More Than a Lover

"More Than a Lover"
Single by Bonnie Tyler
from the album The World Starts Tonight
B-side	"Love Tangle"
Released	January 1977
Genre	Country rock
Length	4:16
Label	RCA Records
Songwriter(s)	Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe
Producer(s)	David Mackay
Bonnie Tyler singles chronology
"Lost in France" (1976) "More Than a Lover" (1977) "Heaven" (1977)

"More Than a Lover" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler from her debut studio album The World Starts Tonight (1977). It was released by RCA Records in January 1977, shortly before the release of the album, and was written by her at-the-time producers Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe.

The song was Tyler's third single in her career and second charting single, following "Lost in France" (1976). Its highest chart placing was number 7 in South Africa, and it also made the UK Top 30. Music critics praised Tyler for recording a song that could be seen as controversial.

Background and release

Tyler's previous hit single "Lost in France" became a European hit single, and was due to be released in the United States when "More Than a Lover" was due for a European release. In December 1976, Tyler informed Record Mirror that her follow-up single to "Lost in France" would be "much more gutsy".^[1] The World Starts Tonight was aimed at a February/March release in 1977, and "More Than a Lover" was released one month ahead of the album.

Critical reception

Record Mirror described the song as "more meaty" than "Lost in France", but didn't think the song was as commercial as its predecessor.^[1] Similarly, The Sun Herald described the song as the "next most commercial song to "Lost in France"."^[2]

Live performances

Tyler performed "More Than a Lover" live on Top of the Pops on 31 March 1977.^[3]

Chart performance

The song progressed slowly in the charts; it was released in January 1977, but it took until March for the single to reach the UK Top 50. Further success was hampered when the BBC banned the song from being played on any associated music programs due to a BBC producer's view that the song contained sexual innuendos. Its highest UK chart placing was number 27, though it was a top 10 in South Africa.^[1]

Charts

Chart (1977)	Peak position
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[4]	7
UK Singles (OCC)[5]	27
West Germany (GfK)[6]	44

Track listings

7" single

1. "More Than a Lover" – 4:25
2. "Love Tangle" – 3:15

References

1. Hendriks, Phil (2009). "The World Starts Tonight". In The World Starts Tonight (pp. 2–4) [CD booklet]. London: Cherry Red Records.
2. "How Luck Changed for Bonnie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 24 July 1977. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
3. Powell, Peter (31 March 1977). "Top of the Pops". London. BBC. BBC1. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
4. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T)". Rock.co.za. John Samson. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – More Than a Lover" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 December 2020.