Love the One you 're with - wikipedia Love the One you 're with `` Love the One You 're With '' Single by Stephen Stills from the album Stephen Stills B - side `` To a Flame '' Released November 1970 Format 7 - inch single Genre Folk rock Length 3 : 03 Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Stills Producer ( s ) Stephen Stills Bill Halverson Stephen Stills singles chronology `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1970 ) `` Sit Yourself Down '' ( 1971 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1970 ) `` Sit Yourself Down '' ( 1971 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' is a song by folk rocker Stephen Stills. It was released as the lead single from his debut self - titled studio album in November 1970. The song, inspired by a remark Stills heard from musician Billy Preston, became his biggest hit single, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. David Crosby and Graham Nash, Stills ' fellow members of Crosby, Stills & Nash, provide background vocals on the song. The song was also covered by a number of artists, including The Isley Brothers, Bucks Fizz, and Luther Vandross. Contents 1 Background 2 Chart positions 3 Personnel 4 Isley Brothers version 4.1 Personnel 5 Bucks Fizz version 5.1 Track listing 6 Luther Vandross version 6.1 Charts 7 Other versions 8 In culture 9 Notes 10 External links Background Stills wrote the song after being inspired by the tag line -- `` If you ca n't be with the one you love, love the one you 're with '' which was a frequent remark by musician Billy Preston. Stills asked him for permission to use the line in a song and Preston agreed immediately. A live version by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young appears on their album 4 Way Street. A solo version by Stills appears on the Crosby, Stills and Nash CD Demos. Chart positions Chart ( 1970 -- 71 ) Peak position Canada 100 ( RPM ) 6 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 9 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 37 US Easy Listening ( Billboard ) 32 US Hot 100 ( Billboard ) 14 Personnel Stephen Stills : vocals, guitar, organ, steel drum, percussion Calvin `` Fuzzy '' Samuels : bass Jeff Whittaker : congas Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Jones, John Sebastian, David Crosby, Graham Nash : background vocals Isley Brothers version `` Love the One You 're With '' Single by The Isley Brothers from the album Givin ' It Back Released 1971 Format 7 - inch single Genre Soul, rock Length 3 : 39 Label T - Neck, Buddah Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Stills Producer ( s ) The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers singles chronology `` Warpath '' ( 1971 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1971 ) `` Spill the Wine '' ( 1971 ) `` Warpath '' ( 1971 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1971 ) `` Spill the Wine '' ( 1971 ) Several acts have since covered the song. The most notable cover came in 1971 from The Isley Brothers, whose unique gospel - driven cover of the song sent it to the charts again reaching number three R&B and number eighteen pop, giving the group their fifth US top 40 pop single. Personnel Ronald Isley -- lead vocals O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and Rudolph Isley -- background vocals John Mosley -- flute Ernie Isley -- guitar Chester Woodard, Jr -- guitar Milton Westley -- organ Chris Jasper -- piano, keyboards Marvin Isley -- bass George Moreland -- drums, percussion Gary Jones -- congas Buck Clarke -- congas Bucks Fizz version `` Love the One You 're With '' Single by Bucks Fizz from the album Writing on the Wall B - side `` Too Hard '' Released 20 August 1986 Format 7 - inch single, 12 - inch single Genre Pop rock Length 3 : 19 Label Polydor Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Stills Producer ( s ) Andy Hill Bucks Fizz singles chronology `` New Beginning ( Mamba Seyra ) '' ( 1986 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1986 ) `` Keep Each Other Warm '' ( 1986 ) `` New Beginning ( Mamba Seyra ) '' ( 1986 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1986 ) `` Keep Each Other Warm '' ( 1986 ) UK pop group Bucks Fizz covered the song