Songfacts®:

• The Los Angeles punk band X took a hard sound on their album Ain't Love Grand, replacing their longtime producer Ray Manzarek with Michael Wagner, who was known for his work with Dokken and Great White. The song was predominately written by the group's bass player/vocalist John Doe, who said in a 1986 Rock Scene interview: "It's taken me about 15 years to be able to write a song that's as simple and direct as 'Burning House of Love'"
• The album title is a reference to the relationship between John Doe and X lead singer Exene Cervenka, who were married from 1980-1985. When we spoke with Doe in 2010, he told us about continuing his working relationship with Exene. Said Doe: "It wasn't easy at first. During Ain't Love Grand! it was pretty hard. But it certainly was friendship based on respect first, and then it became more of a romantic relationship. We started on a good footing and it hasn't always been easy, but we've been able to maintain it." (Check out our full John Doe interview.)