You Can't Hurry Love

For other uses, see You Can't Hurry Love (disambiguation).

"You Can't Hurry Love"
Song
B-side	"Put Yourself in My Place"

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a number-one single recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label, released during the summer of 1966 (see 1966 in music). Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland, "You Can't Hurry Love" is one of the signature Supremes songs, and also one of Motown's signature releases. The single was the number-one song on the Billboard Pop Singles singles chart for two weeks, from September 4 1966 to September 17 1966. The song became a number-one hit again sixteen years later, when Phil Collins' 1982 cover reached number-one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks beginning on January 9, 1983.

History

Overview

The song itself, a memory of a mother's words of encouragement ("My mama said 'you can't hurry love/No you just have to wait'") telling her daughter that with patience she will find that special someone one day, is an example of the strong influence of gospel music present in much of R&B and soul music. "You Can't Hurry Love" also showcases the developing sound of the Supremes, who were progressing from their earlier teen-pop into more mature themes and musical arrangements. This song and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" were finished together; when it came time to choose which single would be issued first, Motown's Quality Control department chose "You Can't Hurry Love".

"You Can't Hurry Love" was the second single from the Supremes' album The Supremes A' Go-Go. It reached the number-one position on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States, and number-three in the United Kingdom. The song was honored by inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's permanent collection of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Cover versions

"You Can't Hurry Love"
Song

Unlike many of the earlier Supremes records, "You Can't Hurry Love" has inspired significant cover versions. The most notable of these was released in late 1982 as a single by Phil Collins from his second solo album, Hello, I Must Be Going!. Collins' version reached number-one on the UK Singles Chart (becoming his first number-one solo hit in the UK and peaking two positions higher than the original song did in that country), and reached number 10 in the United States. Although Collins had previously done covers before on album (of "Behind The Lines" and "Tomorrow Never Knows"), "You Can't Hurry Love" was the first cover he released as a single.

Other notable recordings of "You Can't Hurry Love" include versions by Stray Cats and the Dixie Chicks (on the soundtrack of the film Runaway Bride). Konami's GuitarFreaks/DrumMania Bemani music video game series also includes a cover, sung by Paula Terry. In the popular sitcom Sister, Sister, Tia Mowry, her sister Tamera Mowry, and Alexis Fields cover the song. Carmen Rasmussen on Season 2 of American Idol and Brandon Rogers on Season 6 performed live covers of "You Can't Hurry Love".

The song was also sung by Whoopi Goldberg's character in the 1986 film Jumpin' Jack Flash, when she attempts to infiltrate a party at the British Embassy in New York, disguised as the evening's entertainment.

Credits

Supremes version

• Lead vocals by Diana Ross
• Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
• Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers, including James Jamerson (bass guitar), Jack Ashford (tambourine), and Earl Van Dyke (piano).

Phil Collins version

• Vocals, drums, and tambourine by Phil Collins
• Guitar by Daryl Stuermer
• Bass guitar by John Giblin
• Piano, glockenspiel, and Vibraphone by Peter Robinson
• Strings arranged by Martyn Ford

Chart positions

Supremes version

Country	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	3
US Billboard Pop Singles	1

Phil Collins version

Country	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	1
US Billboard Hot 100	10
The Netherlands	1

See also

• Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1966 (USA)