A song written by Ivy Jo Hunter with William 'Mickey' Stevenson and
recorded by Hunter in July 1964 but not released until many years later on a
2004 compilation CD.
The first, and definitive, release was by the Four Tops in Jan 1965. The
song has featured here a couple of times in recent weeks, firstly The Fantastics
1970 cover and last week in the Michael Henderson tribute. Other versions
have also featured e.g. John Gary Williams as the flip to "The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy" Ukraine solidarity post several weeks ago and probably
a few more as well.
It got me to thinking just now many different version there were of the
song. Many well known and others not so much.
I'm not stating that this is a definitive list but it is quite exhaustive (25 versions so far).
If you know of any other worthy versions then please leave a comment as I'm
sure there will be some missed.
A poignant addition received from Bill Buckley (SoulAndJazzAndFunk) is a version by the recently departed William 'Poogie' Hart (The Delfonics) on a 2006 compilation where Philly artists sang Motown songs and vice versa.
Links on artist name to YouTube clips and on cat. no. to Discogs
1964 -
Ivy Jo Hunter
[Motown #B0003619-02] £35-£55
The first released version is a demo version with a count in (which also sounds a little faster), another version was
released on
Motown Unreleased 1969
Two videos of live performances below, an early one and one from what looks like the 90s. Could this be Levi Stubbs' greatest performance?
A blue-eyed singer from Essex (aka Bobby Christo) who was a member of The Chasers from Romford.
1966 -
Danny & The Dreamers
[Tear Drop #3158] £550
Texas group which included Tejano music legend Jimmy Edward who is probably on lead vocals.
One of the better versions and appears to be his only recording. From UK and 'probably' blue-eyed.
1967 -
The Dynamic Consouls
[Emerald #EM-105-R2] £105
Blue-eyed version from Greenwood South Carolina
1968 -
The Counts
[Yes #Y-103] £525
Not the same group that recorded on Westbound, and did the modern soul gem "What's It All About", but another blue-eyed group from South Carolina (Columbia) aka The Swinging Counts.
1968 - Stevie Wonder (Eivets Rednow
LP) [Gordy #S-932]
Instrumental medley version Never My Love / Ask The Lonely
1969 -
Elsie Strong
[Sounds International #SI 640] £175-£300
Same singer who would later record a cover of Lenis Guess NS monster "Just Ask Me".
1969 -
Cook E. Jarr (Pledging My Love LP( [RCA Victor #LSP-4159] £3-£13
A Vegas 'lounge lizard' (real name Anthony Pettine) who recorded quite an MOR version on his first album on which he tries to look (and possibly sound) like Elvis.
1969 -
The Sound Investment
[Jaguar #90344A] £152
I remember UK rare soul DJ Brian Goucher finding this a few years ago
and playing it out at Sunday Soul Sessions
196? -
Rosco Robinson
[Gerri #RR 1001] £700
Jury's out on date as he started suffixing an 'e' to his first name from
Oct 1966 onwards after "That's Enough" which suggests that it's pre 1967
but does actually sound later, more towards end of 60s / early 70s.
1970 -
The Fantastics
[Deram (UK) #DM 283]
Previously known as The Velours who relocated to England and this was one of their first UK recordings as a B side.
1970 -
Barbara Lewis
[Enterprise #ENA-9027] £20-£35
The first of only three (known) female versions.
1970 -
The Graduates
[Artist's Records #700423] £95-£170
The only recording by a blue-eyed group from New Castle, PA
1974 -
John Gary Williams
[Stax #STA-0205] £55-£75
Flip side to the ex Mad Lads modern soul favourite "The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy'
1980 -
Michael Henderson (Wide Receiver LP) [Buddah #BDS 6001] £5-£10
A superb version on his 1980 "Wide Receiver" album only.
That man Simon Soussan was producer of this group
1982 -
The Fabulous Plaids
[It Will Stand #M-4210] £30-£80
Blue-eyed Carolina beach group
1983 -
The Jackson 5
Soulsation! (25th Anniversary Collection) 1995 [Motown #3145304892] £25-£42
Previous unreleased before appearing on a 1983 compilation but recorded much earlier, probably late 60s / early
70s as Michael's voice hasn't broken
An 80s group from Sheffield for which souljoe has provided a sound file that has been uploaded to our YouTube channel. Many thanks souljoe!
1998 -
Vonda Shepard (Songs From Ally McBeal LP) [Sony 550 Music #BK 69365] £1-£3
Verging on country!
2000 -
Nicky Harris (Carolina Sand LP) [Carolina Records #CRD 1519]
Another blue-eyed beach version
2004 -
Billy Eckstine (The Motown Years LP 2004) [Motown #016 351-2] £20-£25
Previously unreleased
2006 - William 'Poogie' Hart (A Soulful Tale of Two Cities LP) [Soul Rennaisance Records #SRR06001] £20-£42
The recently deceased Delfonics lead singer on a 2006 recording for a compilation CD.
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