Quote Originally Posted by RanRan79 View Post
Yes, the added strings gave this song new life.

I actually still believe "Gone" doesn't make sense on the HDH album. Neither does "Remove This Doubt" and "Love Is In Our Hearts". All three sound extremely dated by this point. [[I know Diana's lead for "Love Is In Our Hearts" was recorded in 66, but the track is from 64.) I personally feel their inclusions mess up the flow of the album. Add to that my disdain of the Supremes' "Heat Wave" and "Same Old Song", neither of which were cut with the quality of the originals, and the HDH album is even more lopsided IMO than the A Go Go. But of course, that isn't the point of this thread.

Excellent commentary about Diana's singing on "Gone". I agree 100 percent. Gladys and the Pips' version is also good, but Gladys doesn't sound nearly as broken down as Diana. I suspect that the song's lyrics, like a lot of songs, are left up to the interpretation of the listener. One might listen to this and hear Diana singing of the guy that moved on. But the dirge feel of the song, IMO, makes it all the more clear that this guy is dead. And that makes Diana's lead even more moving for me. Again, we don't usually hear her this way.
"Gone" has grown on me, after many years. I always liked "Remove This Doubt", Ross's vocal and HDH's production. I think it belongs on Sing HDH. I like to play it right after " You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "Going Down For The Third Time", for the contrast and to spotlight the versatility of HDH.

Gladys and the Pips' version is also good, but Gladys doesn't sound nearly as broken down as Diana. I suspect that the song's lyrics, like a lot of songs, are left up to the interpretation of the listener. One might listen to this and hear Diana singing of the guy that moved on. But the dirge feel of the song, IMO, makes it all the more clear that this guy is dead. And that makes Diana's lead even more moving for me. Again, we don't usually hear her this way.
I'm now gonna listen to "Gone" in more than one way. I'd never thought about the guy being dead. I also love the added strings on the EE [[thanks, George!).