Mitty Collier vs. Mitty Collier | Face Off

In the first edition of Face Off (2026), Mitty Collier and Mitty Collier (!) face off for the best rendition of “I Had A Talk With…” (“My Man”/ “God Last Night”).

Ah, let the Face Off begin! The sun has set on Head 2 Head (2021 – 2025), but the musical competition has “only just begun”, Karen Carpenter! In Face Off, musicians compete to determine who delivered the best version of a song. In most cases, the musicians are performing the same song or a remix, rearrangement, or variation of the song.  Each performance will be evaluated for vocal or instrumental performance, production, and so on and so forth. After blurbing about each performance, I will briefly deliberate and deliver a verdict about who wins the Face Off.  Draws and ties are acceptable, but in most cases, one band, group, or musician will get the edge. In the first edition of Face Off (2026), Mitty Collier and Mitty Collier face off for the best rendition of “I Had A Talk With…” (“My Man”/ “God Last Night”). May the best musician win!

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Table of Contents
1. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk With My Man”	2. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk with God Last Night”
Deliberation	Verdict

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1. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk With My Man”

Talking With Her Man: The Chess Singles 1961 – 1968 » Geffen » 2008

Sometimes, Mitty Collier (b. 1941), we need reassurance, particularly from a significant other.  The doubts of the former soul singer, who became a pastor and gospel singer, are alleviated with this reassurance on “I Had A Talk With My Man”: “My blues got bright / He made me know / I was the star of the show.” Aww, the feels! The love! The romance! “I Had A Talk With My Man” appeared on her 1965 album, Shades of Genius, most accessible via the compilation, Talking With Her Man: The Chess Singles 1961 – 1968.  Billy Davis and Leonard Caston wrote it in its secular form. According to Secondhand Songs, it was adapted from “I Had a Talk with God”, written by the late, great gospel music legend, James Cleveland (1931 – 1991). Classy and refined, “Talk” exhibits some gospel sensibilities, evident in its meter, harmonic progression, and the robustness of Collier’s voice. “Talk” peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest charting song of her career.

Collier continues enthusiastically, “He filled my heart with pure delight.” Sweet! Also sweet is the gorgeous instrumental backdrop that accompanies her. There is a sublime blend of orchestral touches (French Horn, strings, etc.) and the traditional rhythm section. Beyond the orchestration, the musical underpinnings, the harmonic progression shines.  There are some colorful chord choices, including an epic B-flat minor 7 flat 5 (an altered ii chord with a dramatic effect).  Still, Mitty Collier is the star, bringing the tuneful melodies and her loving relationship with ‘her man’ to life. “He told me that he needed me / More than words could ever say,” she asserts. What a heart-melting moment!  “I Had A Talk With My Man” also closes sensationally:

“I began to cry

He kissed my tears

From my weeping eyes

Oh, yes, he did, yes, he did

Yes, he did, oh, yes

I had a talk with my man last night.”

Simply put, they don’t make songs like this anymore. Classic, classic, classic!

Appears in:

Mitty Collier, I Had A Talk With My Man: Throwback Vibez No. 100 (2025) 15 Engaging W-I-T-H With Songs (2025) Eye 👁 This List of Must-Hear “I” Songs, Vol. 5 (2025) Mitty Collier vs. Shirley Brown: Head 2 Head No. 36 (2025) Mitty Collier vs. Dusty Springfield: Head 2 Head No. 39 (2025)

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2. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk with God Last Night”

The Warning » Mitty Collier » 1972

Mitty Collier (b. 1941), now Pastor Mitty Collier, is most renowned for her romantic soul classic, “I Had A Talk With My Man”.  Personally, it ranks among my favorite songs from an extensive soul catalog (I consider it to be underrated).  Interestingly, according to Secondhand Songs, “I Had A Talk with My Man” was adapted from “I Had a Talk with God”, written by the late, great gospel music legend, James Cleveland (1931 – 1991). After shifting from soul to gospel, Collier recorded a sacred version of her secular hit, fittingly titled, “I Had A Talk with God Last Night”. The subject of her original is replaced by someone much bigger: God. “I had a talk with God last night / I cried, oh Lord, please make things alright,” she sings in the first verse, and continues,  “And He said He’d all my battles fight / I had a talk with God last night.” “I Had A Talk with God Last Night” is the sixth track from her 1972 album, The Warning.

“I Had A Talk With My Man” had its fair share of gospel sensibilities.  Unsurprisingly, “I Had A Talk with God Last Night” leans into them more.  The record has a traditional, black gospel sound and aesthetic.  The instrumentation within the accompaniment is piano, keyboard (which performs bright string-like sounds), guitar, bass, and drums. The record is slow in tempo, with a lilting feel.  It is bluesy and oozes with soul. I adore the grittiness and huskiness of Collier’s vocals. She sings the uplifting, spiritual lyrics with incredible expression and nuance.  She gives her all in her performance, with the authenticity and sincerity being indisputable.  In the second verse, she sings, “I prayed for Him, to guide me right, oh yes I did / And help me find peace, and a better life.” Amen, Pastor! Of course, the record concludes powerfully, with Collier thanking Him “For giving me victory,” and adding, “And whenever I need Him, He’s so good, He’s so good to me / Oh yes He is, Yes He is, / Oh, yeah, I had a talk with my God last night.”  All told, Pastor Mitty Collier truly ushers in the spirit in a mighty, powerful way on “I Had A Talk with God Last Night” 🙌.

Appears in:

Mitty Collier, I Had A Talk with God Last Night: Music Lifts No. 4 (2026)

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Deliberation

Ah, we’ve arrived at the deliberation! To Deliberate is “to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully.” With that definition courtesy of my go-to, Merriam-Webster, briefly break down these two distinct performances with some notes!

1. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk With My Man”	2. Mitty Collier, “I Had A Talk with God Last Night”
“I Had A Talk With My Man” is the song that Collier is renowned for Her highest charting song, it just missed the top 40 on the pop charts Marvelously transforms a gospel classic into a secular soul classic Features a sublime blend of orchestral touches and the traditional rhythm section Collier gives a robust and powerful vocal performance	Authentic, spiritual performance; once more showcases her husky, powerful, and robust pipes She sounds like a natural expressing her faith in God Features fitting, well-rounded black gospel musical accompaniment (keys, bass, drums) Still oozes with the soulfulness she possessed while recording secular music Truer to the original gospel song penned by Rev. James Cleveland

 

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Verdict

After much deliberation, yo boi, The Musical Hype, has reached a verdict. In the case… I mean, in the Face Off between Mitty Collier and Mitty Collier, Mitty Collier comes out on top! DUH! She was never NOT going to win! Specifically, her OG song, “I Had A Talk With My Man”, takes the cake. What was the difference? Honestly, it’s mostly the accolades that her secular classic received.  I feel her completely on the gospel record, and while it’s hard to not award a meaningful, sincere faith-based record, especially from a pastor, “I Had A Talk With My Man” is her ace-in-the-hole.  And, to be fair, it’s a clean-cut love song that leads to matrimony.  How can you not love true love? And with that said, stay tuned for the next Face Off!

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Mitty Collier vs. Mitty Collier: Face Off No. 1 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Geffen, Mitty Collier; fotografoedsonj ed, Marlon Schmeiski from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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