Love You Down

"Love You Down" is the title of an R&B song written by Melvin Riley Jr.[2] Riley's former band, Ready for the World, originally recorded the song in 1986 and released it as the lead single from their second album, Long Time Coming produced by Gary Spaniola. A slow jam, "Love You Down" was a hit on the Billboard pop and R&B charts, spending two weeks atop the R&B chart in December 1986 and peaking at #9 on the pop chart in early 1987.[2][3] This was Ready for the World's second R&B chart-topper, following the success of "Oh Sheila" in 1985. It also reached #24 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart.[2][4] The song charted in the United Kingdom at #60 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] The song has been covered by artists such as R&B singer INOJ and neo soul musician Me'shell Ndegeocello.

"Love You Down"
Artwork for the 12-inch vinyl single
Single by Ready for the World
from the album Long Time Coming
B-side"Human Toy"
ReleasedNovember 1986[1]
Recorded1986
Genre
Length6:29 (Album version)
3:58 (Single version)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Melvin Riley
Producer(s)Gary Spaniola & Ready for the World
Ready for the World singles chronology
"Ceramic Girl"
(1986)		 "Love You Down"
(1986)		 "Mary Goes 'Round"
(1987)

Charts
Chart (1986–1987) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 9
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 24
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco 12" Singles Sales 25
U.K. Singles Chart 60
Year-end chart (1987) Position
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6] 100
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 7

INOJ version
"Love You Down"
CD variant of US artwork
Single by INOJ
from the album Ready for the World
A-side"Freak It" (Lathun)
ReleasedMay 30, 1997 (1997-05-30)
Recorded1996-1997
Genre
Length4:18
LabelSo So Def
Songwriter(s)Melvin Riley
Producer(s)Charles Roane and Lonnie Hill Jr.
INOJ singles chronology
"Love You Down"
(1997)		 "Time After Time"
(1998)

Female R&B vocalist INOJ recorded a cover version of "Love You Down" in 1997 with the assistance of producer Charles "The Mixologist" Roane and Lonnie Hill Jr Known as "Lon2". Featuring a faster beat and more percussion than the original version, INOJ's cover was initially featured on So So Def Recordings' So So Def Bass All-Stars Vol. 2 compilation album. Shortly after the compilation's release in late June 1997, the song began amassing airplay, entering Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart on the issue dated August 2, 1997; it would go on to spend 45 weeks on that chart, becoming especially popular on rhythmic radio. A music video, directed by Eric Haywood and Rubin Whitmore in Atlanta, premiered in August. A physical single, also containing Lathun's "Freak It" from the same So So Def compilation, was later released in January 1998, making the song eligible for the Hot 100. The song ultimately reached #25 on that chart.[8] "Love You Down" was later included on INOJ's debut album, incidentally titled Ready for the World, released by So So Def and Columbia in the summer of 1999. INOJ released the 20th anniversary of "Love You Down" on July 28, 2017.

Charts
Chart (1997—1998) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 25
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[11] 25
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[12] 19
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[13] 5
Year-end chart (1998) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[14] 88
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 61

See also

References
  1. Ready For The World - Love You Down (Short Version), retrieved 2020-01-19
  2. "Ready for the World Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 520.
  4. Billboard AC chart position from billboard.com Retrieved 02-16-09.
  5. Official Charts Company data from Official Charts Company Retrieved 02.16.09.
  6. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 99 (52). December 26, 1987.
  7. "MNEK's At Night Jamz | Dork". Readdork.com. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 303.
  9. "INOJ – Love You Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 1 , 2023.
  10. "Inoj Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1 , 2023.
  11. "Inoj Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1 , 2023.
  12. "Inoj Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1 , 2023.
  13. "Inoj Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1 , 2023.
  14. "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
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