Go to main content

If that Isn't Love

Rating:
4.1 / 5

Words & Music: Dottie Rambo

He left the splendor of heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me

And if that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the little sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love

Even in death He remembered
The thief hanging by His side
Then he spoke of love and compassion
And He took him to paradise

And if that isn't love
Then the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky
And the little sparrows can't fly
Yeah if that isn't love
Then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this
If that isn't love It's got to be love

Recordingdate: 1973/12/16, first released on: Good Times (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of If that Isn't Love:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(guitar)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with If that Isn't Love.

Marc JB wrote on March 14, 2011
Awesome vocals...This song should of been the title of a another gospel album. Along with "Help Me" and "I Got a Feeling" Elvis should of recorded more of this stuff at Stax in '73 and possibly '74.
Deano1 wrote on June 12, 2011
Solid, but unspectacular gospel track. Elvis sings it well, but I think the arrangement and production could have been better.
derekd wrote on June 12, 2011
Very close to being good enough for release as a single, maybe at Easter time. Just needed that final touch. A gospel single didn't have to be a 'pop' song. Anyway, yes, I like this recording.
dgirl wrote on May 19, 2012
Great vocal on a so-so song. Dont like the arrangement at all. Too much going on. Simple was not part of the 70's recording style for Elvis and because of that many of these over the top arrangements happened. Def not single material.
Gorse wrote on February 21, 2013
Magnificent powerful vocal that lifts this song from the mundane to something more spectacular. Even then it is never a 5 star offering but is always a pleasure to spin.
Great Dane wrote on February 21, 2013
Awesome vocal, that's why i love the 70's. 5 stars for the vocal and 4 for the song.
ElvisSacramento wrote on February 23, 2013
This is such a spectacular song and Elvis' rendition of it was magnificent. 5 Stars for the vocal and 5 Stars for the song.
sugartummy wrote on March 19, 2013
Not overproduced by my taste. Just those backing vocals again. Elvis loved vocal groups, but for me, a lot of times it's just too much.
Natha wrote on January 12, 2014
As it was on a regular LP I listened to it. I never liked gospels on regular albums. Now-a-days I can make my own playlist which does not contain any gospels at all. Anyway, apart from that Elvis has that wonderful voice that entices one to listen to it. So in those days I loved to listen to that voice.
Cruiser621 wrote on August 01, 2018
2-stars. not one of my favorites to be blunt.
Milky White Way wrote on April 11, 2022
Not a favourite but still a really good song that I never skip. I love the gospels and imo it doesn’t feel out of place on Good Times. I love the this album and give it 5 stars and the song is easily 4 stars.
Back to List