Introduction:
Contrary to what some listeners might believe, Love Is What We Make It is not one of Kenny Rogers’ biggest hits from the 1980s. The song actually has a more complex history, dating back a few years before it became associated with the country music legend.
Love Is What We Make It was first released in 1982, but not by Kenny Rogers. The original version of the song appeared on the self-titled debut album of country music duo Baker & Daniels. The songwriters were Richard Leigh and Johnny Bristol, two Nashville-based composers who had found success writing for artists like George Jones and Conway Twitty. Larry Butler, a record producer known for his work with country artists like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, produced the Baker & Daniels version.
While the Baker & Daniels version of Love Is What We Make It didn’t become a major hit, it clearly caught the attention of Kenny Rogers. Rogers was already a successful country music singer by the early 1980s, having scored a number of crossover hits that appealed to both country and pop audiences. He was also known for his willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles within country music.
In 1985, Rogers released a compilation album titled Love Is What We Make It. The album was a collection of songs that Rogers had recorded between 1974 and 1983, many of which had not been included on previous studio albums. The title track of the compilation, however, was the Baker & Daniels song Love Is What We Make It. Rogers re-recorded the song for the compilation album, giving it a new arrangement and his own signature vocal stylings.
Rogers’ version of Love Is What We Make It was never released as a single, and it did not achieve the same level of success as some of his other songs. However, the song’s inclusion on the compilation album helped to introduce it to a wider audience, and it has become a favorite among some of Kenny Rogers’ fans. The song also serves as an interesting reminder of Rogers’ willingness to revisit and reinterpret the work of other songwriters.
Video:
Lyrics:
Girl, we’ve come a long, long wayToo far for us to end this waySometimes the cost of love is highAnd we must pay, it’s that old give and takeSo don’t you think if you and IWould just step and let our hearts decideMaybe it would all work out in time?So won’t you stay? Please don’t go awayLove, love is what we make itWe can make it so much better if we tryLove, love is what we make itSo let’s make it real good this timeIs it too late to change your mindOr has it gone too far this time?Won’t you hold me just one more time?And let’s just say, there’s a chance for you and meLove, love is what we make itWe can make it so much better if we tryLove, love is what we make itSo let’s make it real good this timeLove, love is what we make itWe can make it so much better if we tryLove, love is what we make itSo let’s make it real good this time