| "See What Love Can Do" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byEric Clapton | ||||
| from the albumBehind the Sun | ||||
| B-side | "She's Waiting" | |||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Length | 3:59 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Jerry Lynn Williams | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Eric Clapton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"See What Love Can Do" is a song by English rock musicianEric Clapton, released throughWarner Bros. Records in 1985 as the second single from his ninth solo studio album,Behind the Sun (1985). Written by American rock musicianJerry Lynn Williams, a frequent collaborator of Clapton's during the 1980s, the track reached the top 20 of theBillboard Top Rock Tracks chart.
Clapton came to record "See What Love Can Do" after Warner Bros. rejected his original tapes forBehind the Sun as not having enough songs with single potential. Clapton challenged them to find material for him that they considered strong enough and they sent three songs by Williams, "See What Love Can Do", "Forever Man" and "Something's Happening".[1][2][3]
The lyrics basically state that the world would be happy if everyone got along.[4]
Cash Box said that "See What Love Can Do" "plays off a reggae/ gospel theme...and provides an excellent showcase for some tasteful guitar playing."[5]Cash Box also praised the "tight background vocals and rhythm section."[5]The Age critic Mike Daly described "See What Love Can Do" as a "warm, easy-paced ballad with an elegant electric solo from Clapton."[6]Message-Inquirer critic Gary Karr said that it "moves along so lazily that it fails to stir any kind of emotion or identification with the singer."[7]Commercial Appeal critic Brown Burnett described it as "Latin-flavored".[8]
Eric Clapton FAQ author David Bowling called it a "solid rock track" and a song that "had commercial appeal while providing a foundation for Clapton's guitar playing."[9] Clapton biographer Marc Roberty called it "a fine song which is heightened by Eric's exemplarysolo."[10] Music writer Andew Wild called it "a pleasant but faceless song" but praised the short, fluid "exemplary guitar solo."[4]
"See What Love Can Do" was the second single released fromBehind the Sun, after the hit "Forever Man".[5] The b-side, "She's Waiting", was also released as a single in its own right.[9] "She's Waiting" reached #11 on theBillboard Top Rock Tracks chart, but did not chart on theBillboard Hot 100.[9] "She's Waiting" also reached #27 on theCash Box Top 30 Music Videos chart.[11] Daly said that "She's Waiting" is "heavy on slow-throbbing drum power, with guitar and synthesizers combining with the urgent harmony vocals."[6] Burnett called it "an interesting and powerful number that stalks the listener rather than propels him" but Karr said that it "tires extremely quickly".[8][7]
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Hot 100[12] | 89 |
| USMainstream Rock (Billboard)[13] | 20 |
| "See What Love Can Do" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byAnnie Crummer featuringHerbs | ||||
| from the albumLanguage | ||||
| B-side | "Make Up" | |||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | East West | |||
| Songwriter | Jerry Lynn Williams | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Annie Crummer singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
New Zealand singerAnnie Crummer recorded a cover of "See What Love Can Do", featuring the New Zealand reggae groupHerbs, as the lead single from her debut studio album,Language (1992).[16] Released in 1992 throughEast West Records,[15][16] it peaked at No. 3 on theNew Zealand singles chart and became the country's 24th best-selling song of 1992.
Although Crummer had been active in the New Zealand music industry for a some time prior to the release of "See What Love Can Do", including through providing guest vocals on theNetherworld Dancing Toys "Kiwi classic" hit "For Today" and performing as a member of the girl groupWhen the Cat's Away, the track marked a pivotal point in her career as it initiated the rollout for her first solo album. Its release was promoted with a monochrome music video directed by Fred Renata.[16]
Donna Yuzwalk positively reviewed "See What Love Can Do" in the September 1992 issue ofRip It Up, contrasting its "restrained, elegant manner" with Crummer's previous involvement in When the Cat's Away.[17] Peter Thomson also positively highlighted the track in his review ofLanguage in the January 1993 issue of the same publication.[18] At the1993 New Zealand Music Awards, the song was nominated for Single of the Year, Best Producer (Crummer and Nigel Stone), and Best Engineer (Stone).[19][20] It won the latter two awards but lost the former to "Nature" byThe Mutton Birds.[20]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of "See What Love Can Do".[15]
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] | 3 |
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] | 24 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)