ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Five reasons to listen:
- 1st album together by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- Contains 4 hit singles, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
- “Mountain” was 1st Motown hit for songwriters Valerie Simpson & Nick Ashford
- Includes songs later remade by Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys
- Marvin Gaye’s verdict: “While we were singing, we were in love”
Four fast facts:
- Release date: 29 August, 1967
- Billboard album chart peaks: #7 R&B, #69 pop
- Album’s biggest hit: “Your Precious Love” (#2 R&B, #5 pop)
- “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, 1999
Video:
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Live TV Performance)
Full track listing:
Hidden gem: “Two Can Have A Party” (almost released as a single)
Trivia:
Tammi Terrell recorded a solo version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in January 1967, but not released. It finally appeared on a 2010 retrospective of her work, Come On And See Me on Hip-O Select.- Songwriters Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson first intended “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for Dusty Springfield. Then Motown called.
- Clyde Wilson (co-writer of “Give A Little Love”) is better known as Steve Mancha, a Northern Soul hero who recorded for Detroit producer Don Davis, and later joined 100 Proof Aged in Soul.
- Released the same month as United: Bee Gees’ 1st, Aretha Arrives, Procol Harum, Otis Redding Live In Europe, Four Tops’ Greatest Hits.
Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own” from her globally successful Back To Black album was built on a sample interpolation of Marvin & Tammi’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” The writers credited on “Tears” are the original authors of “Mountain,” Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and Amy.
Just sayin’:“The sound of their voices together was better than any of the other duets Marvin had done, it was just so distinctive” – Songwriter/producer Johnny Bristol, as quoted in The Billboard Book Of No. 1 R&B Hits
“Tammi was the kind of chick who couldn’t be controlled by men. That can drive a man crazy – trying to deal with a woman who won’t be dominated by anyone. I loved that about Tammi” – Marvin Gaye, as quoted in Divided Soul
“They worked well together. They made things easy. Marvin was just full of jokes – although they weren’t that funny! I used to say, ‘Marvin, why don’t you get some jokes that make me laugh?’” – Songwriter/producer Valerie Simpson, as quoted in The Billboard Book Of No. 1 R&B Hits
Vote here for your favorite track on the album:
Producers: Johnny Bristol & Harvey Fuqua. Also, Berry Gordy (“You Got What it Takes”), Hal Davis (“Oh How I’d Miss You”)
Songwriters: Nick Ashford, Jackey Beavers, Brook Benton, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock, Hal Davis, Harvey Fuqua, Marvin Gaye, Berry Gordy, George Gordy, Etta James, Thomas Kemp, C. Carson Parks, Clyde Wilson, Frank Wilson, Vance Wilson
Pre-makes: “You Got What It Takes” (Marv Johnson, 1960), “Little Old Boy, Little Ole Girl” (Lorri Rudolph & Joe Charles, 1961), “Hold Me Oh My Darling” (Tammi Terrell, 1965), “Somethin’ Stupid” (Nancy & Frank Sinatra, 1967)
Re-makes: “If I Could Build My World Around You” (Supremes & Four Tops, 1971), “If This World Were Mine” (Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn, 1982; John Legend, 2004; Alicia Keys & Jermaine Paul, 2005), “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Diana Ross, 1970; Inner Life, 1981; Michael McDonald, 2003; Michael Bolton & Kelly Rowland, 2013)
