All I Do [[who did it better: Tammi, Brenda or Stevie?)

[midnightman]

We know of Stevie's early compositions, All I Do was composed when he was just sixteen... afaik there are three known versions recorded on Motown: Tammi Terrell's, Brenda Holloway's and Stevie himself more than a decade later in a modern funk/disco version.

So I want y'all to play this simple game: pick which version is the best.

Starting with Tammi:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VfFclUJEk0

[midnightman]

Brenda:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWxe6jnTflw

[midnightman]

And finally Stevie's [[the most known version obviously ft. MJ, Betty Wright and Eddie & Walter of the O'Jays backing him):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMxPsZuouY8

[[YES I know there are other versions but they're outside Motown OKAY lol)

[rovereab]

For me, Tammi's is the best version. She sings it like she owns the song. What a voice!

[RanRan79]

I think all three did it just as well, but my favorite would probably be Stevie's. I probably like Tammi and Brenda's about the same. Tammi might get the edge over Brenda.

[midnightman]

My personal favorite is Stevie's mainly because of how he arranged it. And then that breakdown...

But as far as the women go, I agree that Tammi soars over Brenda's. Tammi's has a dark, melancholic side to it. Clarence Paul was an underrated producer!

[BayouMotownMan]

Tammi by far. She was robbed of a hit record by burying it in a vault

[midnightman]

Tammi by far. She was robbed of a hit record by burying it in a vault

This is like a broken record but Tammi is another one who Motown failed to promote properly... shoot, so was Brenda.

If only Berry was great at promoting more solo artists...

[TomatoTom123]

Such a difficult game midnight lol
All are good :rolleyes:

Also I had no idea The O'Jays back Stevie on his version!

[midnightman]

Such a difficult game midnight lol
All are good :rolleyes:

Also I had no idea The O'Jays back Stevie on his version!

Hah yeah I learned that many years back. :)
Stevie had the Gap Band on I Ain't Gonna Stand for It, which was apt because it had country and funk elements [[much like the Gap Band was mixing at the time) in it. :D

[DWSheffer]

Tammi's version is my favorite, hands down! I can listen to it several times in succession and love it each time even more....

[lakedistrictlad1]

Tammi wins for me by far. Her voice was electric. This should have been a hit single for her.
On a side note..her version of 'Lone lonely town' also blows away the competition.

[theboyfromxtown]

Brenda Holloway for me....

[marv2]

I like Stevie Wonder's version best.

[drewschultz88]

Just throwing these in the mix!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iwoi99gs7w

[midnightman]

Just throwing these in the mix!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iwoi99gs7w

Haha, you go Tops! :)

[soulwally]

Tammi, I've said before on here Clarence must have felt absolutely robbed that his masterful production never saw the light of the day back then

[marv2]

Just throwing these in the mix!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iwoi99gs7w

Now that was very nice! Thank you Drew schultz88!

[RanRan79]

Just throwing these in the mix!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iwoi99gs7w

Love it!!! Levi is killing it and I love the background harmony too!!

[motony]

Tammi's version sounds like a complete Motown A side hit.Well produced by Clarence Paul.

[McMotown]

As much as I love Tammi's version Stevie just nicks it for me.

[midnightman]

I used to think Stevie did All I Do himself as a tribute to Tammi hehe... :)

Well he still could've but I had no idea Brenda covered it until years later. I'm surprised Kim Weston didn't cover it lol

But now when I hear Stevie's, I always think his was THE version. But yeah Motown fumbled not putting Tammi's out.