This week we’ve been featuring tunes that were hits multiple times for multiple artists. This brings us to our final classic multiple-artist hit of the day, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” This one was a hit for both Marvin Gaye and Junior Walker in the ’60s and for James Taylor in the ’70s.
“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” was written and produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Hollands, Motown’s stellar songwriting and producing team in the ’60s. Eddie Holland said the title was inspired by Jackie Gleason’s famous phrase, “How sweet it is!” Lamont Dozier recalls this about the lyrics:
“I was sitting at the piano, fantasizing about how good it would be if the woman I had eyes for was madly in love with me. But the truth is she never gave me a second look. So I created this fantasy world where I was the object of all her affections, a bit of fiction that eventually came true due to my persistence and showering her with affection.”
H-D-H gave “How Sweet It Is” to rising star Marvin Gaye to record and his version was released, on Motown’s Tamla label, in November of 1964. Gaye’s recording was a huge hit, his most successful to that point, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #3 on Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart.
Two years later, in 1966, fellow Motown artist Junior Walker recorded a rollicking cover of “How Sweet It Is,” featuring his smoldering soul saxophone. That version, by Junior Walker & the All Stars, hit #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the R&B chart.
Fast forward almost a decade and mellow singer-songwriter James Taylor released his version of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” Taylor’s laid-back cover of the song featured his pals Danny Kortchmar on electric guitar, Leland Sklar on bass, Russ Kunkel on drums (assisted by Jim Keltner on hi-hat), and David Sanborn on sax; Taylor’s then-wife, Carly Simon, provided backing vocals. Taylor’s version, released in June of 1975, reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
That’s one song, three artists, three top ten hits. Which version is your favorite?
