Love in an Elevator

"Love in an Elevator" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. It was released in August 1989 as the lead single from their third album with Geffen Records, Pump, released in September.[1] It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[8] The RIAA certified it gold.[9]

"Love in an Elevator"
Original single artwork by Mark Ryden
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Pump
B-side"Young Lust" , "Ain't Enough"
ReleasedAugust 15, 1989 (1989-08-15)[1][2]
RecordedApril–June 1989
StudioLittle Mountain Sound (Vancouver)[3]
Genre
Length
  • 5:39 (album version)
  • 3:38 (single version)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn[3]
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Rag Doll"
(1988)		 "Love in an Elevator"
(1989)		 "F.I.N.E.*"
(1989)
Music video
"Love In An Elevator" on YouTube

Background

According to Tyler, the song was based on an actual experience where he was making out with a woman in an elevator and the doors opened.[10] Tyler said that "It felt like a lifetime waiting for those doors to close."[10]

Recording

"Love in an Elevator", like the other tracks on Pump, was recorded some time in April to June 1989 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The song was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and was engineered by Mike Fraser with Ken Lomas as second engineer, and in addition to Aerosmith – Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitars, backing vocals), Brad Whitford (guitars, backing vocals), Tom Hamilton (bass, backing vocals), and Joey Kramer (drums) – were Bob Dowd (backing vocals), Bruce Fairbairn (backing vocals), and Catherine Epps (elevator operator).[3]

Track listing

7" 45 RPM
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love in an Elevator"Joe Perry, Steven Tyler 
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Young Lust"Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance 

CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love in an Elevator" (Edit)Perry, Tyler3:42
2."Ain't Enough"Perry, Tyler5:03
3."Young Lust" (LP Version)Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance4:22

Music video

The music video for "Love in an Elevator" was directed by Marty Callner.[11] At the beginning of the video, Aerosmith are walking through a fancy department store. An elevator operator (played by former Playboy model Brandi Brandt) suggestively asks Tyler if he is "going down". Tyler leaps into the elevator before the band begins playing the song onstage (with several flash cuts to scenes in the department store).[12][13]

Reception

Award nomination

The song received a Grammy Award nomination in 1990 for Best Hard Rock Performance, but lost out to Living Colour.

In concert

The song has consistently been a staple in the band's setlist on almost every tour they have performed since the song's release. It is a fan favorite and is well known among mainstream audiences.

In concert, Tyler often changes the lyrics to those that are more controversial and profanity-laden; on a version of the song featured on the live album A Little South of Sanity, culled from the band's tours in the 1990s, listeners can hear Tyler say "jackin' in the elevator" and "lick your funky ass" (or "fucking ass") instead of "kiss your sassafras".

Use in Disney World rollercoaster

A portion of the song plays within the ride sequence of Walt Disney World's Rock 'n Roller Coaster ride, which features different Aerosmith songs on each of its ride vehicles. The lyrics for the Disney World version were specially revised to say "love on a roller coaster" at the end of the ride.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[25] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Strong, Martin (2002) [First published in 1994]. The Great Rock Discography (Sixth ed.). United Kingdom: Canongate Books. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
  2. "Aerosmith - Singles". hitparade.ch. Retrieved June 23, 2021. Click on individual song pages for dates.
  3. Big Ones (CD insert). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1994. GEFD-24716.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Rivadavia, Eduardo (February 28, 2017). "Aerosmith Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. Popoff, Martin (2014). The big book of hair metal : the illustrated oral history of heavy metal's debauched decade. Minneapolis, MN. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7603-4546-7. OCLC 858901054.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. Rolli, Bryan (July 1, 2021). "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  7. Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn (2019). Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. ABC-CLIO. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-4408-6579-4.
  8. "Aerosmith - Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  9. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. "The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of Aerosmith". Society of Rock. July 8, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  11. "Aerosmith - Love In An Elevator (1989)". IMVDb. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  12. Brown, Pete (June 11, 2019). "Love in an Elevator". Medium. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  13. "Contemplating Love in an Elevator". Columbus Calling. June 25, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  14. "Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  15. "Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6575." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  17. "Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  19. "Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  21. "Aerosmith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  22. "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  24. "Billboard Top 100 - 1989". Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  25. "American single certifications – Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator". Recording Industry Association of America.
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