Black Pumas, Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City | COVERS

In the 19th edition of COVERS (2023), Black Pumas delivers a compelling rendition of “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City,” originally performed by Bobby Bland. 

“Ain’t no love in the heart of the heart of the city / Ain’t no love in the heart of town…” Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 19th edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 Black Pumas delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City”, originally performed by 🎙 Bobby Bland.

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“Ain’t no love and it sure is a pity / Ain’t no love cause you ain’t around..” Oh, the plight of love! 🎵 “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City” perfectly captures how love – the loss of the person you once had and no longer have – can make you blue.  Historically, this “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City” is a blues/R&B gem, hence why love pain is an ideal theme.  Notably, this cover version appears as the 11th and final track on the second disc of 💿 Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition).  In the 🏆 Grammy-nominated Black Pumas’ hands, “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City” sounds natural, preserving the sanctity of the original 💪.  

Black Pumas vocalist 🎙 Eric Burton captures the bluesy, soulful vibes, singing with incredible expression and nuance. He seeks to emulate 🎙 Bobby “Blue” Bland who originally sung this 🎼 ✍ Michael Price and Dan Walsh penned record, but he is NOT copycatting. Burton’s runs are tasteful and definitely sell the depressed lyrics (“And now that you’re gone / Oh, the sun don’t shine / From the city hall to / The country line”).  Notably, he takes risks at the end as the record fades out, which is a very prudent artistic/musical move. Besides the respectable vocal take, the production and sound successful recreate this often sampled gem.  The musical cues from the era it originally hails are firmly in place – electrifying rhythm section and biting, colorful horns.  Covering a gem of this caliber and making it your own is tough, but in the hands of Burton and guitarist/producer 🎙 Adrian Quesada, they do a nice job.    

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🎙 Black Pumas • 💿 Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) • 🏷 ATO • 🗓 2020 

Black Pumas, “Ain’t No Love In The Heart of The City”: Covers No. 19 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; ATO; Paul Brennan from Pixabay;  Sdf Rahbar on Unsplash]