Little Beaver vs. Gwen McCrae | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 40^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2022), Little Beaver and Gwen McCrae contend for the best rendition of “I’m Losin’ the Feelin.” 

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 40^th  edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2022), 🎙 Little Beaver and 🎙 Gwen McCrae contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Little Beaver, “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”

💿 Joey • 🏷 Henry Stone Music • 🗓 1972

“I’m losing the feeling / Baby the feeling I used to have for you.” Oh my, 🎙 Little Beaver (Willie Hale)! Well, at least the Arkansas-born funk/soul singer/guitarist is honest about his feelings on 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”.  “I’m Losin’ the Feelin” appears on his 1972 album, 💿 Joey.  Why is Hale not feeling the same way about her anymore? She’s changed. “Now I remember all the sweet love we once had / Baby I used to thrill to hear you call my name,” he sings in the second verse, adding, “Oh, but now through the years / You made me shed so many tears / All the thrill is gone / Your loving just ain’t the same.” Woo!

Even though love has clearly burned out for Little Beaver, his pain is our listening pleasure.  His guitar playing is absolutely awesome.  I love his melodic riffs and soloing, while his rhythmic, and chordal are equally alluring.  Also alluring are his soulful pipes.  If you had to choose between his guitar skills and his commanding, nuanced vocals, it would be a tough choice.  That’s not even considering the relatable songwriting he serves up of this waning love. Perhaps not the first soul joint that comes to mind, 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin” this Little Beaver record is worthwhile and definitely deserves wider recognition.

Appears in 🔻:

• Little Beaver, “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 74 (2022)
• 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 4

2. Gwen McCrae, “I’m Losing The Feeling – (Mono)”

💿 Lay It On Me: The Columbia Years • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2011

Covering the 🎙 Little Beaver (Willie Hale) gem, 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin” is a tall task.  Despite being underrated, Little Beaver absolutely nails it on the highlight from his 1972 album, 💿 Joey.  That said, there is always room for a compelling cover.  🎙 Gwen McCrae provides listeners with just that on 🎵 “I’m Losing The Feeling – (Mono),” which appears on the 2011 compilation, 💿 Lay It On Me: The Columbia Years.  The question is, how does McCrae distinguish herself from Little Beaver?

There are numerous ways that McCrae distinguishes her rendition from Little Beaver’s soulful original and makes it her own.  The music retains its spirited nature, intact with soulful guitar lines and a fat bass line.  In addition, McCrae has horns supporting her, adding plenty of punch.  Beyond the addition of those horns, Gwen opts for a quicker tempo, perhaps an even bigger distinguishing factor than those punchy horns.  McCrae’s faster pace lays right in the pocket, suiting her powerful, robust vocal performance.  Her ad-libs and nuances are nothing short of epic – she truly “I’m Losing The Feeling – (Mono)” up! Given the faster BPM, the duration is shorter, running just past two-and-a-half minutes all told.  That said, this brief duration is more than enough for Gwen McCrae to bring the heat, WOO!

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 Little Beaver or 🎙 Gwen McCrae?  It’s a tough decision, to be honest.  Both Little Beaver and Gwen McCrae nail their respective performances.  Yes, this is Hale’s song – he wrote and performed it originally – but Gwen makes it her own.  The contrasts brought by the McCrae cover make it a legit threat as the best version of the song.  That said, because I personally fell in love with the original by Little Beaver, he has the edge, hence, winning this Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ narrowly!

Little Beaver vs. Gwen McCrae: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 40 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Henry Stone Music, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Sony Music Entertainment, Valentin Tikhonov]