Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got

"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" is a 1967 Soul song, originally recorded and made a hit by Jimmy Ruffin on Motown's Soul Label imprint.[1] Ruffin's 1967 original version, from his album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten, reached the Pop Top 30, peaking at #29, and was a Top 20 R&B Hit as well, peaking at #14.[2] It was also a hit in Britain, reaching #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has a social context: it depicts a man anticipating his release from prison on the morrow, when he'll return home on a train to "the girl that I left behind," promising himself that he will reward her steadfast love for him by "giv[ing] her all the love [he's] got." The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield.

"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got"
Cover of the single released in the Netherlands
Single by Jimmy Ruffin
from the album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten
B-side"World So Wide Nowhere to Hide (From Your Heart)"
ReleasedFebruary 23, 1967
RecordedAugust 1966
StudioHitsville USA
GenreSoul
LabelSoul
S 35032
Songwriter(s)Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
Jimmy Ruffin singles chronology
"I've Passed This Way Before"
(1966)
"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got"
(1967)
"Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby"
(1967)
"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got"
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album That's the Way Love Is
A-side"How Can I Forget"
ReleasedDecember 16, 1969
RecordedHitsville USA; 1969
GenreSoul
Length3:21
LabelTamla
T 54190
Songwriter(s)Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"What You Gave Me"
(1969)
"How Can I Forget" / "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got"
(1969)
"The Onion Song"
(1970)

In August 1968 Benny Gordon released his version on Wand 1188. Benny Gordon Born 1932 Died 24 December 2008 Genres Soul Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter and bandleader Instruments Vocals Years active 1962 - 70s Labels RCA, Estill, Capitol, Wand. Benny Gordon (1932–2008) was a soul and r&b singer who recorded from the early 1960s up to the 1970s. Some of his early efforts were as a member of Christian Harmonizers. Their recordings were credited to The Christian Harmonizers (Featuring B. Gordon). Later recordings were as Bennie Gordon And The Soul Brothers.[

In 1970, Jimmy Ruffin's Motown labelmate Marvin Gaye, released the song on the Tamla label.[3] released from his album, That's the Way Love Is. Gaye's cover version of the song was a modest hit when Gaye released it in early 1970, peaking at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #26 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart. For Gaye the single was a double sided hit, as its flip side, "How Can I Forget" also charted (#41 US Pop, #18 US R&B).

Still another Motown act, The Temptations, recorded the tune as part of their album "The Temptations Wish It Would Rain.[4][5] However, it was The Temptations' baritone lead singer, Paul Williams, that sang lead vocals on the song, rather than Jimmy's brother, Temptations member David Ruffin. Their version was also released as a B-side to their hit single, "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)",[6] which turned out to be Ruffin's last lead released before he left the group.

Tony Tribe did a single cover of the song with Trojan Records, before dying in a car accident in Canada in 1970.[7]

Credits

edit

Jimmy Ruffin version

edit

Marvin Gaye version

edit

Temptations version

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 7: 1967 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research.
  3. ^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
  4. ^ Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got at AllMusic
  5. ^ Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN 0-8154-1218-5.
  6. ^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8: 1968 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
  7. ^ "Tony Tribe". Discogs.