River of People

"River of People" is a song by Scottish band Love and Money, which was released in 1987 as the third single from their debut studio album All You Need Is.... The song was written by James Grant and Bobby Paterson, and produced by Tom Dowd. "River of People" reached No. 82 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks.^[2]

"River of People"
Single by Love and Money
from the album All You Need Is...
B-side	"Desire"
Released	9 January 1987[1]
Length	4:42 (album version) 4:25 (single version) 7:03 (extended version)
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	James Grant Bobby Paterson
Producer(s)	Tom Dowd
Love and Money singles chronology
"Dear John" (1986) "River of People" (1987) "Love and Money" (1987)

Critical reception

On its release as a single, William Shaw of Smash Hits described "River of People" as "very enjoyable" and an "optimistic, soulful thing that swings along at a joyful pace".^[3] Kid Jensen, writing for Number One, noted the song's "loose arrangement which sounds effortlessly slick and is not too dissimilar to the Style Council's recent offering". He concluded, "It's the sort of white dance music I favour and which could even have some impact in the American market."^[4]

Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror felt the song was "less overtly aggressive" than "Candybar Express" and "less Hall & Oates" than "Dear John". She wrote, "'River of People' sees Grant drawing in his quiff (metaphorically speaking), toning down the squealing guitars a mite and unravelling his most conventional rocker to date. Forceful, fixating and damned wearing on the toes." She concluded that the song "should give them the shortest odds on a hit yet".^[5] Jerry Smith of Music Week described "River of People" as a "bright and lively dance track". He added, "Its strong vocal and irresistible, bubbling beat within a crisp production should pick up plenty of exposure and follow 'Candybar Express' at least to the lower reaches of the charts."^[6] Music & Media picked the song as one of their "records of the week" during April 1987.^[7]

Track listing

7-inch single^[8]

1. "River of People" – 4:25
2. "Desire" – 4:40

12-inch single^[9]

1. "River of People" (Extended Mix) – 7:03
2. "Candybar Express" (Shep Pettibone Mix) – 5:59
3. "Desire" – 4:40

Double 12-inch single^[10]

1. "River of People" (Extended Mix) – 7:03
2. "Candybar Express" (Shep Pettibone Mix) – 5:59
3. "Desire" – 4:40
4. "River of People" (Acapella Version) – 5:

12-inch single (UK promo)^[11]

1. "River of People" (Extended Mix) – 7:03
2. "Candybar Express" (Shep Pettibone Mix) – 5:59

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK 12-inch single sleeve notes and the All You Need Is... booklet.^[9][12]

Love and Money

• James Grant – lead vocals, lead guitar
• Paul McGeechan – keyboards
• Bobbie Paterson – bass
• Stuart Kerr – drums, backing vocals
• Ronnie Goodman – percussion

Production

• Tom Dowd – producer on "River of People"
• Dave Buscombe – mixing engineer on "River of People"
• Mark Berry – mixing on "River of People"
• Love and Money – producers on "Desire"
• Shep Pettibone – mixer on "Candybar Express"

Charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	82

References

1. Smith, Robin (10 January 1987). "News Digest". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
2. "LOVE & MONEY; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
3. Shaw, William (14 January 1987). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 50.
4. Jensen, Kid (7 February 1987). "Singles". Number One. p. 27.
5. O'Toole, Lesley (10 January 1987). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 11. ISSN 0144-5804.
6. Smith, Jerry (17 January 1987). "A&R: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 13. Retrieved 15 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
7. "M&M Euro Tip Page" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 April 1987. p. 17. Retrieved 15 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
8. River of People (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Love and Money. Mercury Records. 1987. MONEY 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. River of People (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Love and Money. Mercury Records. 1987. MONEY 312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. River of People (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Love and Money. Mercury Records. 1987. MONEY 313.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. River of People (UK 12-inch promotional single sleeve). Love and Money. Mercury Records. 1987. MADDOX 19.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. All You Need Is... (UK album CD booklet). Love and Money. Mercury Records. 1986. 830 021-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Love & Money: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2021.