Where Is the Love

"Where Is the Love"
Single by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
from the album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Released 1972
Format 7" single
Genre Soul
Length 2:43
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Ralph MacDonald
William Salter[1]
Producer Joel Dorn
Arif Mardin
Certification Gold
Roberta Flack chronology
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
(1972)
"Where Is the Love"
(1972)
"Killing Me Softly with His Song"
(1973)
Donny Hathaway chronology
"I Thank You"
1972)
"Where Is the Love"
(1972)
"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know"
(1972)

"Where Is the Love" is a popular song written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, and recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Released in 1972 from their album, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent a week each at number one on the Billboard Easy Listening (July 1972)[2] and R&B (August 1972) charts.[3] The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Contents

Chart positions

Chart (1972) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 5
U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles 1
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening 1

Cover versions

There have been numerous cover versions. Helen Reddy recorded a version in 1972 on her Capitol album I Am Woman. South Vietnamese band The Dreamers recorded cover version in 1972 and it was very popular in South Vietnam. Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 had a top 20 easy listening hit with their 1973 cover version. Liza Minnelli covered it on her 1973 album The Singer. Eurovision song contest winner Dana recorded a version in the mid-1970s. Jazz legend Woody Herman recorded an Alan Broadbent arrangement for his album Children of Lima that featured a bassoon solo by Frank Tiberi. Stephanie Mills and Robert Brookins recorded a version that peaked at number 18 on the R&B chart in 1988. In 1995, the song was covered for the soundtrack to the film Dead Presidents by Jesse & Trina, and this version reached number 40 on the R&B chart.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Where Is the Love Allmusic.
  2. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 109.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 206. 
  4. ^ 1995 chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 July 2009.