"Love Won't Wait" | ||||
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Single by Gary Barlow | ||||
from the album Open Road | ||||
B-side | "Cuddly Toy" | |||
Released | 25 April 1997 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 4:17 | |||
Label | ||||
Writer(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Stephen Lipson | |||
Gary Barlow singles chronology | ||||
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"Love Won't Wait" is a song by English singer-songwriter Gary Barlow from his debut album Open Road. It was released as the second single from the album on 25 April 1997 by BMG and RCA Records. The song was written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and was an unreleased demo from her Bedtime Stories (1994) studio sessions. Barlow came by the demo in 1997, while looking to record more songs for Open Road. He changed the lyrics to represent a male point of view rather than Madonna's, and recorded the track with Stephen Lipson as producer.
Barlow was apprehensive about releasing the track, but due to contractual obligations he had to release it. The song became Barlow's second consecutive number one release on the UK Singles Chart, following "Forever Love", and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Elsewhere it received moderate success. A music video for the song was directed by Rocky Schenck and showed Barlow singing "Love Won't Wait" across different locations. He also performed the song at the 1997 pre-Grammy Award party, where his performance was negatively received.
Following the release of her fifth studio album, Erotica (1992), Madonna and her producer Shep Pettibone continued writing more songs in the same vein as present in the album. However, she later abandoned the project and collaborated with record producers Dallas Austin and Nellee Hooper to create Bedtime Stories, her sixth studio album, released in 1994. Many of the songs from the writing sessions with Pettibone were not included and remained as demos. In the meantime, Gary Barlow wanted to release his debut album, Open Road, to coincide with his first single, "Forever Love". However, he wanted to continue recording songs for the album. He came across one of Madonna's demos called "Love Won't Wait" and decided to record it, after shortening the lyrics.