After the Love Has Gone (Steps song)

"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". 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". 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. Sunday Mirror commented, "Net more ABBA sound-aliking from the Steps crew. This dance routine's a bit tricky though."

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 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

"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

"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

"After the Love Has Gone" – 4:35
"My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:40

Australian CD single

"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.

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)	47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	23
Ireland (IRMA)	18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	63
Scotland (OCC)	4
UK Singles (OCC)	5
UK Indie (OCC)	2

References

"Reviews – For Records Released on 11 October 1999" (PDF). Music Week. 2 October 1999. p. 13. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
O'Brien, Jon. "The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
Aberdeen Evening Express. 6 October 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
"Steps – After The Love Has Gone". Can't Stop the Pop. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
Sunday Mirror. 10 October 1999. p. 56. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
Music video location, http://www.generationsteps.co.uk/archive/videocaptures/atlhg.php
After the Love Has Gone (UK CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519462.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
After the Love Has Gone (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519592.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
After the Love Has Gone (UK cassette single sleeve). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519464.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
After the Love Has Gone (European CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0580562.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
After the Love Has Gone (Australian CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519572.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Steptacular (European CD album liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519442.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
"Steps – After the Love Has Gone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 44. 30 October 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
"The Irish Charts – Search Results – After the Love Has Gone". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
"Steps – After the Love Has Gone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
"Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.

v t e Steps songs
Discography
Step One	"Last Thing on My Mind" "5,6,7,8" "One for Sorrow" "Heartbeat" "Better Best Forgotten" "Love U More"
Steptacular	"Tragedy" "After the Love Has Gone" "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" "Say You'll Be Mine" "Deeper Shade of Blue" "When I Said Goodbye"
Buzz	"Better the Devil You Know" "Stomp" "Summer of Love" "It's the Way You Make Me Feel" "You'll Be Sorry" "Here and Now"
Gold: The Greatest Hits	"Chain Reaction" "Words Are Not Enough" "I Know Him So Well"
Light Up the World	"Light Up the World"
Tears on the Dancefloor	"Scared of the Dark" "Story of a Heart" "Neon Blue"
Tears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Disco	"Dancing with a Broken Heart"
What the Future Holds	"What the Future Holds" "Something in Your Eyes" "To the Beat of My Heart"
What the Future Holds Pt. 2	"Heartbreak in This City" "Take Me for a Ride" "The Slightest Touch" "A Hundred Years of Winter"
Platinum Collection	"Hard 2 Forget"
Non-album songs	"Especially for You" "Thank ABBA for the Music" "Lay All Your Love on Me" "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" "Merry Xmas Everybody" "Platinum Megamix"

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