Don't Let Go (Love)

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“Don't Let Go (Love)”

Single by En Vogue
from the album EV3, Set it Off

Released

April 1996 (US)

Format

CD single, Cassette single

Genre

Pop/R&B

Length

4:54

Producer

Organized Noize

En Vogue singles chronology

"Whatta Man"
(1993)

"Don't Let Go (Love)"
(1996)

"Whatever"
(1997)

"Don't Let Go (Love)" is the first single from musical group En Vogue's third studio album, EV3. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over 1,000,000 units. The song was the last single by En Vogue to feature former band member Dawn Robinson. The song became En Vogue's biggest international single, peaking in the top ten of many countries. It hit #5 in the UK in early 1997 and spent a formidable sixteen weeks in the UK top forty, nine of those weeks in the top ten. It reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (becoming their third #2 hit on the chart). The song was a #1 R&B song for 1 week becoming En Vogue's sixth and final #1 R&B Hit to date. The song was notable in the 1996 movie Set It Off.

This song compelled Elektra mogul Sylvia Rhone to place En Vogue back in the studio to record their EV3 for release in 1997. However, Dawn felt her solo career and membership in En Vogue were feasible while other members, producers, and executives focused on the new album. Forced to chose, Dawn decided to leave En Vogue for a solo career with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records. The turn of events following the success of Don't Let Go (Love) was the beginning of a long and tumultuous era for En Vogue as member changes became quite frequent.

During promotion of the single, several versions surfaced. The main album version was essentially used for the music video, but with a slightly different ending where Terry Ellis ad libs as the final chorus fades. An edit version which cut out several seconds in the beginning, as well as the instrumental following Cindy's ad libbing towards the end, was mainly spun at radio stations.

Chart (1996)	Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks	16
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40	2
Ireland Singles Chart	3
U.K. Singles Chart	5
Australia	2
United World Chart	2

[edit] Cover versions

American Rock band, Deepfield, covered this song on their debut album, Archetypes and Repetition.
In 2008 on their Change Tour, the girl group Sugababes performed the song. There are currently no plans for the song to be commercially released.

Year	Award
1997	Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Don't Let Go (Love)").
1997	Won Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B, Rap or Soul Single by Group, Band or Duo ("Don't Let Go (Love)").
1997	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Soundtrack Single for "Don't Let Go (Love)"

Preceded by "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly	Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single January 25, 1997	Succeeded by "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly