The Main Ingredient, Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely | COVERS

In the 2^nd edition of COVERS (2024), The Main Ingredient delivers a compelling rendition of “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” originally performed by Ronnie Dyson.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 2^nd edition of COVERS (2024), The Main Ingredient delivers a compelling rendition of “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely”, originally performed by Ronnie Dyson.

“I’d rather be loved and needed / Depended on to give a love / I can’t give when you’re gone / When you’re gone / I don’t want to be lonely.” The sickening (in a positive connotation) “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” earned The Main Ingredient one of two top-10 hits. The collective, who achieved its most success helmed by the late, great Cuba Gooding, Sr., earned its biggest hit with “Everybody Plays the Fool”, for good reason – it’s a juggernaut!  That said, “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” a Ronnie Dyson cover penned by John C. Freeman, Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even prior to The Main Ingredient covering this song, Marlena Shaw and Blue Magic beat them out covering it in 1973 and early 1974 respectively.

The Main Ingredient may have been the fourth to release “I Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” but given its success on the pop charts, and the sheer quality of the recording, they own the definitive version.  What makes this record the stuff? The supporting backdrop is incredible – idiomatic of lush, sophisticated 1970s soul through and through.  The groove shines, in all its percussive glory.  The keys, guitar, and robust bass also amplify the musical foundation that the collective sings upon.  Of course, those buttery smooth lead vocals by Gooding Sr. go a long way.  He sings soulfully but it never sounds forced.  Does the man even sweat as he makes it crystal clear he doesn’t want to be lonely! “I don’t mind when you say / That you’re going away / I just don’t want to be lonely.” Woo! Besides those passionate lead vocals by Gooding Sr., the background vocals give “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” a tremendous lift, performed in all their falsetto glory.  Has head voice ever sounded better than in the hands of The Main Ingredient on “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely”? It’s debatable, but this legendary soul collective has a strong case!

🎙 The Main Ingredient • 💿 Euphrates River • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 1974

The Main Ingredient, Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely: Covers No. 3 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; RCA; Andrea Piacquadio, cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Matteo Milan from Pexels; MR1313, OpenClipart-Vectors, Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay]