Go to main content

It's Only Love

Rating:
4.2 / 5

Words & Music: Mark James Steve Tyrell

I see the the sunlight in her hair
I feel the warm smile that she wears
She has no recipe for love
But I just can't get enough

From the distance of my mind
Clock that's ringing says it's time
Wake up to my destiny
It's time to face reality

It's only love that I feel inside
But I'll get by somehow
It's only love, there must be something else for me girl

I tell myself that it's not real
There's nothing left for me to feel
I'll just be going on my way
Tomorrow brings another day

Only love that I feel inside
But I've got to be strong
My mind's made up, it's only love

But I know I'll get by, take my heart and my pride
And just throw it aside
It's only love

It's only love, it's only love, it's only love
It's only love
It's only love

Recordingdate: 1971/05/20, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of It's Only Love:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)

Others*

(french horn)
(french horn)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with It's Only Love.

Steve V wrote on February 20, 2009
This is not a bad song at all, I just didnt think it was A-side hit material in 1971. Would have fit nicely on an LP. Much better than some of the songs that did appear on LPs in 71-72.
JerryNodak wrote on February 22, 2009
It's not a great song. It's not a bad song. For me it's just there. I like it, but I've been known to hit the skip button, too.
Jay wrote on February 22, 2009
A Number 3 hit for the king here in the UK, I like this song! Think its one of the more rocky songs of the 70s.
Rob Wanders wrote on February 22, 2009
very good song. I never push the skip button with this song.
derekd wrote on February 22, 2009
Good song, well recorded, not a bad single once released. Very nearly a Uk #1 when released in the Uk after his sudden death. Can't remember it being released as a single in 1971. Neither in the Us or Uk. I believe it first appeared on THWII ~ LP.
dgirl wrote on February 22, 2009
Very average song. A BJ Thomas song. Was released as a single in 1971 in the US (not on any LP at the time). I remember thinking Elvis was becoming more of a cover artist than anything else. Where is the good original material? Thank goodness Burning Love came out a year later to salvage the string of lackluster singles.
elvis1279 wrote on February 22, 2009
I really like this song. It really grooves. Never really really achieved commercial success here in US, and he should've at least tried it in concert.
My boy, my boy wrote on February 22, 2009
Nice song but poor arrangement though...
Lex wrote on February 22, 2009
Pleasant song, which I really enjoy. Certainly not a topper, but he did many, many worse.
bajo wrote on October 01, 2010
Hard to admit, but this is one of a few bad single choices for the early 70's. Rags To Riches/Where Did They Go Lord among them. I'm Leaving is a classic in my book without making much waves! It's Only Love goes nowhere imo! I've tried to like it, but it fails to be included in my own CDR compilations when making up hit collections for my own! It's one of the few singles I feel got the chart attention it deserved! Surprisingly enough it went to #3 in the UK when released as a single there after his death!
TBG wrote on October 01, 2010
A great song people! I always include this song in my compilations, I think it's really good and one of the top 20 songs of the 70's. Love this one, along with The Sound Of Your Cry.
Little_Darlin wrote on October 01, 2010
One of my very favourites - Love the vocals, words and the music. I often put it on repeat play and enjoy it over and over and over again!
Deano1 wrote on October 01, 2010
An ok song that was not a good choice at all for a single release. It would have been, as stated elsewhere, a decent LP track on an album such as "Elvis Now". All the components seem to be there; the songwriter of "Suspsicious Minds" and an uptempo arrangement; but it is just missing the commercial appeal of a hit single. I actually prefer the flipside "Sound Of Your Cry" to this one. The choices for single release were a bit odd in '71, "Where Did They Go, Lord" / "Rags To Riches", "Life" / "Only Believe", "I'm Leavin" / "Heart Of Rome" and this one. Elvis did get a lot of airplay in '71 on the easy listening radio stations; but his airplay on the pop and country stations dwindled with each release.
Great Dane wrote on October 01, 2010
I like this one a lot. The problem with this song was, that is was his time ahead. That's why it became a hit in the beginning 80's, it had a disco sound.
Marty_TCE wrote on August 11, 2011
Wonderful, wonderful song with amazing vocals. Love it!
Lpool kid wrote on August 11, 2011
as stated before a massive hit in the early 1980's in the uk the reason for this is that it sounded so fresh as if it had just been recorded a perfect 80's track.i believe even now given the right material and done right ie.ALLC and the maximum publicity elvis could still have a hit but it would need the non elvis fans to buy into this as there are more of them than us fans.
TCB1974 wrote on August 11, 2011
Really nice pop song from the early 70s, almost sounds like it was recorded in the 80s indeed. This should have been a major hit in my opinion, just like I'm leavin'. Two of the best recordings from 1971. Four stars from me.
ElvisSacramento wrote on November 23, 2012
I've always liked this song and it's always such a joy to listen to.
Gorse wrote on November 23, 2012
Always liked the song which when released in the UK in 1980, reached number 3 in the charts. I thought it was a good choice as a medium tempo single when first issued, and although no Buirning Love showed Elvis given a great vocal performance - a definite 4 stars from me.
alanfalk wrote on November 23, 2012
Not my favorite, even though it is well performed, I much prefer songs like Where did they go lord/ Rags to riches, I´ll still give it 3 stars though.
sugartummy wrote on March 13, 2013
While Elvis was waiting for the lyrics he sang a snippet of I shall be released. He better should have done that one, not that It's only love is bad. It isn't, but the Dylan song is so much better. On A Hundred Years From Now there is a long intro with all kinds of things going on. A decent song by a great author.
cookingfat wrote on July 06, 2013
Was a British hit a few years ago.Nothing particularly exciting about it, but it is well written
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 06, 2013
Love that Elvis recorded this song. I Like it, lots ! However, I think Elvis should have tried a few more attempts at the song, possibly in another recording session. He sounds a bit tired and not fully giving it, his all. But even Elvis, not at his absolute best, is better than most. The flipside, of the single "The Sound of your Cry" was a strong "B" side. Should have been a big hit at Radio, but wasn't.
Back to List