as their eighteenth single in 1986. The single, released in August, was the follow - up to the group 's comeback top ten hit `` New Beginning ( Mamba Seyra ) '' and was seen as a make or break release. Ultimately the song peaked at a low No. 47 in the UK Singles Chart during a three - week run. In a review, music magazine Number One said that the song lacked bass and sounded rather `` tinny '' but predicted that it would be a hit. Member Mike Nolan puts the song 's failure down to the decision to showcase other male member Bobby G as the lead singer. Their previous single had featured all the group equally and was a hit, while earlier flops had featured G on lead and this was a return to that format. A promotional video for the song was filmed featuring the group performing the song in a blue - toned studio accompanied by backing musicians. The single was released on 7 '' and 12 '' on Polydor Records with an extended mix on the latter, the B - side was a Bobby G composition, `` Too Hard ''. Also included on the 12 '' was an extended mix of earlier single `` I Hear Talk ''. A second 12 '' single was released featuring a dance edit of `` Love the One You 're With '', backed by another alternate mix of `` I Hear Talk ''. `` Love the One You 're With '' was included on the group 's fifth studio album Writing on the Wall released at the end of the year. It has subsequently been included on re-issues of the album in alternate mixes. Track listing 7 '' Single `` Love the One You 're With '' ( Stephen Stills ) 3.19 `` Too Hard '' ( Bobby G / Ian Bairnson ) 3.56 12 '' Single `` Love the One You 're With ( Stills ) 7.52 `` I Hear Talk '' ( Rmixed extended version ) ( Andy Hill / Peter Sinfield ) 4.35 `` Too Hard '' ( G / Bairnson ) 3.56 Luther Vandross version `` Love the One You 're With '' Single by Luther Vandross from the album Songs B - side `` Going in Circles '' Released 14 November 1994 Genre Pop, adult contemporary Length 5 : 03 Label Epic Songwriter ( s ) Stephen Stills Producer ( s ) Walter Afanasieff Luther Vandross singles chronology `` Always and Forever '' ( 1994 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1994 ) `` Every Year, Every Christmas '' ( 1995 ) `` Always and Forever '' ( 1994 ) `` Love the One You 're With '' ( 1995 ) `` Every Year, Every Christmas '' ( 1995 ) Luther Vandross released a cover of the song on his 1994 album Songs. It peaked in the top 30 on Billboard 's Hot R&B Singles, 33 on Billboard 's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks ; and earned Vandross a 1995 Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Charts Chart ( 1994 -- 1995 ) Peak position Australian Singles Chart 56 UK Singles Chart 31 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 95 U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 28 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 33 Other versions The Free Movement released a version of the song as a single in 1972. It was featured on their album, I 've Found Someone of My Own. Bob Seger covered the song on his 1972 album, Smokin ' O.P. 's. Mark Williams covered the song on his 1975 album, Mark Williams. Chantoozies produced a cover, releasing it as a single from their 1991 album Gild the Lily, reaching No. 21 in Australia. Marina Prior recorded the song for her 2012 album Both Sides Now. Phyllis Dillon In culture In 2012, the song was featured in Ridley Scott 's sci - fi movie Prometheus. Idris Elba sings a short phrase from the song after describing a possibly fictional account of how his squeezebox used to belong to Stills. Australian alternative rock band TISM 's 2004 album The White Albun featured a song titled `` Diffident Strokes '' which includes the lines `` Love the one you 're with, / and if you ca n't love the one you 're with, go fuck yourself. '' Notes Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits : Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 606. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top Singles Chart '' ( PDF ). RPM. RPM archives. Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada. January 30, 1971. OCLC 352936026. Retrieved September 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Stephen Stills -- Love the One You 're With '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Stephen Stills Chart History ''. Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Stephen Stills Chart History ''. Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2016. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 278. Jump up ^ Chart Stats - Bucks Fizz - Love The One You 're With Jump up ^ Number One, Single reviews, 26 August 1986 Jump up ^ The Bucks Fizz Story, Glassbeach Media DVD. October 2010 Jump up ^ Raffem. 1986 - Love the One You 're With Jump up ^ Raffem. `` Love the One You 're With '' single Jump up ^ `` Love the One You 're With '' Special 12 '' edition Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 597. Jump up ^ `` The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart -- Week Ending 12 Mar 1995 ''. Imgur.com ( original document published by ARIA ). Retrieved February 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Official Charts > Luther Vandross ''. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Luther Vandross - Singles Chart history.Billboard.com Jump up ^ `` The Free Movement, `` Love the One You 're With '' Single Release ``. Retrieved January 26, 2017. Jump up ^ `` australian-charts.com > Chantoozies in Australian Charts ''. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 9, 2017. Jump up ^ Ives, Brian ( 11 June 2012 ). `` ' Prometheus ' Reveals Stephen Stills ' ' Love The One You 're With ' Still A Hit In 2093 ''. WCBS - FM. Retrieved 2013 - 09 - 22. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Stephen Stills Studio albums They Call Us Au Go Go Singers ( with the Au Go Go Singers ) Super Session ( with Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper ) Stephen Stills Stephen Stills 2 Manassas ( with Manassas ) Down the Road ( with Manassas ) Stills Illegal Stills Long May You Run ( with Neil Young ) Thoroughfare Gap Right by You Stills Alone Man Alive ! Just Roll Tape Everybody Knows ( with Judy Collins ) Compilations Still Stills : The Best of Stephen Stills Turnin ' Back the Pages Pieces ( with Manassas ) Carry On Live albums Stephen Stills Live Live at Shepherd 's Bush Related articles Buffalo Springfield Manassas Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Chris Stills Véronique Sanson Judy Collins `` Love the One You 're With '' `` Sit Yourself Down '' The Isley Brothers Ernie Isley Marvin Isley O'Kelly Isley, Jr. Ronald Isley Rudolph Isley Chris Jasper Studio albums Shout ! Twist & Shout Twisting and Shouting This Old Heart of Mine Soul on the Rocks It 's Our Thing The Brothers : Isley Get into Something Givin ' It Back Brother, Brother, Brother 3 + 3 Live It Up The Heat Is On Harvest for the World Go for Your Guns Showdown Winner Takes All Go All the Way Grand Slam Inside You The Real Deal Between the Sheets Masterpiece Smooth Sailin ' Spend the Night Tracks of Life Mission to Please Eternal Body Kiss Baby Makin ' Music Live albums Live at Yankee Stadium The Isleys Live Live ! Compilation albums Timeless Singles `` I 'm Gonna Knock on Your Door '' `` Shout ( Part 1 ) '' `` How Deep Is the Ocean ? '' `` Twist and Shout '' `` Nobody but Me '' `` Testify ( Part 1 ) '' `` Love Is a Wonderful Thing '' `` This Old Heart of Mine ( Is Weak for You ) '' `` I Guess I 'll Always Love You '' `` That 's the Way Love Is '' `` Take Me in Your Arms ( Rock Me a Little While ) '' `` Behind a Painted Smile '' `` Put Yourself in My Place '' `` It 's Your Thing '' `` I Turned You On '' `` Keep On Doin ' '' `` Freedom '' `` Love the One You 're With '' `` Spill the Wine '' `` Lay Lady Lay '' `` Lay - Away '' `` Pop That Thang '' `` Work to Do '' `` It 's Too Late '' `` That Lady ( Part 1 ) '' `` What It Comes Down To '' `` Summer Breeze '' `` Live It Up '' `` Fight the Power ( Part 1 ) '' `` For the Love of You '' `` Harvest for the World '' `` The Pride '' `` Livin ' in the Life '' `` Voyage to Atlantis '' `` Take Me to the Next Phase ( Part 1 ) '' `` Groove with You '' `` I Wanna Be with You ( Part 1 ) '' `` It 's a Disco Night ( Rock Do n't Stop ) '' `` Do n't Say Goodnight ( It 's Time for Love ) ( Parts 1 & 2 ) '' `` Between the Sheets '' `` Choosey Lover '' `` Down Low ( Nobody Has to Know ) '' `` Contagious '' See also Discography T - Neck Records