The Line (Lisa Stansfield song)
# The Line (Lisa Stansfield song)

"The Line" is a song recorded by British singer, songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield, released as the third European single from her eponymous album (1997). It was written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Terry Gamwell, and produced by Devaney and Peter Mokran. Released as a single in Europe on 22 September 1997, it reached number sixty-four in the United Kingdom. The song also received positive reviews from music critics.

The single included remixes created by various British producers: The Boilerhouse Boys, Ashley Beedle, Black Science Orchestra, Ian O'Brien, Snowboy, Danny Breaks and Mark Mendoza. An accompanying music video, directed by Rocky Schenck, was also released. After that, Stansfield embarked on a mini-tour in the United Kingdom in October and November 1997.

"The Line" (The Black Science Orchestra Mix) was later included on The Remix Album (1998) and on the two-CD edition of Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003). In 2014, remixes of "The Line" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stansfield. Additional remixes were featured on People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (2014). All was included on The Collection 1989–2003.

## Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt that this track does much to reaffirm Lisa Stansfield's status as one of the UK's leading R&B artists. They added, "A midtempo number, The Line shows her at her very best and a host of cleverly constructed remixes are worthy of further investigation by more adventurous music programmers." An editor, Dominic Pride, described it as a "funky strut". Music Week gave it three out of five, noting that "Stansfield finds herself in laid-back, funky mode on this upbeat groove which makes the most of its simple, rhythmic qualities." Press of Atlantic City wrote that the singer "shines" on the "funky" song.

