| "Love Takes Time" | ||||
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 US cassette cover | ||||
| Single by Mariah Carey | ||||
| from the album Mariah Carey | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | August 22, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:49 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Walter Afanasieff | |||
| Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Love Takes Time" on YouTube | ||||
"Love Takes Time" is a song recorded by American singer Mariah Carey for her eponymous debut studio album (1990). Written by Carey and Ben Margulies, while produced by Walter Afanasieff, the song was released as the second single from the album on August 22, 1990, by Columbia Records. An adult contemporary-influenced ballad, the song follows its protagonist lamenting the loss of a lover and confesses that "love takes time" to heal and that her feelings for her ex-lover remain.
Carey quickly recorded "Love Takes Time" at the last minute when the album was already considered complete and being processed for release. She played the song's demo to former Columbia CEO Don Ienner while on an airplane. Ienner and other officials wanted the song to be included on her upcoming album, even though the album was already going through final stages of completion and Carey wanted to save it for her sophomore effort. The song made it on to the album as the closing track, however, due to its late addition, it was not listed on the earliest pressings of the album, an issue that was corrected on subsequent pressings.
"Love Takes Time" was well received by music critics and went to become another success from the album in North America. It was Carey's second number-one single in the United States, attaining the position for three weeks. However, the song did not replicate the success of its predecessor, Vision of Love, globally. A music video was provided for the song, filmed in black and white at a beach. "Love Takes Time" has been included on Carey's compilation album Greatest Hits (2001), as well as #1 to Infinity (2015). "Love Takes Time" was performed live on shows such as The Arsenio Hall Show, Mariah's Thanksgiving NBC Special and The Des O'Connor Show.[citation needed] Since its release, the song has been included on set lists of Carey's concert tours and residencies.