If This World Were Mine is from 1967's "United," Marvin Gaye's first duet album with Tammi Terrell. Originally released as a B-Side to If I Could Build My Whole World Around You, it has since become something of a standard. Unusually, it was written and produced by Marvin himself, and it has to rate with his best original compositions.
And a great performance too. One thing to note is how restrained the two singers are. There's no trading vocal chops or dueling melismas, just a complete focus on the chemistry between Marvin and Tammi. This is Motown discipline at its finest.
If This World Were Mine is one of those songs you half expect to hear in some schlocky arrangement on American Idol or John Legend Unplugged, but that's not to say there aren't any good covers. In fact, for years my preferred take on the song has been Tyrone Evans's uptempo, urgent arrangement I got from the Trojan Singles box set. But that's for another day isn't it? Until then, enjoy your Monday!
Photo: Fishermen below Overholser (1).
Monday, November 19, 2007
IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE
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2 comments:
How the hell did I miss this one?? Beautiful!!
I actually felt the same way. I remember where I heard it/reheard it, at the corner of Spring and Thompson about two years ago. I listened to it like 8 times that day
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