40 years after it was written, Bedford duo My Girl The River are releasing a heartfelt acoustic rendition of No More I Love Yous – a song co-written by band member Joe Hughes.
Featuring Kris Wilkinson-Hughes on vocals and acoustic guitar, Joe on bass and backing vocals, and their daughter Rue Hughes on backing vocals, this intimate version brings a fresh, familial warmth to the timeless classic that gave Annie Lennox a number 2 hit in 1995, won her a Grammy and brought the song worldwide recognition.
Written in the summer of 1985 in a flat in Muswell Hill, London, No More I Love Yous emerged from the creative partnership of lifelong friends and bandmates David Freeman and Joe Hughes.
“The song was released and, as Joe says, ‘richocheted’ off the edge of the charts in ’86,” said Kris.
“But Joe and David were touring with the Eurythmics, Annie [Lennox] heard it and loved it and it made it onto her ‘Medusa’ album of covers.”
Of course, as far as the Annie Lennox version of the song goes, the rest is history, but for Joe, Kris and Rue it’s had a slightly longer journey.
“We’d play the song live and the response would always be amazing,” Kris told the Bedford Clanger.
“Over the years, Joe has become more comfortable playing it, being in the spotlight and recognising that people really love it.
“The song means a lot to people and they always come up to us after a gig to talk to us about it. So the three of us went into the studio to record a fresh take of the song. For the older generations it pushes the nostalgia buttons, while for younger listeners we hope it’s a voyage of discovery.”
You can presave your copy here.
Where is all began
The song was very nearly lost in the ether, after David Freeman came up with the chorus and Joe had left the session to go home. Luckily, sensing the magic of what they had created, Joe returned to David’s flat and sang the song through the letterbox.
Weeks later, a sleepless night with friends produced a four-track demo, setting the stage for the song’s remarkable journey.
While working as a carpenter, Joe’s work brought him to Dave Stewart’s (of The Eurythmics) houseboat, where Stewart discovered the demo. Joe and David were subsequently signed to Stewart’s publishing company, leading to a debut album produced by Jimmy Iovine under A&M Records as the duo The Lover Speaks.
In 1995, Annie Lennox brought the song to the world stage with her Medusa album, creating the version familiar to millions. “Thanks to Annie, the whole world gets to celebrate what some call their favourite song of all time,” says Joe.
The 2025 acoustic version offers something entirely new: tender harmonies, emotive vocals, and the instantly recognisable “doots” that have become a signature of the song.
“I still can’t quite believe it’s been 40 years,” says Joe.
“You only get one chance to celebrate a song’s 40th birthday,” adds Kris. “This version is our thank you to Joe and David for writing such a beautiful song, and to the lovely folks who come to our shows.”
The song also has a special place in Kris and Joe’s personal story. Introduced in Nashville in 1998 via mutual friends, their shared love of the song sparked a long-distance friendship that grew into a life together.
Their daughter Rue has been performing alongside them since the age of five, adding their own beautiful harmonies to the recording.
My Girl The River will perform at Black Deer in the City on Sunday, 26 October, marking their first full-band gig. The duo will also tour parts of the UK with Serious Child in October and November, with occasional performances alongside Anna Howie (whose album Good For Roses Kris produced) and a support date with Peter Bruntnell in Bedford in March 2026.
Kris and Joe are currently working on new material, aiming to release a full album in spring/summer 2026.
