According to Tyler, the song was based on an actual experience where he was making out with a woman in an elevator and the doors opened.[10] Tyler said that "It felt like a lifetime waiting for those doors to close."[10]
Recording
"Love in an Elevator", like the other tracks on Pump, was recorded some time in April to June 1989 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The song was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and was engineered by Mike Fraser with Ken Lomas as second engineer, and in addition to Aerosmith – Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (guitars, backing vocals), Brad Whitford (guitars, backing vocals), Tom Hamilton (bass, backing vocals), and Joey Kramer (drums) – were Bob Dowd (backing vocals), Bruce Fairbairn (backing vocals), and Catherine Epps (elevator operator).[3]
The music video for "Love in an Elevator" was directed by Marty Callner.[11] At the beginning of the video, Aerosmith are walking through luxury Los Angeles department store Bullocks Wilshire.[12] An elevator operator (played by former Playboy modelBrandi Brandt) suggestively asks Tyler if he is "going down". Tyler leaps into the elevator before the band begins playing the song onstage (with several flash cuts to scenes in the department store).[13][14]
A portion of the song plays within the ride sequence of Walt Disney World's Rock 'n Roller Coaster ride, which features different Aerosmith songs on each of its ride vehicles. The lyrics for the Disney World version were specially revised to say "love on a roller coaster" at the end of the ride.
