Marvin Gaye vs. Johnny Mathis | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 25^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Marvin Gaye and Johnny Mathis contend for the best rendition of “You’re All I Need To Get By.” 

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 25^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Marvin Gaye (and 🎙 Tammi Terrell) and 🎙 Johnny Mathis (and 🎙 Deniece Williams) contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “You’re All I Need To Get By”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “You’re All I Need To Get By”

💿 You’re All I Need • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1968 

“Like sweet morning dew / I took one look at you / And it was plain to see / You were my destiny.” That is how 🎙 Marvin Gaye serenades his duet partner, 🎙 Tammi Terrell on 🎵 “You’re All I Need to Get By”. “You’re All I Need to Get By” appeared on their 1968 album, fittingly titled, 💿 You’re All I Need.  Terrell responds to Gaye, singing, memorably, “With my arms open wide / I threw away my pride / I’ll sacrifice for you / Dedicate my life to you.” Aww 🥰, the feels, the feels, feels.  Gaye and Terrell cultivate incredible dedication with their electric chemistry. They also get significant help, courtesy of songwriting royalty: 🎼 ✍  Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The #SOLID AS A ROCK duo also produce 💪.

While their respective parts in the lead role are elite, so is their blend singing together.  This is amazing considering the singers recorded separately 🤯, something that is a common practice today. The chorus is where their bread is buttered as they proclaim, “There’s no, no looking back for us / We got love, sure ‘nough, that’s enough / You’re all, You’re all I need to get by.” WOO! The outro also marks a terrific moment from this hit, which peaked at no. 7 on the pop charts. 🎵 “You’re All I Need to Get By” is classic Motown at its best. Sadly, Tammi Terrell’s life was cut extra short due to cancer, and she’d pass away at just 24 years old in 1970.  “You’re All I Need to Get By” has been covered many times, including a famous rendition by 🎙 Johnny Mathis and 🎙 Deniece Williams (*hint, hint hint).

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:

• Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “You’re All I Need To Get By”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 87 (2023)

2. Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, “You’re All I Need To Get By”

💿 That’s What Friends Are For • 🏷 John Mat • 🗓 1978

🎙 Johnny Mathis and 🎙 Deniece Williams = two amazing musicians.  The chemistry when they collaborated, back in 1978, was awesome.  The collab was the album, 💿 That’s What Friends Are For.  A particular musical selection stands out from That’s What Friends Are For, a cover of 🎵 “You’re All I Need to Get By”, originally performed by 🎙 Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.  “You’re All I Need” commences the duets album.  Gaye and Terrell took “You’re All I Need To Get By” to the top 10 of the pop charts 10 years earlier.  Notably, Mathis and Williams achieved a dash of pop success too, peaking at no. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their rendition.  

Mathis and Williams do their thing on “You’re All I Need To Get By,” PERIOD! The arrangement and production are sensational.  The active, robust bass line is a big selling point, as is the groove and bright, lush strings.  The vocals speak for themselves. Individually, both sing exuberantly, yielding the right personality for this love-oriented number.  Furthermore, they blend and mesh well when duetting, never overpowering each other.  You buy what the duo is selling. Yes, 🎵 “You’re All I Need to Get By” is a cover, but it’s a dynamic and fun cover in the hands of Mathis and Williams. 

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:

• Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, “You’re All I Need to Get By”: Covers No. 25 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

🎙 Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell or 🎙 Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams?  Both versions of “You’re All I Need To Get By” are fabulous 😃! That said, you never forget your first, and the first version of the song was a big hit – like top 10 big. So, the winner is team Marvin/Tammi!  May the talented duo rest in peace, and their once in a life duet live on forever!

via GIPHY

Marvin Gaye vs. Johnny Mathis: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 25 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; John Mat, Motown; Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, andresilva5, talha khalil, Valentin Tikhonov via Pixabay; Nick Wang on Unsplash]