Love Is All We Need

"Love Is All We Need"
Single by Mary J. Blige featuring Nas
from the album Share My World
Released	March 18, 1997 (1997-03-18)
Format	CD single cassette 12" 7"
Recorded	1996; Flyte Tyme Studios (Edina, Minnesota)
Genre	R&B hip hop
Length	4:16
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	James Harris III Terry Lewis Mary J. Blige Rick James
Producer(s)	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Not Gon' Cry" (1996) "Love Is All We Need" (1997) "I Can Love You" (1997)
"Not Gon' Cry" (1996) "Love Is All We Need" (1997) "I Can Love You" (1997)
Nas singles chronology
"Escobar '97" (1997) Escobar '971997 "Love Is All We Need" (1997) Love Is All We Need1997 "Nas Is Like" (1999) Nas Is Like1999

"Love Is All We Need" is a 1997 song by R&B singer Mary J. Blige. It was released as the first single from Blige's third album, Share My World, and features a rap verse from Nas.

Recording

Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song features a sample of Rick James' 1985 single "Moonchild." With its more buoyant tone, "Love Is All We Need" stood in conspicuous contrast to much of the more dark-rooted material featured on Blige's earlier albums.

Release and reaction

While well received in America as an airplay single, the song was never given a physical release in the US and as a result the song never charted on the Hot 100 singles chart, though it did reach number one on the US dance singles chart. Meanwhile, the song became an international hit reaching number fifteen on the UK singles charts; Blige's first top twenty UK hit since 1995's "Mary Jane (All Night Long)." A remix of the song features a separate rap cameo by Foxy Brown and a vocal interpolation of Diana Ross' "Do You Know Where You're Going To (Theme from Mahogany)".

Music video

The music video was shot in New York City from February 24–25, 1997, where Mary is at an office singing her verse and the second scene was a fashion show, Nas is in a fancy chair rapping his verse and the third scene is where Mary is on top of a roof building at the end of the song.

Track listings

CD 1

1. "Love Is All We Need" (Album Version)
2. "Love Is All We Need" (Instant Flava Remix)
3. "Love Is All We Need" (Mark's Needy Vocal)
4. "Love Is All We Need" (DYMK Club Mix)

CD 2

1. "Love Is All We Need" (Cutfather & Joe Remix)
2. "Love Is All We Need" (Cutfather & Joe Stripped Down Mix)
3. "Love Is All We Need" (Elusive Club Mix)
4. "Love Is All We Need" (Mark!s Faster Mary Faster Dub)
5. "Love Is All We Need" (Hard On Dub)

Cassette

1. "Love Is All We Need" (Album Version)
2. "Love Is All We Need" (Cutfather & Joe Remix)

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the Share My World liner notes.^[1]

• Mary J. Blige – lead vocals, background vocals
• LaTonya Blige-DaCosta – background vocals
• Nas – additional vocals
• Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis – production

Charts

References