 14 |accessdate= 2 October 2020}}
Impact and legacy
In 1995, British DJ Sister Bliss selected it as one of "the tracks that mean most to her", saying, "This is a bit of a handbag one – a big Northern tune. It has a tinkly piano – the piano riff is one of the nicest things about it. It's an unpretentious little tune Jon Pleased Wimmin used to play it all the time – it brings back memories of the Bar Industria at four in the morning and putting my hands in the air. It's infectious happy."{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= Jock On Her Box |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 18 March 1995 |page= 11 |accessdate= 6 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-03-18.pdf}}
Track listing
- 7" single, UK (1992)
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Radio Remix) – 3:55
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Album Version) – 3:59
- 12", US (1992)
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Shelter Me Mix) – 6:48
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Soundshaft Mix) – 6:15
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Soundshaft Beats) – 3:00
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Roger's Favorite Mix) – 5:30
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Preston's Piano Mix) – 5:32
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Raw Mix) – 5:00
- CD maxi, UK (1992)
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (7" Version) – 3:55
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Back To Romance) – 5:00
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (12" Remix) – 5:15
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Instrumental) – 4:00
- "Take Me Back to Love Again" (Album Version) – 3:59
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1992)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
| 62 |
| scope="row"|UK Dance (Music Week){{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-05-16.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 16 May 1992 |page= 20 |accessdate= 29 September 2020}}
| 12 |
| scope="row"|US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)
| 1 |
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
| 24 |