"Where Is the Love" is a well-known song written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter. It was performed by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway and released in 1972 as part of their album Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart for one week in July 1972 and on the Billboard R&B chart for one week in August 1972. Billboard listed it as the 58th best song of 1972. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
In the lyrics, the singer understands that the person they love is still in love with someone else. The singer says, "I guess it must have been my fate to fall in love with someone else's love. Now all I can do is wait."
Cover versions
There have been many different versions of this song recorded by various artists:
- The Ray Conniff Singers recorded a version in 1972 on their album Alone Again (Naturally).
- Helen Reddy recorded a version in 1972 on her Capitol album I Am Woman.
- Jerry Vale and Andy Williams each released versions in 1972 on separate albums named Alone Again (Naturally).
- Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 had a top 20 hit on the easy listening charts with their 1973 cover.
- Liza Minnelli recorded the song on her 1973 album The Singer.
- Dana, who won the Eurovision Song Contest, recorded a version in the mid-1970s.
- Jazz musician Woody Herman included an arrangement of the song on his 1973 album Children of Lima, which featured a bassoon solo by Frank Tiberi.
- Stephanie Mills and Robert Brookins recorded a version that reached number 18 on the R&B Songs chart in 1988.
- Guitarist Zachary Breaux recorded an instrumental version on his 1992 album Groovin'.
- Australian singer Rick Price and New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich had a hit on the Australian charts with the song in 1993.
- Jesse & Trina covered the song for the 1995 film Dead Presidents soundtrack, and this version reached number 40 on the R&B chart.
- Paul Jackson Jr. recorded the song on his 1996 album Never Alone Duets.
- Amel Larrieux and Glenn Lewis performed on a version included on Stanley Clarke’s 2003 album 12 To the Bass, which was nominated for the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
- Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis and American singer Raul Midon recorded a version on Midon’s 2006 album State of Mind.
- American pop singer Johnny Mathis included the song on his 2008 album A Night to Remember.
Mica Paris and Will Downing version
British soul singer Mica Paris and American singer-songwriter Will Downing recorded a version of "Where Is the Love" in 1989 for Paris' debut album So Good. The song first appeared at number twenty-eight on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number nineteen in its second week. It remained on the chart for a total of eight weeks.
Rick Price and Margaret Urlich version
The song "Where Is the Love" was recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Rick Price and New Zealand-born singer and songwriter Margaret Urlich. It was released on November 29, 1993, and reached number 31 on the Australian music chart. The song was included as a bonus track on Margaret Urlich's 1994 album, Live.
In 1993, Price and Urlich worked with Export Music Australia (EMA) and Austrade's second Wizards of Oz promotion. They toured Japan with the group Yothu Yindi.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, the song was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album but did not win. The winner was The Journey by Tommy Emmanuel.
- "Where Is the Love" – 2:58
- "If You Were My Baby" by Rick Price (acoustic) – 4:14
- "Love Train" by Margaret Ulrich (live) – 4:21