Isley - Jasper - Isley Book : The Isley Brothers Category : The Isley Brothers Portal : R&B and Soul Music Bucks Fizz Bobby G Cheryl Baker Mike Nolan Jay Aston Shelley Preston Singles `` Making Your Mind Up '' `` Piece of the Action '' `` One of Those Nights '' `` The Land of Make Believe '' `` My Camera Never Lies '' `` Now Those Days Are Gone '' `` If You Ca n't Stand the Heat '' `` Run for Your Life '' `` When We Were Young '' `` London Town '' `` Rules of the Game '' `` Talking in Your Sleep '' `` Golden Days '' `` I Hear Talk '' `` You and Your Heart So Blue '' `` Magical '' `` New Beginning ( Mamba Seyra ) '' `` Love the One You 're With '' `` Keep Each Other Warm '' `` Heart of Stone '' Albums Bucks Fizz Are You Ready Hand Cut Greatest Hits I Hear Talk Writing on the Wall The Story So Far Live at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon The Ultimate Anthology The Lost Masters The Very Best of Bucks Fizz The Lost Masters 2 - The Final Cut The Lost Masters 3 Related pages Bucks Fizz discography Songs Andy Hill Peter Sinfield Ian Bairnson Co-Co Brooks Eurovision Song Contest 1981 United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest What 's Love Got to Do with It ( song ) Record labels RCA Polydor Sony BMG Jet Book : Bucks Fizz - the group Luther Vandross Studio albums Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father Compilation albums The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You : The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever : The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection Love, Luther Lovesongs Holiday Albums This Is Christmas Live albums Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 Live Video DVDs Luther Vandross : Live at Wembley ( 1989 ) Always and Forever : An Evening of Songs ( 1994 ) Other albums Luther ( Luther ) This Close to You ( Luther ) The Glow of Love ( Change ) Singles `` Never Too Much '' `` Do n't You Know That ? '' `` If This World Were Mine '' ( with Cheryl Lynn ) `` '' Bad Boy `` / '' Having a Party '' `` Since I Lost My Baby '' `` How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye '' ( with Dionne Warwick ) `` I 'll Let You Slide '' `` Superstar '' / `` Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do '' ( medley ) `` ' Til My Baby Comes Home '' `` It 's Over Now '' `` Wait for Love '' `` Give Me the Reason '' `` Stop to Love '' `` There 's Nothing Better Than Love '' ( with Gregory Hines ) `` I Really Did n't Mean It '' `` Any Love '' `` She Wo n't Talk to Me '' `` For You to Love '' `` Here and Now '' `` Power of Love / Love Power '' ( medley ) `` Do n't Want to Be a Fool '' `` The Rush '' `` Sometimes It 's Only Love `` The Best Things in Life Are Free '' ( with Janet Jackson ) `` Little Miracles ( Happen Every Day ) '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` Never Let Me Go '' `` Endless Love '' ( with Mariah Carey ) `` Always and Forever '' `` Love the One You 're With '' / `` Going in Circles '' `` Your Secret Love '' `` I Can Make It Better '' `` Nights in Harlem '' `` Take You Out '' `` I 'd Rather '' `` Dance with My Father '' `` Think About You '' `` Buy Me a Rose `` Shine '' Related articles Luther Vandross discography Change ( band ) Luther ( group ) List of Luther Vandross tours Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing : An All - Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II Book : Luther Vandross Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Love_the_One_You%27re_With&oldid=810941167 '' Categories : 1970 songs 1970 singles 1971 singles 1972 singles 1986 singles 1995 singles Songs written by Stephen Stills Stephen Stills songs Bucks Fizz ( band ) songs Will Young songs Luther Vandross songs The Isley Brothers songs The Free Movement songs Atlantic Records singles Buddah Records singles Epic Records singles Polydor Records singles Columbia Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2013 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Talk Contents About Wikipedia Nederlands 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 18 November 2017, at 13 : 29. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who sings if you can't be with the one you love
Answer: Stephen Stills