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"Love Spreads"
Single by the Stone Roses
from the album Second Coming
B-side	"Your Star Will Shine" "Breakout" "Groove Harder"
Released	21 November 1994 (1994-11-21)
Genre	Alternative rock blues rock
Length	5:46
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	John Squire
Producer(s)	Simon Dawson
The Stone Roses singles chronology
"I Am the Resurrection" (1992) "Love Spreads" (1994) "Ten Storey Love Song" (1995)

"Love Spreads" is a song by British alternative rock group The Stone Roses, released on 21 November 1994 as the first single from their second album, Second Coming. The record reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 67 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single also reached the top 10 in Ireland and the top 20 in Sweden.

Cover art

John Squire designed the "Love Spreads" cover, using a photograph of one of the four stone cherubs on the Newport Bridge in Newport, South Wales. The cherubs on the bridge are modelled after Newport's coat of arms, which contains a cherub with winged sea lions. The cherub design was subsequently used on many pieces of Second Coming merchandise.

Lyrics and composition

"Love Spreads" is a blues rock song in D minor. Its lyrics are a telling of the Passion of Christ, reinterpreting Jesus as a black woman.

In 1995, guitarist John Squire said the lyrics were inspired by British author Rosalind Miles' 1988 book The Women's History of the World. The book examines the roles of women, their representation, and their power through history.

Critical reception

Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream hailed the song "as the greatest comeback single ever." In May 2007, NME magazine placed "Love Spreads" at number 44 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever and said it was the band at their "take no prisoners best". AllMusic called the song a "true classic".

Music video

There are two music videos for "Love Spreads". The original UK version, directed by Mike Clark and the Stone Roses, consisted of home footage. There are scenes of Mani, Squire, and Brown dressed as a chicken, the devil, and Death respectively. These scenes were interspliced with hidden images.

Geffen and MTV were unsatisfied with the quality of the first video, so Steven Hanft at Propaganda Films directed a second video for American audiences.

In popular culture

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A re-recorded version of "Love Spreads" was used on The Help Album (a compilation of songs for the charity War Child). It was also used in the season 4 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, "Invisible Evidence" and in a season 5 episode of Entourage, "Return to Queens Boulevard."

The song is featured in the music video game Guitar Hero World Tour, appearing in the final bonus set in career mode. It is also available as a downloadable track for the music video game series Rock Band and is playable in Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock.

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single

1. "Love Spreads" (LP version) – 5:46
2. "Your Star Will Shine" (LP version) – 2:56

12-inch single

A1. "Love Spreads" (LP version) – 5:46

A2. "Your Star Will Shine" (LP version) – 2:56

B1. "Breakout" – 6:04

B2. "Groove Harder" – 4:26

CD single

1. "Love Spreads" (LP version) – 5:46
2. "Your Star Will Shine" (LP version) – 2:56
3. "Breakout" – 6:03

Charts

Certifications

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 November 1994. p. 39. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
2. "The 100 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1994". Spin. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
3. Pollock, David (15 June 2016). "Stone Roses – 10 of the best". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
4. "tjs-newport.demon.co.uk". Tjs-newport.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
5. Reynolds, Simon (May 1995). "The Morning After". Spin. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
6. "Album A&E - The Stone Roses, 'Second Coming'". NME. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
7. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Second Coming - The Stone Roses | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
8. ^ A.J. Jacobs (28 April 1995). "Broadcast No's: Music Videos You'll Never See". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
9. "Production Notes". Billboard. 8 April 1995. p. 53.
10. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 'Invisible Evidence' Soundtracks". IMDB. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
11. "Entourage 'Return to Queens Blvd' Soundtracks". IMDB. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
12. Love Spreads (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GFS 84.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Love Spreads (UK cassette single sleeve). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GFSC 84.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. Love Spreads (Australian cassette single sleeve). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GEFCS-19210.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. Love Spreads (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GFST 84.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. Love Spreads (UK CD single liner notes). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GFSTD 84.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. Love Spreads (European CD single disc notes). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GED 21885.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. Love Spreads (Australian CD single liner notes). The Stone Roses. Geffen Records. 1994. GEFDM-21885.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. "The Stone Roses – Love Spreads". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7992." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
21. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 50. 10 December 1994. p. 6. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Spreads". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
23. "The Stone Roses – Love Spreads". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
25. "The Stone Roses – Love Spreads". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
27. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
28. "The Stone Roses Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
29. "The Stone Roses Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
30. "The Stone Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
31. "Top 100 Singles 1994". Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 9.
32. "British single certifications – Stone Roses – Love Spreads". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

External links

• The Definitive Stone Roses Discography entry

• The Stone Roses songs
• 1994 singles
• 1994 songs
• Blues rock songs
• Geffen Records singles
• Number-one singles in Scotland
• Songs written by John Squire