You're All I Need to Get By
Encyclopedia
"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. Blige
.
. The lead vocals were recorded separately by the two singers and combined during the mixing process, reportedly to cut studio time, and give time for Terrell, who was using a wheelchair, to recover from surgery to repair the malignant brain tumor that would ultimately cause her death in 1970.
The original recording by Gaye and Terrell peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100
and number-one on Billboard's Hot R&B/Soul Singles
chart for five weeks, becoming one of the longest-running number one R&B hits of 1968 and the most successful duet recording of Marvin Gaye's entire career. Given its global appeal, it also reached #19 on the British singles charts in late 1968, staying there for nineteen weeks.
recorded this song in 1969 for the album Soulful and Diana Ross
recorded it for her 1970 album, Diana Ross. Ashford and Simpson produced Ross' version as well.
Aretha Franklin
recorded this song for her 1971 compilation album, Aretha's Greatest Hits
. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #3 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
There were two version recorded in 1978. Johnny Mathis
and Deniece Williams
released this as a duet from Mathis' album, You Light Up My Life. It peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Hot Soul Singles Chart, and #45 on the UK Singles Chart. It also appeared on Mathis and Williams's album as a duo "That's what friends are for" of the same year. Gloria Gaynor
recorded a disco version for Gloria Gaynor's Park Avenue Sound.
Natalie Appleton
and Bootsy Collins
recorded this song in 2000 and it features on the soundtrack of the movie Honest directed by Dave Stewart
.
Michael McDonald
recorded this song for his second album of Motown covers, 2004's Motown Two.
Kidda
uses a line of this song for his 2008 single "Under The Sun".
D.C. Rapper Wale samples this in the song "The Remake of a Remake (All I Need)" off of his critically acclaimed "Mixtape About Nothing," with singer Tawiah singing the female vocals.
My Morning Jacket
performed the song during their New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden
on December 31, 2008, with Nicole Atkins
appearing as a guest vocalist to sing the female part.
Actresses Telma Hopkins
and Valarie Pettiford
performed the song together in an episode of UPN
's Half and Half
.
Gladys Knight "Empress of Soul" also performed," You're All I Need to Get By"
A rendition of the tune by husband-and-wife duo Kenny Lattimore
and Chanté Moore
serves as the theme song for the BET
reality series The Family Crews
.
and Mary J. Blige
on their single, "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By", were referenced in "All I Need" by Jay-Z
when he says: "And all...I...need is a chick to hold a jammy like/Meth and Mary, like, Marvin and Tammi"
Late rapper The Notorious B.I.G.
sampled a portion of it for his song "My Downfall" on his Life After Death
Album.
On the first season of American Idol
, winner Kelly Clarkson
sang this song during Motown week and Jasmine Trias
also sang it on the third season. On the sixth season finale, American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks
sang it as a duet with second-season winner Ruben Studdard
. Seventh season American Idol
runner-up David Archuleta
performed this song on Star Search
final. Eighth season
contestant Von Smith
performed it in the third week of semifinals. In addition, Jacob Lusk
sang this song also during Motown week of Idol's tenth season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/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...
duo 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...
and released on Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' 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
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 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...
.
Overview
Written by real-life couple Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, it became one of the few Motown recordings of the 1960s that was not recorded with the familiar "Motown sound". Instead, "You're All I Need to Get By" had a more soulful and gospel-oriented theme surrounding it, that was influenced by the writers, who also sing background vocals on the recording, sharing vocals in a church choir in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The lead vocals were recorded separately by the two singers and combined during the mixing process, reportedly to cut studio time, and give time for Terrell, who was using a wheelchair, to recover from surgery to repair the malignant brain tumor that would ultimately cause her death in 1970.
The original recording by Gaye and Terrell peaked at number seven on the 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...
and number-one on Billboard's Hot R&B/Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart for five weeks, becoming one of the longest-running number one R&B hits of 1968 and the most successful duet recording of Marvin Gaye's entire career. Given its global appeal, it also reached #19 on the British singles charts in late 1968, staying there for nineteen weeks.
Personnel
- All lead 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 and Valerie Simpson
- Produced by Ashford & SimpsonAshford & SimpsonNickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
- 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...
Chart history
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart 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... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
19 |
Covers
Dionne WarwickDionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
recorded this song in 1969 for the album Soulful and 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...
recorded it for her 1970 album, Diana Ross. Ashford and Simpson produced Ross' version as well.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
recorded this song for her 1971 compilation album, Aretha's Greatest Hits
Aretha's Greatest Hits
Aretha's Greatest Hits is a successful 1971 album by Aretha Franklin. The compilation features two new recordings: "Spanish Harlem" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The album reached Billboards Top 20 and eventually sold over 500,000 copies...
