Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City

Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City

Bobby "Blue" Bland

Written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh, “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” was first recorded in 1974 by Bobby “Blue” Bland (1930-2013), a Tennessee singer known for his evolving blues sound that frequently incorporated elements of gospel, soul and r&b. The song appeared on Bland’s 1974 ABC/Dunhill album Dreamer and was released as a single. Though it barely registered on the pop charts, topping out at #91, the song climbed the rhythm & blues charts to the #9 spot, giving Bland his 27th Top Ten R&B hit in seventeen years.

Though Bland largely disappeared from the charts after 1974, “Ain’t No Love” kept his legacy alive and has inspired many artists in a wide range of musical genres. Hard rock band Whitesnake recorded the song for their 1978 debut album and released a live version as a single two years later. Perhaps most famously, producer Kanye West heavily sampled Bland’s recording for the Jay-Z track “Heart Of The City (Ain’t No Love)” on 2001’s The Blueprint.