William Bell vs. Bruce Springsteen | Head 2 Head

In the 48^th edition of Head 2 Head (2022), William Bell and Bruce Springsteen contend for the best rendition of “I Forgot To Be Your Lover.”

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 48^th edition of head 2 head (2022), William Bell and Bruce Springsteen contend for the best rendition of “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. William Bell, “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”  

The Very Best of William Bell • Concord Music Group • 2007 

In his 1968 gem, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”, William Bell hasn’t been a good lover.  He hasn’t done the things that he should’ve done to fully support her.  What a shame! What isn’t shameful is the sheer excellence of this short, sweet, and utterly soulful gem. Bell composed “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” alongside another legend,   Booker T. Jones, who also produced it. “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” peaked at no. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, Bell’s second-highest charting hit.   

Bell asserts at the end of the first verse, “Now I realize that you need love too / I’ll spend my life making up to you.” Similarly, in the second verse, he reflects on the things he didn’t do.  Ultimately, per the chorus he intends to make up for his wrongs: “Oh, I forgot to be your lover / And I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you somehow.”  In addition to fabulous vocals by Bell, filled with authenticity, the music is utterly sublime, hailing from a different age. Also, it’s worth noting, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” samples a classic tune: “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You”, performed by Lulu Belle & Scotty.  More than 30 years later, Grammy-nominated R&B artist, Jaheim sampled the soul classic in his 2002 hit,  “Put That Woman First”.

Appears in :  

• William Bell, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”: Throwback Vibez 70 (2022)
• 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 5
• William Bell Jaheim: Head 2 Head No. 39 (2022)

2. Bruce Springsteen, “I Forgot To Be Your Lover”

Only The Strong Survive • Bruce Springsteen • 2022

William Bell did a fabulous job on his top-50 pop hit, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”.  Sure, he was a bad lover, but he didn’t fail to impress with this short but sweet soul gem. If nobody else had ever covered “I Forgot to Be Your Lover,” the original by Bell would easily suffice.  That said, Bruce Springsteen offers up a nice rendition of the classic on his 2022 covers album, Only The Strong Survive.  You might say that ‘The Boss’ embraces his soulful side!

On the 12^th track from Only the Strong Survive, Springsteen enlists the services of a soul legend, Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame (Dave has been dead since 1988). Moore harmonizes with Springsteen, as well as sings a couple of ad-libs, adding some sweetness to this cover.  Even with the 87-year-old icon joining, Bruce does the heavy lifting, blessing the listeners a voice featuring his signature coarse but nuanced tone.  He authentically and expressively admits to his mistakes and regrets as a lover, much like Bell.  Furthermore, regarding sound and production, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” generally plays true to the original. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Verdict  

So, it comes down to the verdict! Does this Head 2 Head belong to William Bell or Bruce Springsteen?  Well, kudos to Bruce Springsteen – he does a nice job covering it.  Furthermore, bringing in Sam Moore for the assist is incredibly cool.  That said, the original by Bell gets the edge without a doubt – it’s timeless!

William Bell vs. Bruce Springsteen: Head 2 Head No. 48 (2022) [: Brent Faulkner, Bruce Springsteen, Concord Music Group, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Valentin Tikhonov]