Love Is the Groove


"Love Is the Groove" is the debut single by the American-born singer-songwriter Betsy Cook, released on January 6, 1992, by East West Records from her debut studio album, The Girl Who Ate Herself. The song was written and produced by Cook and Bruce Woolley. It peaked at number 88 in the UK Singles Chart.
The song was covered by American singer-actress Cher for her Grammy-winning 1998 album Believe. Cher's version featured similar, yet more updated techno-sounding instrumentation and slightly altered lyrics.

Background

In 1992, Cook revealed that "Love Is the Groove" "came from feeling terribly happy", whereas many other songs on The Girl Who Ate Herself came from "feeling rather sad" or were inspired by "being at some really big changing point ". She added, "It's all about you come to a certain place and you pulsate at the same frequency, and you feel at home."

Critical reception

Upon its release, The Arbroath Herald awarded "Love Is the Groove" an eight out of ten rating and wrote, "There's rather a nice melody to this track, which has an almost Christmassy sound about it, and it certainly is a grower – given the right exposure it could easily make the top ten. If it has a fault, it is that it falls into the 'currently popular female vocalist who could just about be anybody' category." The Chorley Guardian rated it nine out of ten and called it a "beautifully atmospheric track that makes its dance backing at first surprising". The reviewer continued, "The love lyrics would sit comfortably on any Enya album, but the quality of the production is enough to convince us that the two can be put together very successfully." Sally Margaret Joy of Melody Maker was negative in her review, writing, "Betsy's singing is in tune to no tune at all. The tune got lost in all the fussiness that surrounds it."

Track listings

7–inch single and cassette single
  1. "Love Is the Groove" – 4:40
  2. "Diving" – 5:36
12–inch single
  1. "Love Is the Groove" – 7:17
  2. "Love Is the Groove" – 6:41
  3. "Love Is the Groove" – 4:40
  4. "Love Is the Groove" – 6:33
CD single
  1. "Love Is the Groove" – 4:40
  2. "Love Is the Groove" – 7:17
  3. "Love Is the Groove" – 6:41
  4. "Diving" – 5:36

Personnel

"Love Is the Groove"
Production
  • Bruce Woolley – production and engineering
  • Betsy Cook – production
  • Tony Phillips – mixing
  • Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing assistance
  • Ren Swan – additional mixing, mixing
  • Justin Vikkerman – additional mixing assistance
  • Jon Marsh – special remix production
Other