Flashback Friday: Saint Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Remember this classic dance anthem from 1990?

The thick bassline and those sulty vocals. This was the first single from English group Saint Etienne and their most popular track ever. Reimaginging Neil Young’s 1970 song ‘Only love can break your heart’ was included on their debut album Foxbase Alpha. The song was never a massive mainstream chart success but it had a strong cult following in the clubs.

Only love can break your heart featured Moira Lambert on vocals. It was apparently recorded in producer Ian Catt’s bedroom studio in Pollards Hill in less than two hours. This helped the group secure a record deal and give them a top 40 hit in the UK.

Released as a double A-side with the track “Filthy”, it peaked at #39 in the UK Singles Chart. It also just scraped into the US billboard top 100 at #97 in 1992. However, it topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Two videos were released for the single. The original version is mostly in black and white and depicts Lucy from early 90s pop trio Golden miming the vocals (Lambert refused to appear in the video). Check out the video below.

Enjoy Saint Etienne Only love can break your heart and your Friday. What a way to kick off your weekend!

If you like this dance anthem, don’t forget to listen to Massive for ‘Flashback’ – an hour of classic anthems from the 90s and 00s, everyday from 2am and 2pm UTC/GMT (Midnight and Midday AEST).