"Got to Have Your Love" is a song by Americanhip hop andelectro funk groupMantronix, featuring vocals from American recording artistWondress. It was released byCapitol Records in December 1989 as the lead single from Mantronix's fourth studio album,This Should Move Ya (1990). The song is written by band membersBryce Wilson andKurtis Mantronik along with Johnny D. Rodriguez, and produced by Mantronix. It reached number four in the UK and Luxembourg, number seven in Finland and number eight in Ireland. It is recognized as the group'ssignature song.
"Got to Have Your Love" was written by Mantronix membersBryce Wilson andKurtis Mantronik, alongside Johnny D. Rodriguez. Mantronik stated that "When I did 'Got to Have Your Love', I did it for a reason. I did it because I wanted to get a song on the radio."[1]
Bill Coleman fromBillboard magazine wrote that the act "is back on the right track with anR&B-texturedhip-hop track (à la vintageJoyce Sims) sporting a sensuous vocal performance by newcomerWondress. Black radio needs to be on this tip as well."[2] Dave Obee fromCalgary Herald complimented the group for "find[ing] a funky groove".[3] Push fromMelody Maker felt they "returns with what is basically a half-heartedhip-house thang", calling it "slappy, slushy and slumped at the waist."[4] Pan-European magazineMusic & Media named it "attractive hip/house featuring a melodic and soulful lead vocal by Wondress. Classy stuff."[5]
David Giles fromMusic Week remarked that Mantronik "appears to have stepped intoSoul II Soul/Inner City domain, roping in a bluesy female vocalist and coating her in swooming strings (sampled naturally). Altogether a funker effort than those of his UK counterparts".[6] Jack Barron fromNME wrote, "Curtis has obviously been listening to Soul II Soul over there inNew York and here compresses together a woman singer called Wondress (what a groovy name) and a rapper on an organic shuffle. Not instantaneous, but I've got a feeling 'Got to Have Your Love' is one of those records which will creep up on you like infatuation as opposed to some pug ugly swine with an axe in its trotter."[7]Miranda Sawyer fromSmash Hits praised it as "perfection".[8]
In his retrospective review of theThis Should Move Ya album, Ron Wynn fromAllMusic described "Got to Have Your Love" as a "strong single".[9] While reviewing the compilation albumThe Best Of: 1985-1999, Andy Crysell fromNME stated that the song "remains a bewitchingsoul classic".[10] In 2020,Mixmag included "Got to Have Your Love" in their list of "The Best Basslines in Dance Music", writing, "Sublime, soul-licked vocals from Wondress definitely gave it the flavour it needed for mainstream success, but it's also charged by one of the best basslines in pop history."[11]
In 2002, English-Irish music groupLiberty X recorded "Got to Have Your Love" for their debut studio album,Thinking It Over (2002). It was one of three tracks to be recorded for the British version of the album, as it did not feature on the original edition,To Those Who Wait. The song was released on September 9, 2002, as the fourth single from the album and reached number two on theUK Singles Chart.[35][36] It also charted at number eight in Ireland and number 12 in the Netherlands.[37][38]
^Got to Have Your Love (UK CD2 liner notes). Liberty X. V2 Records. 2002. VVR5020508.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Got to Have Your Love (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Liberty X. V2 Records. 2002. VVR5020506.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Got to Have Your Love (UK cassette single sleeve). Liberty X. V2 Records. 2002. VVR5020505.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
