Together (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells album)
Encyclopedia
Together was the first and only studio album
released by the duo team of American Motown
artists Marvin Gaye
and Mary Wells
. It was released on Motown's Tamla label on April 15, 1964. The album brought together the rising star Gaye with Wells, an established star with a number-one pop hit to her name (1964's "My Guy
"), in hopes that Gaye would benefit from the exposure.
This album became the first charted album credited to Gaye, peaking at number forty-two on the Billboard Pop Albums
chart and yielding two top twenty singles, "Once Upon a Time
" and "What's the Matter with You Baby
". Shortly afterwards, Wells, who was frustrated with the direction the label wanted her to go, left Motown. The label had to find another duet partner for Gaye, enlisting Kim Weston
for one album, Take Two, but later yielding a longer-lasting paring of Gaye with Tammi Terrell
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by the duo team of American Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
artists Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
. It was released on Motown's Tamla label on April 15, 1964. The album brought together the rising star Gaye with Wells, an established star with a number-one pop hit to her name (1964's "My Guy
My Guy
"My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's dedication to the goodness of her man .The single became the biggest hit ever for Wells, Motown's first female star, and reached the...
"), in hopes that Gaye would benefit from the exposure.
This album became the first charted album credited to Gaye, peaking at number forty-two on the Billboard Pop Albums
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and yielding two top twenty singles, "Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells song)
"Once Upon a Time" is a 1964 single released by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells from their sole duet album, Together.Written by Clarence Paul, Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton and William "Mickey" Stevenson, the song discussed how the two narrators felt lonely until they met each other referring to their past...
" and "What's the Matter with You Baby
What's the Matter With You Baby
"What's the Matter with You Baby" is a 1964 single released by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells on the Motown label.Released as a double A-side single alongside "Once Upon a Time", the song gave Gaye and Wells another charted smash....
". Shortly afterwards, Wells, who was frustrated with the direction the label wanted her to go, left Motown. The label had to find another duet partner for Gaye, enlisting Kim Weston
Kim Weston
Kim Weston is an American soul singer, and Motown alumna. In the 1960s, Weston scored hits with the songs "Love Me All the Way" and "Take Me in Your Arms ".-Career:...
for one album, Take Two, but later yielding a longer-lasting paring of Gaye with Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
.
Track listing
- "Once Upon a TimeOnce Upon a Time (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells song)"Once Upon a Time" is a 1964 single released by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells from their sole duet album, Together.Written by Clarence Paul, Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton and William "Mickey" Stevenson, the song discussed how the two narrators felt lonely until they met each other referring to their past...
" (Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton, Clarence PaulClarence PaulClarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records....
, William "Mickey" Stevenson) – 2:32 - "'Deed I Do'Deed I Do"Deed I Do" is a 1926 jazz standard composed by Fred Rose with lyrics by Walter Hirsch. It was introduced by vaudeville performer S. L. Stambaugh and popularized by Ben Bernie's recording. It was recorded by influential clarinetist and bandleader Benny Goodman as his debut recording in December...
" (Walter Hirsch, Fred RoseFred Rose (musician)Fred Rose was an American Hall of Fame songwriter and music publishing executive.-Biography:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Fred Rose started playing piano and singing as a small boy. In his teens, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he worked in bars busking for tips, and finally vaudeville...
) – 2:53 - "Until I Met You" (Freddie GreenFreddie GreenFrederick William "Freddie" Green was an American swing jazz guitarist. He was especially noted for his sophisticated rhythm guitar in big band settings, particularly for the Count Basie orchestra, where he was part of the "All-American Rhythm Section" with Basie on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and...
, Don Wolf) – 3:21 - "TogetherTogether (1928 song)"Together" is a 1928 popular song with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The most popular 1928 recording of the song, by Paul Whiteman, with Bix Beiderbecke on cornet, was a #1 hit for two weeks....
" (Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew BrownLew BrownLew Brown was a lyricist for popular songs in the United States.Brown was born as Louis Brownstein in Odessa, Russian Empire...
, Ray HendersonRay HendersonRay Henderson , was an American songwriter.Born Raymond Brost in Buffalo, New York, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley...
) – 2:42 - "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" for Sentimental Reasons" is a popular song written by William "Pat" Best, later a founding member of The Four Tunes. The credits list Deek Watson, former founding member of The Ink Spots, as a co-writer, though Best has stated that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song...
(William BestThe Brown DotsThe Brown Dots were initially formed in late 1944, when second tenor Ivory "Deek" Watson left the Ink Spots. He immediately put together a competing Ink Spots group consisting of lead tenor Joe King, bass Jimmy Gordon, and an unknown baritone...
, Deek Watson) – 2:35 - "The Late, Late Show" (Roy Alfred, Murray Berlin) – 2:42
- "After the Lights Go Down LowAfter the Lights Go Down Low (song)"After The Lights Go Down Low" is a popular song written by Phil Belmonte, Allen White and Leroy C. Lovett and published in 1956. It has been recorded by many artists...
" (Phil Belmonte, Leroy Lovett, Allen White) – 2:53 - "Just Squeeze Me (Don't Tease Me)" (Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Lee Gaines) – 2:32 - "What's the Matter with You BabyWhat's the Matter With You Baby"What's the Matter with You Baby" is a 1964 single released by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells on the Motown label.Released as a double A-side single alongside "Once Upon a Time", the song gave Gaye and Wells another charted smash....
" (Ales, Paul, Stevenson) – 2:24 - "You Come a Long Way from St. Louis" (John Brooks, Bob Russel) – 2:52
Credits
- Lead (and additional background) vocals by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Mary WellsMary WellsMary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s... - Background vocals by The Love Tones and The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...