Caravan of Love
1985 song
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"Caravan of Love" is a 1985 song originally recorded by American R&B group Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of the Isley Brothers' 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s. A cover version by the British band the Housemartins became an international hit, reaching number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986.
| "Caravan of Love" | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Isley-Jasper-Isley | |
| from the album Caravan of Love | |
| B-side | "I Can't Get over Losin' You" |
| Released | 1985 |
| Recorded | East Orange, New Jersey, 1985 |
| Genre | R&B, soul |
| Length | 5:42 |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriters | Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley |
| Producers | Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley |
Original Isley-Jasper-Isley version
After breaking away from the family group, the splinter group including Chris Jasper wrote and produced this single, which was Jasper's interpolation intending to reach audiences by presenting Christian beliefs in his music. The song became the trio's biggest hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 51 on the Billboard pop chart in 1985;[1] it would be their only prominent hit before they embarked on solo careers in 1988. The music video was filmed on-location in New York City.
Personnel
- Chris Jasper: Keyboards, lead vocals, piano, production
- Ernie Isley: Guitar, backing vocals, production
- Marvin Isley: Bass, backing vocals, production
Track listings
7" vinyl single
Side one
- "Caravan of Love" – 4:15
Side two
- "I Can't Get over Losin' You" – 4:05
12" vinyl single
Side one
- "Caravan of Love" – 5:43
Side two
- "I Can't Get over Losin' You" – 4:05
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[2] | 51 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[2] | 1 |
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
| Canada (RPM)[3] | 74 |
| Canada (RPM AC)[4] | 24 |
| Dutch Top 40[5] | 21 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary[2] | 16 |
The Housemartins version
| "Caravan of Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Housemartins | ||||
| B-side | "When I First Met Jesus" | |||
| Released | November 24, 1986 | |||
| Genre | A cappella | |||
| Length | 3:40 | |||
| Label | Go! Discs | |||
| Songwriters | Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper and Marvin Isley | |||
| Producer | John Williams | |||
| The Housemartins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
British indie band the Housemartins released "Caravan of Love" on November 24, 1986.[6] The a cappella song was a success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart on December 16, 1986 (only the second a cappella recording to do so, after "Only You" by the Flying Pickets in 1983), before being denied the Christmas number one single by a posthumous re-release of Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite".[7] The song was an international hit, reaching the top three in several countries, including topping the charts of Ireland and Sweden. It is included on the Housemartins' greatest hits compilation Now That's What I Call Quite Good.
Track listings
7-inch vinyl single
Side one
- "Caravan of Love" – 3:40
Side two
- "When I First Met Jesus" – 2:46
12-inch vinyl single
Side one
- "Caravan of Love"
- "We Shall Not Be Moved"
Side two
- "When I First Met Jesus"
- "So Much in Love"
- "Heaven Help Us All (Sermonette)"
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 24 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 7 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 5 |
| European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[11] | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] | 3 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 3 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 2 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[16] | 2 |
| Spain (AFYVE)[17] | 4 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 2 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK)[21] | 2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 19 |
| Chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] | 58 |
| European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[24] | 38 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] | 40 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] | 24 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[27] | 13 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] | 19 |
| West Germany (Media Control)[29] | 16 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Pixie Lott version
In November 2014, British pop singer Pixie Lott released a charity version of the song as the lead single from her first hits collection, Platinum Pixie: Hits. The song charted at number 129 on the UK Singles Chart.[31]