"Love Removal Machine"
Single by the Cult
from the album Electric
Released16 February 1987
RecordedDecember 1986
Genre
Length4:17
LabelBeggars Banquet
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
The Cult singles chronology
"Revolution"
(1985) 		"Love Removal Machine"
(1987) 		"Lil' Devil"
(1987)

"Love Removal Machine" is a song recorded by the British rock band the Cult. It was the first single to be released from the group's 1987 album Electric. First recorded during a radio session, it had a different arrangement when it was recorded for the band's third album, Peace. When that album was scrapped, it was re-recorded for the replacement album, Electric. An extended remix was also created and released on a 12" single. The song's main riff has been compared to that of "Start Me Up" which was released by The Rolling Stones in 1981.[5] "Love Removal Machine" was named the 74th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

Track listing

Double Vinyl 7"
  1. "Love Removal Machine"
  2. "Wolf Child's Blues"
  3. "Conquistador"
  4. "Groove Co"
Vinyl 7"
  1. "Love Removal Machine"
  2. "Wolf Child's Blues"
Vinyl 12"
  1. "Love Removal Machine (Extended Version)"
  2. "Love Removal Machine"
  3. "Wolf Child's Blues"
  4. "Conquistador"
  5. "Groove Co"
Cassette
  1. Love Removal Machine
  2. Wolf Child's Blues
  3. Conquistador
  4. Groove Co
  5. Love Removal Machine (Extended Version)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 36
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 32
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 24
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 18
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[12] 15

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Valys, Phillip (8 August 2013). "The Cult's Ian Astbury finds 'Electric Peace'". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. ^ Masley, Ed (28 June 2019). "Arizona State Fair 2019 Concert lineup: Becky G, Lil Pump, MC Hammer, the Cult". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. ^ TomTrauma (30 May 2019). "The Cult - Live in Grand Rapids". Punknews.org. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  4. ^ Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. ABC-CLIO. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-313-34801-3.
  5. ^ Wall, Mick (21 June 2017). "How The Cult's Electric kick-started a revolution". Classic Rock. Classic Rock. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  6. ^ "The Cult – Love Removal Machine". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0823." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Cult" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  9. ^ "The Cult – Love Removal Machine" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  10. ^ "The Cult – Love Removal Machine". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  12. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Cult – Love Removal Machine". Music Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2022.


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