The Power of Love (Frankie Goes to Hollywood song)

"The Power of Love" is the third single from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, released in November 1984. It is taken from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome. The track was first featured during the John Peel Sessions the band performed on during 1983, which was slower and emphasized the track's original camp ironic content (such as the Hooded Claw from the cartoon series, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop).

"The Power of Love" followed its two predecessors, "Relax" and "Two Tribes", to the top of the UK singles chart, scoring the band an early December number-one, being pipped at the post by Band Aid for Christmas chart topper.

To commemorate the Christmas release, Godley & Creme directed a nativity themed video for the single, and the artwork for the single also used traditional Christian iconography. The original showing of the video on The Tube featured the nativity occupying the whole screen, however the borders of band members were added for later showings due to pressure from UK broadcasters.

The 12" mix of the song featured actor Chris Barrie's aping DJ Mike Read's banning of the single "Relax".

The single also featured a Christmas message from the band, entitled "Holier Than Thou".

On the cover is a reproduction of the Assunta by Titian, a 16th century painting in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari of Venice.

Holly Johnson, who co-wrote the song, later reminisced: "I always felt like The Power Of Love was the record that would save me in this life. There is a biblical aspect to its spirituality and passion; the fact that love is the only thing that matters in the end."

Chart performance

Tracklisting

All discographical information pertains to UK releases only (unless otherwise noted)

7": ZTT / ZTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

"Make love your goal"

1. "The Power of Love" (7" mix) - 5:27
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (7" mix) - 4:13

Also released as a picture disc, black with holly all over it

12": ZTT / 12 ZTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (extended version) - 9:28
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (scrapped) - 1:38
3. "Holier Than Thou" (the first) - 1:08
4. "The World Is My Oyster" (trapped) [instrumental] - 2:29
5. "Holier Than Thou" (the second) - 4:10
6. "The Power of Love" (instrumental) [unlisted] - 2:27

• Released in a "hearts and crosses" 12" envelope.
• "Holier Than Thou" is Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 1984 Christmas message.
• Also released as a picture disc PZTAS5

12": ZTT / 12 XTAS 5 (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (7" mix) - 5:27
2. "The World Is My Oyster" (12" mix) - 4:23
3. "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (pleasure fix) - 9:46
4. "The Only Star In Heaven" (star fix) - 3:52

• Released in a white gatefold sleeve with 5 photos.

MC: ZTT / CTIS 105 (United Kingdom)

"I'll protect you from the holocaust"

1. "[oh fire!]" - 0:16
2. "The Power of Love" (extended version, too) - 8:54
3. "Scrapped" - 1:38
4. "Holier Than Thou" - 1:08
5. "Trapped" - 2:29
6. "Holier Than Thou" - 4:10
7. "The Power of Love" (instrumental) [unlisted] - 2:27
8. "my uncle is a monster" [unlisted] - 0:29
9. "absolutely obscene" (relax version) [unlisted] - 0:28

Reissues

1993 reissues

CD

ZTT / FGTH3CD (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" - 5:29
2. "The Power of Love" (Original Extended Mix) - 9:29
3. "Rage Hard" (Original DJ Mix) [vocal edit] - 4:13
4. "Holier Than Thou Edit" (No Rest For The Best - Edit) - 3:29

CD

ZTT / FGTH3CDX (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" - 5:29
2. "The Power of Love" (Original Extended Mix) - 9:29
3. "Rage Hard" (Original DJ Mix) [vocal edit] - 4:13
4. "The Power of Love" (alternative mix) - 5:07

CD

ZTT-Warner / 4509-94954-2 (Germany)

1. "The Power of Love" (1994 radio love mix) - 3:47
2. "The Power of Love" - 5:29

2000 reissues

CD

ZTT / ZTT 150 CD (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle Club Mix Edit) - 4:13
2. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle Club Mix) - 8:41
3. "The Power of Love" (Minkys Yaba Mix Edit) - 5:05

12"

ZTT / ZTT 150 T (United Kingdom)

1. "The Power of Love" (Rob Searle Club Mix) - 8:38
2. "The Power of Love" (Minky's Yaba Mix) - 8:10

Holly Johnson version

Holly Johnson, former singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, recorded his own version of "The Power of Love" which was released on his 1999 album Soulstream and was released as a single which made #56 in the UK. The single stayed in the charts for 2 weeks. A music video was created for the track although it is somewhat of a collectors item today.

Remixes and B-sides

• "The Power of Love" (Radio Mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (12" Definitive mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (Doogs House mix)
• "The Power of Love" (Millennium mix)
• "In the House of the Rising Sun" (DNA Instrumental mix)
• "All U Need Is Love" (demo version)

Cover Versions

Slow Moving Millie covered the song on her album Renditions.

References