"Caravan of Love" is a 1985 R&B hit originally recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of the Isley Brothers' 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s.

Original Isley-Jasper-Isley version

After breaking away from the family group, the group (notably 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 going to 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 splintered into solo careers in 1988. The music video was filmed on-location in New York City.

Personnel

Track listings

7" vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Caravan of Love" – 4:15

Side two

  1. "I Can't Get over Losin' You" – 4:05

12" vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Caravan of Love" – 5:43

Side two

  1. "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
Dutch Top 40[3] 21
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[2] 16

The Housemartins version

British indie band the Housemartins released "Caravan of Love" in November 1986. The a cappella song was a success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart on 16 December 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".[4] The song was included on the Housemartins' greatest hits compilation Now That's What I Call Quite Good.

Track listings

7-inch vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Caravan of Love" – 3:40

Side two

  1. "When I First Met Jesus" – 2:46

12-inch vinyl single

Side one

  1. "Caravan of Love"
  2. "We Shall Not Be Moved"

Side two

  1. "When I First Met Jesus"
  2. "So Much in Love"
  3. "Heaven Help Us All (Sermonette)"

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Caravan of Love"
Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[5] 24
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[12] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 1
West Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 2

Year-end charts

1987 year-end chart performance for "Caravan of Love"
Chart (1987) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 58
European Top 100 Singles (Music & Media)[19] 38
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 19
West Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 16

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 279.
  2. ^ a b c "Billboard charts at Allmusic". Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  3. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 8, 1986". Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 469. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 142. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Housemartins". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Housemartins" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". VG-lista. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Housemartins – Caravan of Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Housemartins: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Housemartins – Caravan of Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". Dutch Charts Portal (in Dutch). Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  22. ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987". Swiss Chart Portals (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – Housemartins – Caravan of Love". British Phonographic Industry.
  26. ^ "Chart Log UK" (TXT). Zobbel.de. Retrieved 31 March 2022.