Don't Let Go (Love)

Album: EV3 (1996)
Charted: 5 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The all-female R&B group En Vogue originally recorded this song for the soundtrack of the crime movie Set It Off. The song became their biggest international hit peaking in the top ten in many countries, topping the Billboard R&B chart for one week and the Norwegian singles chart for six weeks.
  • The song was the last single by En Vogue to feature former band member Dawn Robinson, who is the lead vocalist on the track. She had decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. The success of the single persuaded Elektra mogul Sylvia Rhone to place En Vogue back in the studio to record their EV3 album for release in 1997. However, Robinson's abrupt departure forced the remaining trio to re-record several of Dawn's original lead vocals for the record.
  • Lil John Roberts (not the "Get Low" guy) played drums on this track. Roberts has also played on albums by Idina Menzel, George Duke and George Benson, and he toured with Janet Jackson.
  • The song won the 1997 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B Group Single.
  • This returned to the UK singles chart in 2011 after the song was covered by X-Factor contestants Little Mix on the show that was broadcast November 19th.
  • The songwriters credited on this track are Marqueze Etheridge, Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, and the production team Organized Noize, which consists of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown (the guy who sings on "The Way You Move"). Etheridge and the Noize team also wrote the TLC hit "Waterfalls."

Comments: 2

  • Mark from California"Don't Let Go (Love)" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 January 1997 for four consecutive weeks. During those four weeks of "Don't Let Go (Love)" occupying the runner-up spot, Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart" was the #1 record for those four weeks.
  • Kieran from Brisbane, AustraliaThe guitar in it reminds me of a James Bond theme.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.