Too Gone, Too Long

"Too Gone, Too Long" was written by Diane Warren, while production was handled by frequent collaborator, Canadian record producer David Foster.[1] Felipe Elgueta served as its engineer, while mixing was overseen Mick Guzauski, with John Moony assisting.[1] Michael Thompson played the electric guitar and Dean Parks provided acoustic guitar riffs on the track; Simon Franglen was consulted as synclavier programmer.[1] An adult contemporary power ballad, "Too Gone, Too Long" blends pop and contemporary R&B elements.[2]

As with most on parent album EV3, "Too Gone, Too Long" marked a breakaway for En Vogue who had worked exclusively with their founders Foster & McElroy throughout most of their career.[3] When the album was nearing completion, Dawn Robinson chose to leave the group in April 1997 for a solo recording contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records after difficult contractual negotiations reached a stalemate.[3] Her abrupt departure from the band forced the remaining trio Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones to record additional vocals to replace Robinson's lead vocals.[3]

En Vogue's decision to record a Diane Warren (pictured) record divided music critics.[4][5]

"Too Gone, Too Long" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Los Angeles Times writer Connie Johnson ranked the song among the album's highlights and noted it a "an integral part of the womanly, more mature stance" of its parent album".[4] She added: "The group smokes Diane Warren's "Too Gone Too Long," the kind of power ballad that has catapulted the careers of Celine Dion and Toni Braxton to a higher level. That the funky divas can sing has always been a given, but this is a performance upon which musical reps are truly built."[4] Opposed to this, Stephen Leo Stanley from AllMusic was critical of the band's decision to work with Warren and Foster on "Too Gone, Too Long". He found that the pair reshaped "En Vogue as an adult contemporary band, sapping the group of any of their energy or style."[5] Gerald Martinez from New Straits Times called the song a "brooding ballad".[6] Elysa Gardner from Rolling Stone described the song as "sweetly wistful" and added that "a persistent cad receives this simple message: "The door is locked/You can't get in." You go, girls."[7] Laura Jamison from Salon Magazine noted it as "a predictably well-crafted ballad", adding that "it's sure to be a hit".[8]

Released as the third and final from EV3, "Too Gone, Too Long" reached number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.[9] A moderate success in the United States, it became one of the band's lowest-charting singles by then, though it remains En Vogue's final single to reach the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 to date.[9] Similarly, the song became the group's seventh and final top twenty entry in the United Kingdom when it debuted and peaked at number twenty on the UK Singles Chart in 1997.[10] Elsewhere, "Too Gone, Too Long" reached the top forty of the New Zealand Singles Chart and peaked at number 45 on the Single Top 100 chart in the Netherlands.[11]

An accompanying music video "Too Gone, Too Long" was directed by Francis Lawrence.[3]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of EV3.[13]

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics