Simply gorgeous. My Girl The River’s cover of ‘No More I Love Yous’, the classic song made famous by Annie Lennox, is truly captivating. Adding real musical depth is Joe Hughes, who co-wrote the original; on this version, he contributes backing vocals and guitar, rich sounds that give foundation to the trio’s wondrous singing. And those vocals are at the heart of everything. Taking the lead, frontwoman Kris Wilkinson Hughes delivers a flawless performance in a beautifully pure, controlled voice. Making it a family affair, their daughter, Rue, also provides backing, and the result is a vocal masterpiece; their voices blend seemingly effortlessly. Rue has been performing with her parents since she was five years old, and her harmonies are natural and mesmerising. Collectively, the trio soar when they sing and, in the accompanying video, they convey genuine joy in performing together.
This timeless classic – much-loved for four decades already – becomes something intimate, warm and altogether new. It was all the way back in the summer of 1985 that lifelong friends Joe Hughes and David Freeman created the original song in a flat in Muswell Hill, London. Hughes remembers: “There were no ‘No More I Love You’ songs back then.” After Freeman wrote the chorus, Hughes went home to his own flat in Crouch End, but, having a sense of the song’s musical magic, he returned and sang the rest of the song through Freeman’s letterbox. The first four-track demo of ‘No More I Love Yous’ was recorded a few weeks later during a sleepless night with friends. When Hughes’ work as a carpenter led to a job on The Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart’s houseboat, Stewart heard the demo. Soon after, Hughes and Freeman were signed to Stewart’s publishing company, and the duo recorded a debut album for A&M Records as The Lover Speaks, which featured the single. Hughes recalls: “Our version ricocheted off the outer edge of the charts.” Despite initially going slightly under the radar, Annie Lennox included her version on her “Medusa” album in 1995, bringing it to the world’s attention. Joe says: “Thanks to Annie, the whole world gets to celebrate what some call their favourite song of all time. I still can’t quite believe it’s been 40 years.” Kris says of the song and their new acoustic rendition: “You only get one chance to celebrate a song’s 40th birthday. 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.”
Look out for My Girl The River at Black Deer in the City this October, and other upcoming performances include supporting Peter Bruntnell in Bedford in March 2026. In the meantime, Kris and Joe are working on new material and are looking ahead to a brand new album in the spring or summer of 2026. While you’re waiting, lose yourself in this heartfelt, memorable version of a genuinely great song.
