You're All I Need
Encyclopedia
You're All I Need is the second studio album
by soul
musicians Marvin Gaye
and Tammi Terrell
, released in August of 1968 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Entirely written and produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson (who composed three of the songs on the first Gaye/Terrell duets LP, United
), You're All I Need was recorded throughout 1966 and 1967 and features two Top 10 Billboard Hot 100
hits, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
" and "You're All I Need to Get By
". It peaked at #60 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Album Chart
. You're All I Need was the two singers' final collaboration effort, as Terrell would turn ill following recording, before succumbing to a brain tumor
in 1970.
homecoming
in Virginia
. She was later diagnosed with a brain tumor
, and could no longer record nor perform live. The final Gaye/Terrell album, Easy
, would be completed by having Valerie Simpson fill in for Tammi Terrell on most of the album's songs, and having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks for two tracks. Roughly half of You're All I Need consists of Gaye overdubbing Terrell's solo recordings, as Terrell's illness prevented her from completing a full album.
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
produced the singles "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Keep On Loving Me Honey", and "You're All I Need to Get By". Harvey Fuqua
and Johnny Bristol
produced the rhythm tracks and Terrell's vocal for "You Ain't Livin' 'Til You're Lovin'", with Ashford and Simpson completing the production and supervising Gaye's vocal. Fuqua and Bristol also produced "I'll Never Stop Loving You Baby" and "Come On and See Me", while Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr.'s brother Robert Gordy produced "I Can't Help But Love You". Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol produced "Baby Dont'cha Worry", "Give In, You Just Can't Win", "When Love Comes Knocking At Your Heart", "That's How It Is (Since You've Been Gone)", and "Memory Chest" as Tammi Terrell solo tracks in 1965 and 1966, and had Gaye overdub his vocals to them to create duet versions.
The hit title track was later revived 25 years later as a duet between rapper Method Man
and hip-hop soul singer Mary J. Blige
. Their rendition, titled "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need", won Method Man and Blige a Grammy Award
for Best Rap Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
in 1995.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musicians 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 Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
, released in August of 1968 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Entirely written and produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson (who composed three of the songs on the first Gaye/Terrell duets LP, United
United (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell album)
United is a studio album by soul musicians Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, released August 29, 1967 on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol produced all of the tracks on the album, with the exception of "You Got What It Takes" and "Oh How I'd Miss You"...
), You're All I Need was recorded throughout 1966 and 1967 and features two Top 10 Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hits, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
-Marcella Detroit & Elton John version:"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at...
" and "You're All I Need to Get By
You're All I Need to Get By
"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J...
". It peaked at #60 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Album Chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. You're All I Need was the two singers' final collaboration effort, as Terrell would turn ill following recording, before succumbing to a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
in 1970.
History
Although it was the second of three official Gaye/Terrell albums released by Motown, You're All I Need is technically the duo's final album. The album was recorded in 1966 and 1967 during the time Gaye and Terrell's first collaboration album United was released. After recording You're All I Need, Tammi Terrell collapsed onstage while performing with Gaye at the Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. She was later diagnosed with a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
, and could no longer record nor perform live. The final Gaye/Terrell album, Easy
Easy (Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell album)
Easy is an album recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and released by Motown Records on September 16, 1969 under the Tamla Records label. One song on the album, "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By", was a hit single and remains popular to this day. Terrell had been ill, suffering from...
, would be completed by having Valerie Simpson fill in for Tammi Terrell on most of the album's songs, and having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks for two tracks. Roughly half of You're All I Need consists of Gaye overdubbing Terrell's solo recordings, as Terrell's illness prevented her from completing a full album.
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
Ashford & Simpson
Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
produced the singles "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Keep On Loving Me Honey", and "You're All I Need to Get By". Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua, was an African-American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s...
and Johnny Bristol
Johnny Bristol
Johnny Bristol , was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
produced the rhythm tracks and Terrell's vocal for "You Ain't Livin' 'Til You're Lovin'", with Ashford and Simpson completing the production and supervising Gaye's vocal. Fuqua and Bristol also produced "I'll Never Stop Loving You Baby" and "Come On and See Me", while Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr.'s brother Robert Gordy produced "I Can't Help But Love You". Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol produced "Baby Dont'cha Worry", "Give In, You Just Can't Win", "When Love Comes Knocking At Your Heart", "That's How It Is (Since You've Been Gone)", and "Memory Chest" as Tammi Terrell solo tracks in 1965 and 1966, and had Gaye overdub his vocals to them to create duet versions.
The hit title track was later revived 25 years later as a duet between rapper Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
and hip-hop soul singer Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
. Their rendition, titled "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need", won Method Man and Blige a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rap Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
in 1995.
Side one
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real ThingAin't Nothing Like the Real Thing-Marcella Detroit & Elton John version:"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at...
" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie SimpsonAshford & SimpsonNickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
) - "Keep On Loving Me Honey" (Ashford, Simpson)
- "You're All I Need to Get ByYou're All I Need to Get By"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J...
" (Ashford, Simpson) - "Baby Doncha Worry" (Johnny BristolJohnny BristolJohnny Bristol , was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
, Jackey Beavers) - "You Ain't Livin' 'Til You're Lovin'" (Ashford, Simpson)
- "Give In, You Just Can't Win" (Harvey FuquaHarvey FuquaHarvey Fuqua, was an African-American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s...
, Bristol)
Side two
- "When Love Comes Knocking At Your Heart" (Fuqua, Bristol, Gladys KnightGladys KnightGladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, Vernon Bullock) - "Come On and See Me" (Fuqua, Bristol)
- "I Can't Help But Love You" (Robert Gordy, Thomas Kemp, 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....
) - "That's How It Is (Since You've Been Gone)" (Fuqua, Bristol, Bullock)
- "I'll Never Stop Loving You Baby" (Fuqua, Bristol, Beatrice Verdi)
- "Memory Chest" (Fuqua, Bristol)
Credits
- Lead (and additional background) vocals 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....
and Tammi TerrellTammi TerrellThomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed... - Background vocals by Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, The OriginalsThe OriginalsThe Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town"...
, 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...
and The SpinnersThe Spinners (U.S. band)The Spinners is a soul music vocal group, active for over 50 years, and with a long run of pop and R&B hits especially during the 1970s. The group, originating from Detroit, still tours regularly .... - 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...