Originally written by Miles Gregory and first recorded by Rose Royce in 1978, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is a soulful heartbreak ballad that Madonna reinterpreted with striking vulnerability and vocal intensity. Her version first appeared on her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984), marking one of her earliest forays into more emotional, ballad-style territory.
While Madonna was dominating charts with upbeat dance-pop hits like “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl”, this track stood out on the album for its emotional weight and slower tempo. Produced by Nile Rodgers, the original album version features a restrained arrangement with synthesizers, soft percussion, and a prominent drum machine. Madonna’s vocal is raw and expressive, a departure from her usual playful tone—offering early proof that she was capable of deeper emotional range as an artist.
In March 1996, a new version of the song was remixed and released with “Over and Over” on the B-side as a single from her Something to Remember ballads compilation. This version featured updated production with lush orchestration and dramatic piano, bringing more depth and cinematic flair. Madonna also re-recorded her vocals, offering a more nuanced and polished performance that reflected her artistic growth over the decade.
The 1996 single version was accompanied by a moody, black-and-white music video directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, showing Madonna alone in a decaying apartment, reinforcing the song’s themes of abandonment and emotional desolation. The visual and sonic updates gave the song a second life, introducing it to a broader audience and highlighting her evolution as a vocalist and storyteller.
While not one of Madonna’s biggest commercial hits, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is often praised by fans and critics as one of her most underrated and emotionally resonant ballads. It revealed a more introspective side of the artist early in her career and helped pave the way for later emotive works like “Live to Tell”, “Oh Father”, and “Take a Bow.”
The music video was filmed in March 1996, at the Confitería El Molino in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In 1985 was “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” covered by Jimmy Nail.