"The Love I Lost" is considered an early example of disco.[1]
The track was one of the transitional songs marking the emergence of disco from traditional rhythm and blues as a distinctive style of music.[2]
On January 4, 1993, American R&B and popsinger-songwriterSybil released a cover of "The Love I Lost" with British DJ and producer West End (a.k.a. Eddie Gordon).[13] It was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, and received positive reviews from music critics. This version remains one of Sybil's most successful single, reaching number 18 on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart and number three in the United Kingdom, as well as number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart and the UK Club Chart. The cover also reached number nine in Ireland. Additionally, "The Love I Lost" was a top 20 hit in Finland (14) and the Netherlands (11). And it reached number nine on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1993. A music video was also produced to promote the single.
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Justin Kantor described the song as a "vibrant, disco-styled cover", noting further that Sybil's "high-energy delivery is soulful, spirited, and commanding".[12]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "While urban-ites continue to chew on the sweet "You're the Love of My Life", popsters are served a sparkling pop/NRG rendition of a Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic. This timeless tune gains its current top 40 muscle by Sybil's lively and soulful vocal, and the distinct hand of producers Stock & Waterman. A top-five U.K. smash that should have little trouble making the grade here."[14] The Gavin Report complimented the singer's "sweet, strong vocals".[15] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "A fairly faithful cover [...], the classic song, coupled with the powerful voice of Sybil makes for one of those soul covers which if anything adds to the original. Notice as well the production credits on the back of such a trendy record - Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, showing that there is life after Kylie and Jason."[16] Alan Jones from Music Week felt that here, the 1974 hit "makes an easy transition from Philly soul to commercial garage", remarking that "its uplifting, hustling. instrumental track is strangely at odds with the downbeat lyrics, but it's tight, commercial, bright and breezy. A monster in the clubs, and likely to become an equally large pop hit."[17] Another editor, Andy Beevers, declared it as a "very solid garage reworking".[18]James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update complimented it as "superb".[19]
