Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"
Single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
from the album You're All I Need
Released	March 28, 1968
Format	7" single
Recorded	Hitsville USA; 1968
Genre	Soul, pop
Length	2:12
Label	Tamla T 54163
Writer(s)	Ashford & Simpson
Producer	Ashford & Simpson
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell singles chronology
"If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" (1967) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1968) "You're All I Need to Get By" (1968)

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album, You're All I Need, the song, written and produced by longtime Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson, became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, their first of two number ones hit together on the soul singles chart. The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Party.

Personnel

• All lead vocals by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
• Background vocals by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
• Produced by Ashford & Simpson
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Chart history

Chart	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart	8
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	34

Cover versions

• In 1969, Diana Ross and the Supremes with The Temptations covered the song, from the album Together.
• In 1970, The Supremes & The Four Tops together covered the song on their album The Magnificent 7.
• In 1972, The Jackson 5 covered the song on their album Lookin' Through the Windows.
• In 1974, Aretha Franklin re-recorded the song and released it as a single following the success of her song "Until You Come Back to Me", from the album Let Me in Your Life.
• In 1975, The Dynamic Superiors covered the song for their album "Pure Pleasure."
• In 1976, Donny & Marie Osmond covered the song on their album New Season. Their version was a moderate hit in early 1977, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• In 1983, Angela Bofill covered the song on her album Too Tough.
• In 1988, Hazell Dean covered the song as a duet with Darryl Pandy on her album Always.
• In 1993, Elton John and Marcella Detroit covered the song on Elton John's Duets album. Released as a single the following year, it peaked at #24 in the UK.
• In 1994, Gladys Knight and Vince Gill recorded the song for the Rhythm, Country and Blues album where rhythm and blues singers collaborated with country music singers.
• In 2003, Michael McDonald covered it on his album 'Motown'.
• In 2007, Boyz II Men covered it on their album 'Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA'.
• In 2008, pop stars Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé Knowles performed a cover of the song for the fifth anniversary of Condé Nast Publications' Fashion Rocks concert.
• In 2008, soap stars Tammin Sursok and Michael Graziadei performed & recorded a cover of the song for their show, The Young and the Restless.
• In 2009, Melba Moore and Phil Perry covered the song on their album The Gift Of Love.
• In 2010, Trijntje Oosterhuis feat. The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra covered the song on the album Sundays in New York produced by John Clayton.

"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"
Single by Marcella Detroit & Elton John
from the album Jewel
Released	1994
Recorded	1993
Genre	Pop
Label	London
Writer(s)	Marcella Detroit
Marcella Detroit & Elton John singles chronology
I Believe (1994) Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (1994) I'm No Angel (1994)
Part 2 of a limited edition 2 part set; comes in a slimline 'Z Box' with space for Part 1.

Marcella Detroit & Elton John version

"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at #24 in the UK. It was the third and last single released off John's album and the second lifted from Detroit's. A music video featuring both singers was filmed. The b-sides were Detroit solo tracks, and remixes of the duet.

Track listing

UK CD 1 Maxi Single LONCD 350 857 529-2

1. "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" - (3:36)
2. "Break The Chain" - (3:47)

   Written by Marcella Detroit

3. "I Feel Free" - (4:08)

   Written by Jack Bruce & Pete Brown

UK CD 2 Maxi Single LOCDP 350

1. "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" (Kenny Dope Extended Mix) - (5:48)

   Remixed by Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez

2. "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" (Troopa Mood Mix) - (3:43)

   Remixed by Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez

3. "I Feel Free" (Full Cream Mix) - (9:35)

   Remixed & Produced by Helena Marsh & Jon Marsh

4. "I Feel Free" (Cry Out Loud Mix) - (5:47)

   Remixed & Produced by Helena Marsh & Jon Marsh

Preceded by "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" by Stevie Wonder

Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single June 8, 1968

Succeeded by "Think" by Aretha Franklin