Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., You Don’t Have to Be a Star | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 16^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 16^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)”, performed by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.. 

“Baby, come as you are / With just your heart / And I’ll take you in.” Aww! “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” marks one of the most exuberant soul cuts of all-time.  Furthermore, it marked the sole no. 1 hit by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr..  McCoo and Davis, who are married, previously earned two no. 1 hits with The 5^th Dimension, including “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)”.  Focusing on the superstar song at hand, McCoo & Davis won the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo, Group, or Chorus. “You Don’t Have to Be a Star” was written by James Dean and John Glover. It was produced by Don Davis (1938 – 2014).

Speaking of Don Davis, he does a sensational job behind the boards.  The instrumental supporting McCoo & Davis is stupendous. “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” features hella smooth, soulful vibes.  The rhythm section cooks, while the orchestration is lush, picturesque, and simply, exquisite.  Specifically, the flutes – well – they’re fluting! The songwriting is marvelous as well, particularly the incredibly catchy, tuneful chorus:

“You don’t have to be a star, baby

To be in my show (To be in my show)

You don’t have to be a star, baby, to be in my show.”

Woo! Of course, the two most important pieces of “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” are Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., of course! Davis Jr. handles the leads on the first half of the three verses, showcasing a commanding, soulful set of pipes. McCoo complements her husband superbly in the second half, which plays out like a ‘pre-chorus’ (“Now, I don’t need no superstar / ‘Cause I’ll accept you as you are / You won’t be denied / ‘Cause I’m satisfied / With the love you inspire”).  All told, while being a star isn’t a requirement for the love driven “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)”, there is no doubt in my mind that this song shines as bright as a star!

Also, check out🔻:

• Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Nothing Can Stop Me: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 14 (2021)  
• The 5^th Dimension, Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 11 (2023)

🎙 Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. • 💿 I Hope We Get to Love in Time • 🏷 Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 🗓 1976  

Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show): Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 16 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony BMG Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]