Save the Children (song)
Encyclopedia
"Save the Children" is a 1971 song written by Al Cleveland
, Renaldo Benson and Marvin Gaye
and issued on Marvin's 1971 album, What's Going On
. While not issued as a single in the U.S., the song was issued as a single by the Tamla-Motown label in the UK where it peaked at #41 on the Charts in December 1971, whereas the other major US single releases initially failed to make a dent on the other side of the Atlantic. The song was a continuation of the message "What's Going On
" delivered, about love, this time, for the children. Marvin later joked on the liner notes of the album "not let (this song) influence anyone". Marvin recorded both a spoken word recitation of the song and a vocal version mixing the two vocals together featuring Marvin's soft-spoken vocals on one side and his expressive tenor on the other. The song would later be covered by Diana Ross
in a medley featuring the jazz song, "Brown Baby", on her 1973 album, Touch Me in the Morning
. Marvin sung this song briefly while touring Europe in 1976 including the song as part of his What's Going On medley.
Al Cleveland
Al Cleveland is a former American songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most popular co-compositions are 1967's "I Second That Emotion" performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and 1971's "What's Going On" performed by Marvin Gaye.Cleveland was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United...
, Renaldo Benson and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and issued on Marvin's 1971 album, What's Going On
What's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
. While not issued as a single in the U.S., the song was issued as a single by the Tamla-Motown label in the UK where it peaked at #41 on the Charts in December 1971, whereas the other major US single releases initially failed to make a dent on the other side of the Atlantic. The song was a continuation of the message "What's Going On
What's Going On (song)
"What's Going On" is a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. It was the title track of Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 Motown album What's Going On, and it became a crossover hit single that reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts...
" delivered, about love, this time, for the children. Marvin later joked on the liner notes of the album "not let (this song) influence anyone". Marvin recorded both a spoken word recitation of the song and a vocal version mixing the two vocals together featuring Marvin's soft-spoken vocals on one side and his expressive tenor on the other. The song would later be covered by Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
in a medley featuring the jazz song, "Brown Baby", on her 1973 album, Touch Me in the Morning
Touch Me in the Morning (album)
Touch Me in the Morning is a 1973 album released by American singer Diana Ross on the Motown Records.-Reception:The album spawned the hit title track, which became her second #1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and helped the album peak at #5 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart...
. Marvin sung this song briefly while touring Europe in 1976 including the song as part of his What's Going On medley.
Personnel
- Lead vocals and spoken verses by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
- Background vocals by The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
- Produced by Marvin Gaye