"What You Gave Me" is a hit duet written and produced by Ashford & Simpson and issued as a single originally by the vocal duo of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1969 on the Tamla label.
Recorded in the final throes of the Gaye-Terrell duet recordings, the song became the second single from their album, Easy. As with much of the album, there is debate over who sang with Gaye: Terrell, who was undergoing treatment for brain cancer, or the track's co-writer and co-producer, Valerie Simpson.
While Gaye later insisted that Simpson stood in for Terrell, Simpson has maintained that Terrell took part in the recordings. Whatever the case, the song gave the duo a modest charting, peaking at number forty-nine pop and number six R&B.
Cash Box described it as a "finely honed vocal collaboration."
Chart history
Weekly charts Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell Chart (1969–70)PeakpositionU.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 49U.S. Billboard R&B6U.S. Cash Box Top 10047 Diana Ross Chart (1978)PeakpositionU.S. Billboard R&B86
Later versions David Ruffin also recorded the song for his 1969 album Feelin' Good. It was revived years later as a club hit by Diana Ross in 1978. Her version peaked at #86 on the R&B charts.
Credits All vocals by Marvin Gaye & Valerie Simpson Produced by Ashford & Simpson Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
References
External links (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) (Diana Ross)