I’ve Been In Love Before – Cutting Crew | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#9) and Adult Contemporary (#2); 1987

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

A journalist’s description of Queen, after they’d stopped touring and now spent all their time in the studio as a “cutting crew” (in other words, a recording band), became the name of a 1980’s hit-making outfit founded by Nick Van Eede and Kevin MacMichael.

Eede’s first big gig occurred in the late 1970’s when, armed with kazoo and acoustic guitar, he opened for Slade. A few years later Nick was touring Canada with his own band and his own opening act, Fast Forward.

Nick ultimately joined forces with Forward guitarist Kevin MacMichael. Back in England, they added drummer Martin “Frosty” Beedle and bassist Colin Farley. Signed to Virgin Records, the foursome – now billed as Cutting Crew – gave the label its first hit (#4 in the UK), (I Just) Died In Your Arms, in the fall of 1986.

In May, 1987 it topped the U.S. chart. After One For The Mockingbird fizzled at #38, CC returned for a the in November for a final appearance in the Top 10 with I’ve Been In Love Before.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Steve Thompson
  • Michael Barbiero

Lyrics Written by:

  • Nick Van Eede

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).