The Persuaders, “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 31^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” by The Persuaders. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 31^st edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Thin Line Between Love and Hate”, performed by 🎙 The Persuaders. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“It’s a thin line between love and hate.” So true 🎙 The Persuaders, so true! The soul collective scored a signature hit with their 1971 song, 🎵 “Thin Line Between Love and Hate”. “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” marked the biggest record of their career, peaking at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song would go on to appear on the album of the same name.  So, what makes “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” so great? That opening piano line is a great place to start, setting the tone of the ballad.  Soon enough, the titular line arrives, further establishing the theme which encompasses the slippery slope that is love and hate.  Early on, the man arrives home at 5 am and his wife doesn’t say anything critical, surprisingly.

“And the woman tells me, pass me your hat

All the time she smiles, never raises her voice

It’s 5 o’clock in the morning

And I don’t give it a second thought.”

Even though he gets away with God knows what, the lead singer makes it crystal clear that this won’t always be the case.  Why? Because “It’s a thin line between love and hate / Don’t think you can keep breakin’ your woman’s heart.” In the second verse, the hate is illustrated and fully realized as his ‘loving’ woman has nearly killed him.  “I didn’t think my woman could do something like this to me / I didn’t think she had the never, so here I am / I guess action speaks louder the words.” My, my, my!

Final Thoughts 💭

Truly, as those Poindexter brothers pen/sing, it’s a 🎵 “Thin Line Between Love and Hate”.  This is a classic that’s incredibly relatable.  The difference between two extremes isn’t that different. One minute you can be getting away with murder and the next, well, you’re nearly murdered, apparently.  Regardless, “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” is one of the greatest soul classics of all time.

🎙 The Persuaders • 💿 Thin Line Between Love and Hate • 🏷 Elektra • 🗓 1972

The Persuaders, “Thin Line Between Love and Hate”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 31 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Elektra, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]