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Yearning for Your Love

{{Infobox song

| name = Yearning for Your Love

| cover = GBYEARN.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = The Gap Band

| album = The Gap Band III

| B-side = {{flat list |

| released = January 1981

| recorded = 1980

| studio =

| genre =

  • R&B
  • funk
  • quiet storm{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Harvey |title= The Quiet Storm |website= Pitchfork |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/underscore/8822-the-quiet-storm/|date= May 19, 2012|accessdate= October 11, 2022}}

| length = 3:59 (single)
5:43 (album version)

| label = Mercury

| writer =

  • Oliver Scott
  • Ronnie Wilson

| producer =

| prev_title = Humpin'

| prev_year = 1980

| next_title = Early in the Morning

| next_year = 1982

}}

"Yearning for Your Love" is a 1980 ballad recorded and released by The Gap Band on Mercury Records. The single was the third release off the band's fifth album, The Gap Band III (1980). Four different singles, each with a different B-side, were released in 1981.

The song became a modest hit on the US and UK charts when it was released; it arose to number five on the Hot Soul Singles chart and number sixty on the Billboard Hot 100. Written by Gap Band keyboardist Oliver Scott and keyboardist Ronnie Wilson, it was a romantic love song dedicated to Wilson's wife at the time and was performed by Ronnie's brother Charlie Wilson.

Structure

The song was markedly different in style from the past few hits,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/yearning-for-your-love-mt0005249448|title=Yearning for Your Love - The Gap Band | Song Info | AllMusic|access-date=25 April 2021|website=AllMusic}} with less emphasis on synthesizers, instead on "light slices of guitar, smooth keyboard pads and soft percussion". It is said,{{by whom|date=April 2021}} Charlie Wilson's smooth baritone take on the song helped the song become influential to contemporary R&B singers, such as Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill and Gerald Levert.

Releases

  1. "Yearning for Your Love" / "Burn Rubber"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gap-Band-Yearning-For-Your-Love-Burn-Rubber/release/1057967|title=Gap Band – Yearning For Your Love / Burn Rubber (1980, 72 - PRC, Richmond Pressing, Vinyl)|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Discogs.com}}
  2. "Yearning for Your Love" / "Humpin'"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gap-Band-Yearning-For-Your-Love-Humpin/release/1396840|title=Gap Band – Yearning For Your Love / Humpin' (1980, Vinyl)|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Discogs.com}}
  3. "Yearning for Your Love" / "When I Look in Your Eyes"{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Gap-Band-Yearning-For-Your-Love-When-I-Look-In-Your-Eyes/release/1459802|title=The Gap Band – Yearning For Your Love / When I Look In Your Eyes (1980, Vinyl)|website=Discogs.com|access-date=25 April 2021}}
  4. "Yearning for Your Love" / "Oops Upside Your Head"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Gap-Band-Yearning-For-Your-Love-Oops-Upside-Your-Head/master/158035|title=The Gap Band - Yearning For Your Love / Oops Upside Your Head|website=Discogs.com|access-date=25 April 2021}}

Personnel

  • Lead vocals by Charlie Wilson
  • Background vocals by Oliver Scott, Ronnie Wilson and Robert Wilson
  • Drums by Ronnie Kaufman
  • Guitars by Fred Jenkins, Glenn Nightingale
  • Bass by Robert Wilson
  • Synthesizers by Ronnie Wilson
  • Keyboards by Oliver Scott

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Chart (1981)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

|align="center"|60

scope="row"|US Hot Soul Singles Chart

|align="center"|5

Cover versions

In 1989, Swiss pianist Alex Bugnon covered the song for his album, Love Season.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r71465|pure_url=yes}}|title=Love Season overview|work=AllMusic}}

In 1990, Guy also covered the song on their 1990 album, The Future.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r540135|pure_url=yes}}|title=Strut overview|work=AllMusic}}

In 2001, keyboardist Kevin Toney covered the song on his album Strut. The song featured Evelyn "Champagne" King on vocals.{{cite web|url=http://www.smoothvibes.com/Vaults/contempo_10_01.html|title=Contempo October 2001|work=SmoothVibes.com}}

In 2019, singer PJ Morton covered the song from his album Paul.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/pj-morton-teases-paul-album-shares-ready-video-658560/|title=PJ Morton Teases Forthcoming 'PAUL' Album With New "Ready" Visual|first=Alexis|last=Reese|website=Vibe.com|date=24 July 2019|access-date=25 April 2021}}

Sampling

The song has been sampled several times including some of the following:

References

{{Reflist}}

{{The Gap Band}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1980 songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:The Gap Band songs

Category:Funk ballads

Category:MCA Records singles

Category:Rhythm and blues ballads

Category:Soul ballads

Category:1980s ballads