It’s Only Love

The first time I heard It’s Only Love, I was hooked by that guitar riff that kicks in from the very first measure. It’s not a flashy solo or a long blues lick, but a clean melodic line that repeats like a heartbeat, as if the song itself were breathing with it. Bryan Adams and his team made sure that detail—which could easily go unnoticed—became the song’s defining trait. The track doesn’t have explosive choruses or abrupt changes, but that subtle shift in the chord progression before the chorus makes everything fit effortlessly. Drummer Micke keeps a steady rhythm, as if time itself slows down just enough for the guitar to shine without rushing.

Recorded in 1984 for the album Reckless, the song was one of six singles released from that record, which went on to become Bryan Adams’ best-selling album at the time. Producer Bob Clearmountain—renowned for his work on 80s mixes that defined the era’s sound—oversaw the recording alongside Mike Fraser, Bruce Lampcov, and other engineers who gave it that warm yet direct feel. What’s striking is that, despite its pop-rock vibe, the track doesn’t aim for perfection: there’s a naturalness in the performance that makes it feel more intimate than many polished productions of the time. Reckless topped the Billboard 200 and sold over twelve million copies worldwide, but It’s Only Love wasn’t just a commercial hit: it became a song many amateur guitarists learn because, deep down, it’s simple to play yet carries that little detail that makes it special.