Let the Music (Lift You Up)


"Let the Music " is a song by British house music group Loveland featuring singer Rachel McFarlane, released in 1994 by labels 12INC, Eastern Bloc Records and KMS as their debut single. It was co-written by Hassan Watkins and Mike Banks, and is a cover of a song by American singer Darlene Lewis. Some of the single releases also featured both versions. The Loveland version was included on the group's only album, The Wonder of Love, and peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number-one on both the Music Week Dance Singles chart and the UK Club Chart, and won the Best Dance Record of the Year award at the Silver Clef Award.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Virtually flawless disco/house number is poised to glide from atop U.K. dance charts onto stateside dancefloors within seconds. Track pumps a heavy beat, which is tied in flowing ribbons of strings and horns. Rachel McFarlane provides a bright flash of diva belting, proving her moxie by holding her own against a busy, effect-filled arrangement. Rhythm/crossover radio tastemakers are advised to open their minds and ears." Andy Beevers from Music Week gave it a top score of five out of five and named it Single of the Week in the category of Dance, and a "huge house track from Manchester".
He added, "The Full On Vocal Mix, with its pounding pianos and hackneyed lyrics, is undeniably old-fashioned and is about as cheesy as a lorryload of Wotsits. But it comes with a guarantee to create absolute mayhem on all but the most elite of dancefloors." James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update felt the Loveland cover version of the Darlene Lewis song is "much more exciting". Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave it two out of five, viewing it as "a routine rave-up stomper by some blokes you've never heard of that will nonetheless "storm" the charts." Another Smash Hits editor, Emma Cochrane, felt it "was pretty good".

Track listing

12", Europe
  1. "Let the Music "
  2. "Let the Music "
  3. "Let the Music "
  4. "Loveland's Theme"CD single, France
  5. "Let the Music " – 3:29
  6. "Let the Music " – 5:40CD maxi, US
  7. "Let the Music " – 6:14
  8. "Let the Music " – 5:34
  9. "Let the Music " – 6:32
  10. "Let the Music " – 5:40
  11. "Loveland's Theme" – 4:13

Charts

Weekly charts

Darlene Lewis version
Chart Peak
position
UK Singles
UK Club Chart 47

Loveland version
Chart Peak
position
Australia 162
Europe 55
Scotland 21
UK Singles 26
UK Dance 1
UK Club Chart 1
US Hot Dance Club Play 19
US Maxi-Singles Sales 19

Year-end charts

Loveland version
Chart Position
UK Singles 200
UK Club Chart 1