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"You Can't Hurry Love"
#1 weeks: 2
weeks: 1966-09-10, 1966-09-17
genre: pop, soul, rhythm and blues
artist: The Supremes
album: The Supremes A' Go-Go
writers: Holland–Dozier–Holland
producers: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
label:
formats: Vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
lengths: 2:47

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a number-one single originally recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label, released during the summer of 1966. Sixteen years later, the song again became a number-one hit when Phil Collins rerecorded the song, which reached number-one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks beginning in January 1983.

The song itself, a memory of a mother's words of encouragement ("My mama said 'you can't hurry love/No you just have to wait'") telling her daughter that with patience she will find that special someone one day, is an example of the strong influence of gospel music present in much of R&B and soul music. "You Can't Hurry Love" also showcases the developing sound of The Supremes, who were progressing from their earlier teen-pop into more mature themes and musical arrangements. This song and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" were finished together; when it came time to choose which single would be issued first, Motown's Quality Control department chose "You Can't Hurry Love".

Written and produced by Motown's main production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland, "You Can't Hurry Love" is one of the signature Supremes songs, and also one of Motown's signature releases. The single became The Supremes' seventh number-one hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks, from September 4, 1966 to September 17, 1966, and reaching number one on the soul chart for two weeks. The girl group performed the song on the CBS variety program The Ed Sullivan Showon Sunday, September 25, 1966.

"You Can't Hurry Love" was the second single from the Supremes' album The Supremes A' Go-Go. It reached the #1 position on the Hot 100 pop chart in the United States, and #3 in the United Kingdom. The Supremes' version of the song is honored by inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's permanent collection of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Unlike many of the earlier Supremes records, "You Can't Hurry Love" has inspired significant cover versions. The most notable of these was released in late 1982 as a single by Phil Collins from his second solo album, Hello, I Must Be Going!Collins' version reached number-one on the UK Singles Chart (becoming his first number-one solo hit in the UK and peaking two positions higher than the original song did in that country), and reached number 10 in the United States. Although Collins had previously done covers as album tracks (of Genesis' "Behind the Lines" and The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" on Face Value), "You Can't Hurry Love" was the first cover he released as a single. Collins' version was the first track on the very first Now That's What I Call MusicCD. On the second repeat of the chorus, he replaces "How Much More Can I Take" with "How Much More Must I Take."

Other notable recordings of "You Can't Hurry Love" include versions by Stray Cats, who released their cover as the flipside of their Rock This Town single and the Dixie Chicks (on the soundtrack of the film Runaway Bride). Konami's GuitarFreaks/DrumMania Bemani music video game series also includes a cover, sung by Paula Terry. In the popular sitcom Sister, Sister, Tia Mowry, her sister Tamera Mowry, and Alexis Fields cover the song. Carmen Rasmusen on Season 2 of American Idol, Brandon Rogers on Season 6, and Scott MacIntyre on Season 8 performed live covers of "You Can't Hurry Love".

The song was also sung by Whoopi Goldberg's character in the 1986 film Jumpin' Jack Flash, when she attempts to infiltrate a party at the British Embassy in New York, disguised as the evening's entertainment.

The song is covered by the company Wavegroup for the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore.

During a weekend getaway on an episode of A Different World, Ron, Dwayne, Kim, Freddie and Ernest sing "You Can't Hurry Love," with Whitley imitating deena Ross' stage persona.

In 2008, Toni Gonzaga and Vhong Navarro did a duet version of the song. It was used as the soundtrack for their movie My Only U.

In 2009, MySpace/DGC recording artist Meiko recorded a remake of the song for use in an ABC Family made-for-TV film titled My Fake Fiance.

Meet The Supremes(1962)  · Where Did Our Love Go(1964)  · More Hits by The Supremes(1965)  · I Hear a Symphony(1966)  · Merry Christmas(1965)  · The Supremes A' Go-Go(1966)  · The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland(1967)  · Reflections(1968)  · Love Child(1968)  · Let the Sunshine In(1969)  · Cream of the Crop(1969)  · Right On(1970)  · New Ways but Love Stays(1970)  · Touch(1971)  · Floy Joy(1972)  · The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb(1972)  · The Supremes(1975)  · High Energy(1976)  · Mary, Scherrie & Susaye(1976)

Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations(1968)  · Together(1969)  · The Magnificent 7(1970)  · The Return of the Magnificent 7(1971)  · Dynamite!(1971)

The Supremes at the Copa(1965)  · Live at London's Talk of the Town(1968)  · TCB(1968)  · On Broadway(1969)  · Farewell(1970)  · The Supremes Live! In Japan(1973)

A Bit of Liverpool(1964)  · The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop(1965)  · We Remember Sam Cooke(1965)  · The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart(1967)  · Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl"(1968)

"Where Did Our Love Go"  ·"Baby Love"  ·"Come See About Me"  ·"Stop! In the Name of Love"  ·"Back in My Arms Again"  ·"I Hear a Symphony"  ·"My World Is Empty Without You"  ·"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"  ·" You Can't Hurry Love "  ·"You Keep Me Hangin' On"  ·"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"  ·"The Happening"  ·"Reflections"  ·"In and out of Love"  ·"Love Child"  ·"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"  ·"I'm Livin' in Shame"  ·"Someday We'll Be Together"  ·"Up the Ladder to the Roof"  ·"Stoned Love"  ·"River Deep – Mountain High"  ·"Nathan Jones"  ·"Floy Joy"  ·"Automatically Sunshine"

The T.A.M.I. Show  · Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam  · Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)  · Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Discography  ·Timeline  ·Chronology  ·Members  ·(Broadway musical)  ·(film)  ·Berry Gordy  ·Holland–Dozier–Holland  ·FLOS