Major Harris vs. John Legend | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 35^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2022), Major Harris and John Legend contend for the best rendition of “Love Won’t Let Me Wait.” 

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 35^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2022), 🎙 Major Harris and 🎙 John Legend contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Major Harris, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”

💿 My Way • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 1975 

“The time is right / You hold me tight / And love’s got me high.” Woo! The late, great 🎙 Major Harris, a solo artist and member of the iconic collective, 🎙 The Delfonics, delivered a surefire soul classic in 1975 with 🎵 “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”. This is the biggest, most notable hit of his solo career, peaking at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Penned by 🎼 ✍ Bobby Eli and Vinnie Barrett, it graces Harris’ album, 💿 My Way, also released in 1975. “I need to have you / Next to me / In more ways than one…” Ooh, la-la! As the lyrics suggest, Harris sings about love and sex.

Major Harris sounds amazing on this five-and-a-half-minute slow jam – understatement (Note: there is a shorter, 45 Version).  He’s incredibly expressive, delivering this gem with incredible authenticity.  He’s backed by one of the lusher productions (Bobby Eli) of the 70s, an era noted for its lushness, particularly Philadelphia soul.  Something else that makes “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” stand out are the orgasmic sound effects, which give this classy record a more erotic edge.  Even as the lady in the background doesn’t hold back enjoying the pleasure, Harris maintains a sense of poise and never ‘loses his cool,’ even if “Love Won’t Let [him] wait.”

“I need your love so desperately

And only you can set me free

When I make love to you

We will explode in ecstasy

And I won’t take the blame

That love won’t let me wait.”

Numerous musicians have covered  “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” – it’s an awesome record! Notable interpretations come at the hands of 🎙 Luther Vandross, 🎙 Nancy Wilson, 🎙 Johnny Mathis, 🎙 Seal, and, of course, 🎙 John Legend.

Appears in 🔻:

• Major Harris, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”: After Dark 🕛 🌃 68 (2022)

2. John Legend, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”

💿 So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross • 🏷 J / Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 📅 2005 

“We will take a flight / And spend the night / In a wonderland…” A wonderland, huh? That’s one way to describe sex! Many, many musicians have covered the 🎙 Major Harris hit, 🎵 “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”. One of the best covers of this gem written by 🎼 ✍ Bobby Eli and Vinnie Barrett arrive courtesy of 🏆 Academy and Grammy award-winning R&B musician, 🎙 John Legend. Legend didn’t record “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” for any of his solo albums but rather, for the compilation, 💿 So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross.  As the title suggests, Legend and his fellow musicians were remembering 🎙 Luther Vandross, who passed away at 54 in 2005.  Vandross is one of many coverers when it comes to 🎵 “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”, hence why Legend covered it on the tribute album.

It should go without saying that John Legend is an elite talent.  In 2005 especially, Legend was wowing with his neo-, retro brand of soul.  The minute he begins singing, it just feels right.  The tempo is sped-up from the original, with Legend’s take clocking in under four minutes in duration.  Despite the faster pace, “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” sacrifices no soulfulness as Legend is locked-in, and the production is an update of the original.  Arguably, Legend serves up more risks than Major Harris with his ad-libs, particularly his glorious runs on “When I make love to you / We will explode in ecstasy.” Missing from Legend’s version are the orgasmic sounds.  Personally, I don’t think that’s a bad thing – the lyrics don’t disguise the fact that this song is about making love.  Like the original, Legend has the help of some lit background vocalists.

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 Major Harris or 🎙 John Legend?  Man, oh, man, it’s tough in this case! The right answers is, unsurprisingly, Major Harris, who took this sensual slow jam to the top of the pop and soul charts.  Furthermore, this is the song he is best known and beloved for as a solo artist.  That said, I enjoy the risks and tweaks that Legend makes vocally.  His tone is to die for and had no one else ever recorded 🎵 “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”, I would believe his version is the definitive take.  Give Harris the win, I guess, but it’s a close call.  

Major Harris vs. John Legend: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 35 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, J, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Valentin Tikhonov]