Can't Hide Love

Album: Gratitude (1975)
Charted: 39
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was originally recorded by the short-lived R&B group Creative Source, who issued it as their first single (as "You Can't Hide Love") in 1973. Their version bubbled under at #114 on the Hot 100, but when Earth, Wind & Fire recorded it two years later, the song fared much better, reaching #39.

    The Creative Source version was mid-tempo with their three female singers sharing the lead vocal. EW&F slowed the song down and split the vocal duties among Maurice White and Philip Bailey. They included the song on their double album Gratitude, where it was one of just four studio recordings (the others were taken from live shows).
  • The song is about a girl who is denying his feelings for the singer, who tells her that she can't hide the love she's feeling. It was written by Skip Scarborough, whose credits include "Love Or Let Me Be Lonely" by The Friends Of Distinction and "Love Ballad" by L.T.D. Earth, Wind & Fire wrote most of their own songs, but they were always on the lookout for others that could fit their style.
  • A concert favorite for Earth, Wind & Fire, this often involves some audience participation, especially during the long fadeout at the end of the song. In our interview with EW&F bass player Verdine White, he said: "When we play for our audiences and they know the song, they do that end without us. We just put the mike up there, our whole audience knows those whole chord changes."
  • Earth, Wind & Fire reworked the song in 2021 with producer Babyface and singer Lucky Daye. Babyface said the new version "reflects Lucky's unique voice and musical style, while still honoring the original."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.