Luther Ingram vs. Barbara Mandrell | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 30^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2022), Luther Ingram and Barbara Mandrell contend for the best rendition of “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right.” 

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 30^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2022), 🎙 Luther Ingram and 🎙 Barbara Mandrell contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Luther Ingram, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”

💿 Absolutely the Best of Luther Ingram • 🏷 Airline • 🗓 2010 

“If loving you is wrong I don’t wanna be right / If being right means being without you / I’d rather live a wrong, doing life.” Love will make you do crazy things, including things you know aren’t right.  In the case of the soul classic, 🎵 “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”, 🎙 Luther Ingram commits infidelity 😈. Well, if you’re going to be unfaithful, at least do it with a soul classic that topped the pop charts, right (no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100)?  

“Your friends tell you it’s no future

In loving a married man

If I can’t see you when I want to

I’ll see you when I can.”

Luther was dead wrong but he perfectly captures how affairs work.  The guilty parties have to sneak around, which should signal how criminal what they’re doing is.  Ingram questions his behavior throughout “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right,” but finds it hard to give up his ‘side piece,’ despite “Knowing I got a wife and two little children / Depending on me too.” You dog! Besides the expressive lead vocals and scandalous yet pitch-perfect lyrics, the music is epic.  That signature guitar line, those horns – the ripe soulful aesthetic! A surefire vibe! More than 50 years after its release, 🎵 “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” remains fresh, relevant, and timeless.  One of soul music’s crown jewels. Expectedly, many have covered this classic. The question is, has anybody outperformed the original version?

Appears in 🔻:

• Luther Ingram, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 61 (2022)
• 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez

2. Barbara Mandrell, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”

💿 Moods • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1978

In 1978, country singer 🎙 Barbara Mandrell covered one of soul music’s biggest classics, 🎵 “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right,” originally performed by 🎙 Luther Ingram.  “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”) commences her album, 💿 Moods. Notably, the tempo is considerably faster than the beloved original. This is one of several things that instantly distinguishes the Mandrell rendition from Ingram’s.

There is plenty to heart about Mandrell’s cover.  The production is lush, and well-rounded (🎛 Tom Collins).  It also manages to separate itself from the darker, more soulful instrumentation supporting Ingram.  One of the biggest selling points is the lovely use of strings – to die for! Additional awesome music cues include the guitar solo, the prominent bass line, and, yes a ‘soulful’ groove. I’d argue, even in its countrified state, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” is only somewhat country.  Expectedly, Mandrell delivers compelling, nuanced vocals.  To her credit, she keeps it country (diction, twang, etc.), but it’s also sufficiently pop.  Also, shout out the supportive use of background vocals.  All told, Barbara Mandrell delivers a respectable cover. Bravo.

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

Ah – the moment you’ve been waiting for! Is it 🎙 Luther Ingram or 🎙 Barbara Mandrell?  Are both renditions of 🎵 “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” equally good? While I’d assert that both Ingram and Mandrell deliver strong performances, only one remains supreme. When it comes to “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right,” Ingram’s original will ALWAYS reign supreme – it is the definitive take.  The record has been covered by others besides Mandrell including 🎙 Rod Stewart, 🎙 Millie Jackson, and 🎙 David Ruffin, but none of them eclipse the OG, Luther Ingram.

Luther Ingram vs. Barbara Mandrell: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 30 (2022) [📷: Airline, Brent Faulkner, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, UMG Recordings, Inc., Valentin Tikhonov]