Frontman Bob Seger wrote the track for the band's sixth studio album, The Fire Inside (1991), and it was produced by Don Was.

[2] Released as a single in the United States in mid-1991, "The Real Love" gave Seger his 19th top-40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 24 that October.

[4] Commercially, the song became Seger's 19th and final top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1991.

[5] It became a top-10 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Album Rock Tracks charts, peaking at number four on both listings.

[11][12] The song also reached the top 100 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, peaking at number 92 in late 1991.