After the Love Has Gone (Steps song)

For the Earth, Wind & Fire song, see After the Love Has Gone.

"After the Love Has Gone"
Single by Steps
from the album Steptacular
B-side	"My Best Friend's Girl"
Released	11 October 1999 (1999-10-11)[1]
Recorded	1999
Studio	PWL (Manchester, England)
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	4:35
Label	Jive Ebul
Songwriter(s)	Mark Topham Karl Twigg Lance Ellington
Producer(s)	Mark Topham Karl Twigg Pete Waterman
Steps singles chronology
"Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (1999) "After the Love Has Gone" (1999) "Say You'll Be Mine" / "Better the Devil You Know" (1999)
Music video
"After the Love Has Gone" on YouTube

"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Steps, released as their seventh single, and the third from their second album Steptacular. The track continues the group's pop sound but has clear Asian musical influences. Claire Richards provides lead vocals.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described the song as "melancholic dance-pop".^[2] Scottish newspaper Aberdeen Evening Express stated that it "has all the trademark Steps piano bits", noting that it "does sound a bit too much" like "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart".^[3] Can't Stop the Pop said that the most distinctive element of the track is that it's "proudly dressed up as an oriental number." They also complimented its "beautiful melancholy" lyrics.^[4] Sunday Mirror commented, "Net more ABBA sound-aliking from the Steps crew. This dance routine's a bit tricky though."^[5]

Chart performance

The song spent 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number five. It fell out of the top 75 after nine weeks but rose back up to spend two more weeks inside the top 75.

Music video

The music video for the song was shot at Universal Studios Florida^[6] in Orlando and has Asian influences. It was directed by Cameron Casey and Simón Brand. The group wear jade-green outfits for the dance sequences, in a setting of Chinese lanterns and a dancing dragon.

Track listings

UK CD single[7] "After the Love Has Gone" – 4:35 "After the Love Has Gone" (W.I.P. Mix) – 5:37 "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:40 European maxi-CD single[8] "After the Love Has Gone" (radio mix) – 4:35 "After the Love Has Gone" (video mix) – 4:35 "After the Love Has Gone" (W.I.P. Mix) – 5:37 "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:40

UK cassette single and European CD single[9][10] "After the Love Has Gone" – 4:35 "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:40 Australian CD single[11] "After the Love Has Gone" (radio mix) – 4:35 "After the Love Has Gone" (W.I.P. Mix) – 5:37 "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:40 "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's 7-inch remix) – 3:30

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Steptacular.^[12]

A-side: "After the Love Has Gone" Recording Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester, in 1999 Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester Mastered at Transformation Studios, London Vocals Lead vocals – Claire Richards Background vocals – Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins Personnel Songwriting – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Lance Ellington Production – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Pete Waterman Mixing – Tim Speight Engineer – Dan Frampton Drums – Chris McDonnell Keyboards – Karl Twigg Guitar – Mark Topham Bass – Mark Topham Mandolin – Erwin Keiles

B-side: "My Best Friend's Girl" Recording Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester, in 1999 Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester Mastered at Transformation Studios, London Vocals Lead vocals – Ian "H" Watkins Background vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans Personnel Songwriting – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Lance Ellington Production – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Pete Waterman Mixing – Chris McDonnell

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[13]	47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14]	13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15]	23
Ireland (IRMA)[16]	18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[17]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18]	63
Scotland (OCC)[19]	4
UK Singles (OCC)[20]	5
UK Indie (OCC)[21]	2

References

1. "Reviews – For Records Released on 11 October 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 2 October 1999. p. 13. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
2. O'Brien, Jon. "The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
3. Aberdeen Evening Express. 6 October 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
4. "Steps – After The Love Has Gone". Can't Stop the Pop. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
5. Sunday Mirror. 10 October 1999. p. 56. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
6. Music video location, http://www.generationsteps.co.uk/archive/videocaptures/atlhg.php
7. After the Love Has Gone (UK CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519462.
8. After the Love Has Gone (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519592.
9. After the Love Has Gone (UK cassette single sleeve). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519464.
10. After the Love Has Gone (European CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0580562.
11. After the Love Has Gone (Australian CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519572.
12. Steptacular (European CD album liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519442.
13. "Steps – After the Love Has Gone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
14. "Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 44. 30 October 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – After the Love Has Gone". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
17. "Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
18. "Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
21. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.