Two Motown Songs with Exact Same Title

[daviddesper]

Not sure if this has ever been discussed, but when I was playing the Spinners' "Truly Yours" CD recently, I came across a song entitled "I Want My Baby Back." It was a totally different song than Edwin Starr's probably better-known song with the same title.

That struck me as odd that Motown would have had two different songs with the same title. You would think that would cause issues with record-keeping, etc. Any ideas as to whether this was the only such occasion in the Motown catalog?

[robb_k]

Not sure if this has ever been discussed, but when I was playing the Spinners' "Truly Yours" CD recently, I came across a song entitled "I Want My Baby Back." It was a totally different song than Edwin Starr's probably better-known song with the same title.

That struck me as odd that Motown would have had two different songs with the same title. You would think that would cause issues with record-keeping, etc. Any ideas as to whether this was the only such occasion in the Motown catalog?

I'm sure I've seen at least 2 other "same title-different songs in the Jobete Music catalogue that were pressed onto plastic. But, I can't remember the titles.

[mysterysinger]

"I'll Always Love You" The Spinners and Brenda Holloway. Both in my top 10 Motown songs.

[Motown Eddie]

Here's another example of different Motown songs with the same title: "Your Love Is Wonderful"-Hattie Littles [[Gordy-1962) & Four Tops [[Motown-1967).

[TomatoTom123]

I think there are two different [[although fairly similar) songs called "He Who Picks A Rose", and I think The Tempts recorded both of them!

[reese]

Both Marvin Gaye [[in 1967) and Diana Ross [[1973) had recordings titled "YOU." I believe both were Jobete songs.

[mjdestiny]

HAPPY GO LUCKY : Eddie Holland and Marvin Gaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpE49x6XCCw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdAuOTA3Ako
Curiously both written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr.

[sansradio]

"One More Chance": The Jackson 5 [1970] and Diana Ross [1981]

[jboy88]

You & I by Stevie Wonder, Rick James & Switch!

[mysterysinger]

"Back Street" Edwin Starr & R. Dean Taylor

[sansradio]

"Candy Man": Martha Reeves & The Vandellas [1968] and The Mary Jane Girls [1983]

[Motown Eddie]

Here's an example of three different Motown songs with the same title: "You're The One" by The Marvelettes [[Tamla-1966), The Originals [[Soul 1969) & The Temptations [[Gordy-1986).

[sansradio]

You & I by Stevie Wonder, Rick James & Switch!

And Diana Ross [1991].

[daviddesper]

You guys will get a charge out of this. I sneezed today at work and of course someone said "Bless You." So that made me think of this thread and of course our wonderful Vandellas. Then it occurred to me that Jimmy Ruffin also had a song called "Bless You" on his debut album. However I soon remembered that his was an older pop song by Bobby Vinton or somebody like that and therefore would not fit the criteria of my question.

Thanks for all the other responses, although I have to admit I am not familiar with several of them. As always you guys never cease to amaze me with the depth of your knowledge.

[mysterysinger]

"Bless You" was Tony Orlando. One of his Dawn is currently a Supreme lol

[soulwally]

My Baby - Freeman Brothers and Tempts

[kenneth]

I think a related search would be for two songs which are essentially the same song but with variations in the title or slight variations in the verse and/or chorus.

For example, "Your Love Can Save Me" by the Marvelettes is the same song as "This Poor Heart of Mine" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell [[Valerie Simpson singing, in my opinion, on this track however).

Any other songs like this come to mind?

The Marvelous Marvelettes

[kenneth]

Marvin and "Tammi"

[reese]

Sort of the flipside to the above, and another Ashford and Simpson composition: GOOD LOVIN' AIN'T EASY TO COME BY.

Originally recorded [[but for years unreleased) by Gladys Knight and the Pips and later recorded by Marvin and Tammi. Only the title is the same. The lyrics are totally different.

The Pips.

[reese]

Marvin and Tammi.

[mysterysinger]

Well Chris Clark's "Soft Touch" uses the same backing track as Brenda Holloway's "You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine".

[kenneth]

@mysterysinger, I guess that was also true of Marvin Gaye's "Pretty Little Baby" and "Purple Snowflakes" [[I think it was).

[mysterysinger]

And that Tammi Terrell song and DRATS Christmas track

[mjdestiny]

Come Into My Life :
Jermaine Jackson , The 70s Supremes and Rick James .

[Motown Eddie]

And here's an example of two different Motown songs with the same title & performed by the same group: The Temptations' "Memories" [[on A Song For You-1975 & Truly For You-1984).

[robb_k]

"Bless You" was Tony Orlando. One of his Dawn is currently a Supreme lol

Didn't Joyce Vincent also fill in with The Andantes?

[theboyfromxtown]

A fun thread. I found one title with 6 versions - My Love For You

Tommy Good
Edward Earlong
Satintones
Billy Eckstine/Marvin Gaye
Miracles
Paul Peterson

[robb_k]

A fun thread. I found one title with 6 versions - My Love For You

Tommy Good
Edward Earlong
Satintones
Billy Eckstine/Marvin Gaye
Miracles
Paul Peterson

Nothing to do with Motown, but The Marcels sang a song with that title in 1963.

[mysterysinger]

"I'm In Love Again" Shorty Long & DRATS
"You Gave Me Love" Jimmy Ruffin & Thelma & Jerry