. It peaked at #19 on the 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...
and #3 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
There were two version recorded in 1978. Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
and Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
released this as a duet from Mathis' album, You Light Up My Life. It peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Hot Soul Singles Chart, and #45 on the UK Singles Chart. It also appeared on Mathis and Williams's album as a duo "That's what friends are for" of the same year. Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
recorded a disco version for Gloria Gaynor's Park Avenue Sound.
Natalie Appleton
Natalie Appleton
Natalie Jane Appleton Howlett is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of the band All Saints. During All Saints' five years of inactivity, she was a member of Appleton with her younger sister Nicole.-Biography:...
and Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
recorded this song in 2000 and it features on the soundtrack of the movie Honest directed by Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
.
Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
recorded this song for his second album of Motown covers, 2004's Motown Two.
Kidda
Kidda
Kidda is the artist name for UK electronic music and video producer Ste McGregor. Described by one national newspaper in the UK as “a bearded 30-something one-man cottage industry”, he is signed to the Brighton-based Skint Records – the home of Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook...
uses a line of this song for his 2008 single "Under The Sun".
D.C. Rapper Wale samples this in the song "The Remake of a Remake (All I Need)" off of his critically acclaimed "Mixtape About Nothing," with singer Tawiah singing the female vocals.
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
performed the song during their New Year's Eve concert at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
on December 31, 2008, with Nicole Atkins
Nicole Atkins
Nicole Atkins is an American singer-songwriter. She has been compared to Roy Orbison and singers from the Brill Building era.-Early life:...
appearing as a guest vocalist to sing the female part.
Actresses Telma Hopkins
Telma Hopkins
Telma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and television actress. A member of the 1970s pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, she later starred in several television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, and Half & Half...
and Valarie Pettiford
Valarie Pettiford
Valarie Pettiford is an American stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer. She received a Tony nomination for her role in the broadway production Fosse. She is also known for her role as "Big Dee Dee" Thorne on the UPN sitcom Half & Half.-Stage:Pettiford began her career as a dancer...
performed the song together in an episode of UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
's Half and Half
Half and half
Half and half refers to various beverages or liquid foods made of an equal-parts mixture of two substances, including dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks...
.
Gladys Knight "Empress of Soul" also performed," You're All I Need to Get By"
A rendition of the tune by husband-and-wife duo Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore is an American R&B singer. Among his most popular hits were "Never Too Busy" and "For You".- Early career :...
and Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore is an American R&B and jazz singer.-Biography:Born to a gospel minister, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. While in high school, she decided to make a career of singing...
serves as the theme song for the BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
reality series The Family Crews
The Family Crews
The Family Crews is a reality television show following the life of comic actor Terry Crews, his wife Rebecca, their eclectic and ever-changing family ranging in age from 22 to 3 years old. The show premiered on BET Sunday, February 21, 2010, at 9 p.m...
.
Other allusions to the song
This song and its 1995 interpolation of it by Method ManMethod 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 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...
on their single, "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By", were referenced in "All I Need" by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
when he says: "And all...I...need is a chick to hold a jammy like/Meth and Mary, like, Marvin and Tammi"
Late rapper The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
sampled a portion of it for his song "My Downfall" on his Life After Death
Life After Death
Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released March 25, 1997 on Bad Boy Records. A double album, it was released posthumously following his death on March 9, 1997 and serves as his final studio album...
Album.
On the first season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, winner Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
sang this song during Motown week and Jasmine Trias
Jasmine Trias
Jasmine Trias is an American singer-entertainer who was the third place finalist on the third season of American Idol, due in part to tremendous call-in support from California, New York, and her native state of Hawaii. She has released one album to date, Jasmine Trias...
also sang it on the third season. On the sixth season finale, American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
sang it as a duet with second-season winner Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard , best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol...
. Seventh season American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
runner-up David Archuleta
David Archuleta
David Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
performed this song on Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
final. Eighth season
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
contestant Von Smith
Von Smith
Vaughn Lee "Von" Smith is an American singer and internet personality.-Career:Smith gained some success via his YouTube videos. These garnered him national attention, which led to an appearance on The View on 27 February 2007...
performed it in the third week of semifinals. In addition, Jacob Lusk
Jacob Lusk
Jacob Lusk is an American singer from Compton, California, who finished in fifth place on the tenth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
sang this song also during Motown week of Idol's tenth season.