The Four Tops STILL WATER: First 45 Ever With 2 Versions Of The Same Song?
Intriguing release charting exactly 50 years ago in the fall of 1970:
STILL WATER
Side One [[LOVE)
Side Two [[PEACE)
Written by Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson. Have either discussed this composition? I'm wondering if the two versions reflect two different concepts by each of its two authors? Or what is the recording and releasing of the two versions reflecting ?
Side One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSi9DJAgarw
Side Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h4amHyrhCs
How did this come about ? These two versions? [[Why?)
I find this part of The PEACE version:
[VERSE 2]
P is for privilege of loving and the privilege of being loved.
E is for the ease it gives the soul and the mind.
A is for the absence in your search to find yourself.
C is the calm feeling if you like what you find
E is everlasting. Let this love never cease.
most moving.
I'm curious as to why it wasn't chosen as the "A" side , or at the very minimum, why this 45 wasn't worked by Motown as a split hit with each side sharing air play?
[[Did DJs drop the ball on this one by ignoring the b side?)
As for the original inquiry.... these two versions of a song on one 45 ....very unusual to say the least.....are there previous examples [[beyond an instrumental version, or a live version)?? From Motown? From any label/ artist? :confused:
Further more , why was it that the album's title SILL WATERS RUN DEEP does not match the single's title [[or vise versa) ::confused:
[[Also as an aside,
I hear Marvin Gaye's stylizing in his future songs, WHATS GOING ON etc in STILL WATER --- ... does anyone else ?)