If Tammi Terrell had lived...

[lockhartgary]

If Tammi Terrell had lived and she and Marvin Gaye had continued to record duets, what songs could you see/hear them doing and tearing it up? Songs don't have to have been originally a duet.

My choices so far:

You Don't Have to Be a Star to Be in My Show [[Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.)

Ain't Understanding Mellow [[Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager)

The Love We Had [[Stays on My Mind) - [[The Dells)

[captainjames]

If Tammi had lived and stayed with Motown along with Marvin Gaye I can envision more Ashford and Simpson songs in their repertoire such as;

Solid [[Ashford and Simpson)
Found A Cure [[Ashford and Simpson)
Just Say Just Say [[Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye)

[rovereab]

One song that I hear them singing very easily in my mind is Marvin's solo Sweet Thing. Seeing how they interplay in the Exhibition video of Ain't No Mountain High Enough I can even see them singing this, especially the glare from Tammi when Marvin would sing "Oh, you're not the kind of girl. To win a beauty prize" LOL. If only they had recorded this song together

Marvin singing:

Oh, you don't always say the words
I wanna hear, no Tammi
But To me you're really saying
Something dear
Oh, you're not the kind of girl
To win a beauty prize
Just your smile, girl, lets me know
Where your beauty lies
Makes me realize
You're a sweet thing
You're a sweet thing

Tammi singing:

Marvin, listen, honey
You can't seem to do the things
I ask you to
Oh, but I can't help but love
The way you do the things you do
No, you're not the kind of boy
That girls just can't resist
There's a certain somethin' in your kiss
Oh, makes me wanna sing
You're a sweet thing
You are a sweet thing
Baby, ohh baby
Yeah yeah, you're a sweet thing
You are a sweet thing, baby

Marvin and Tammi singing together with some sentences from each of them to suit the lyrics:

There may be a lot of things
You'll never be
Oh, but the little things you are
They mean everything to me
So love, don't ever try and be
All mankind's ideal
Just stay the way you are
Right now, girl
Truthful and for real
You've got your appeal
Ohh, you're a sweet thing
Honey, you are a sweet thing
Baby, sweeter than wine
That's why I'm glad you're mine
Baby, sweeter than a rose
So now my love just grows and grows

I also think that Tammi would have become a major star in her own right, she had it all. Perhaps duet albums might not have been popular going forward but a duet on Marvin's albums would have been rather nice! Just imagine the two of them duetting on You Sure Love To Ball and After The Dance. I'm thinking guest appearance on the albums. Perhaps Marvin could have guested on Tammi's albums too?

[jboy88]

I’m not sure about duets, but Marvin could have produced a stellar album of solo material for Tammi!

But what I can really see Tammi doing is returning back to her native Philadelphia [[possibly leaving Motown in the process) and teaming up with Thom Bell & Linda Creed. Imagine her taking on “Free Girl” , “Betcha by Golly Wow”, “Ghetto Child” or “Love Comes Easy”, or songs Bell & Creed could of come up with. The thought of that alone makes her untimely death more tragic!

[sup_fan]

although it wasn't the trend then [[as opposed to now) imagine if she had collaborated on What's Going On? or on Let's Get It On. if there were some vocal segments she could have contributed in a few songs, some background work

i know Berry was always keen on her voice and showmanship. But we know that doesn't necessarily translate into promotional support or hits. I think it's very likely she would have replaced Diana in the Sups, although i prefer Jean's vocals. it was a refreshing change when she joined. Tammi is too similar IMO to diana. that frankly might have been her biggest problem with a solo career too. at least Martha Reeves and Gladys Knight were completely different singers and performers. so even though they didn't get all of the label support they should have, at least they could carve a niche based on their style and singing.