1990 single by Michael Bolton
"How Can We Be Lovers" US retail cassette variant of standard artwork; the US CD edition was promo-only
B-side "That's What Love Is All About" Released 1990 Length 3 :55 Label Columbia Songwriters
Producer Desmond Child
"How Can We Be Lovers " is a song written by American singer and songwriter Michael Bolton , Diane Warren , and Desmond Child and performed by Bolton. Released in 1990 by Columbia Records as the third single from Bolton's sixth studio album, Soul Provider Billboard Hot 100UK Singles Chart in May 1990. The song also reached number two in Canada, number three in Australia, number nine in Luxembourg, number 10 in Sweden, and number 18 in Ireland.
US and Australian 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single [ 1] [ 2] [ 3] "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
"That's What Love Is All About" – 3:56 UK 7-inch and cassette single [ 4] [ 5] "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
"The Hunger" – 4:18 UK 12-inch single and CD1 [ 6] [ 7] "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
"Fools Game" – 3:50
"The Hunger" – 4:18 "How Can We Be Lovers"
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay " (live)
"The Hunger"
"I Almost Believed You" European 7-inch and mini-CD single [ 9] [ 10] "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
"Call My Name" – 4:15 European mini maxi-CD single [ 11] "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
"Call My Name" – 4:15
"Fools Game" – 3:50 Michael Bolton – lead and background vocals
Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards
Bobby Chouinard – drums
John McCurry – electric and acoustic guitarHugh McDonald – bass guitarEric Rehl – synthesizer
Myriam Valle, Jon Fiore, Kyf Brewer, Kate McGunnigle, Joe Cerisano , Patty Darcy, Louis Merlino, Bernie Shanahan, Desmond Child – background vocals
Sir Arthur Payson – engineer, mixing
Joe Pirrera, Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, Danny Mormando, Mike Kowiak – assistant engineers
John Herman – assistant mix engineer
Steve Savitt – production manager
^ How Can We Be Lovers (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records . 1990. 38-73318.^ How Can We Be Lovers (Australian cassette single sleeve). CBS Records . 1990. 655806 4.^ How Can We Be Lovers (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). CBS/Sony . 1990. CSDS 8129.^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 7.^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK cassette single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 4.^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 12-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 6.^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD1 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 2.^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD2 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 5.^ How Can We Be Lovers (European 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 7.^ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 1.^ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini maxi-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 3.^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" . ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50 . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9138 ." RPM Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9027 ." RPM Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF) . Music & Media . Retrieved June 19, 2021 .^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Can We Be Lovers" . Irish Singles Chart . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. May 20, 1990. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" . top40.nl. Retrieved June 22, 2021 .^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" . Top 40 Singles . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" . Singles Top 100 . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 18, 2019.^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard ^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)" . Billboard
^ a b "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1990" . ARIA . Retrieved July 18, 2019 .^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990" . RPM . Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada .^ "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 16, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025 .^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1990" . Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009 .^ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs 1990" . Billboard . Archived from the original . Retrieved March 12, 2021 .^ "New Release Summary: Singles". The ARIA Report ^ "マイケル・ボルトン | ラバーズ" [Michael Bolton | Lovers] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved September 12, 2025 .
Studio albums Cover albums Compilation albums Singles Related articles
