Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and became a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. The song became Ross’s first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Background and composition
The song was written by Ashford and Simpson prior to joining Motown. British soul singer Dusty Springfield wanted to record the song but the duo declined, hoping it would give them access to the Detroit-based label. As Valerie Simpson later recalled, “We played that song for her (Springfield) but wouldn’t give it to her, because we wanted to hold that back. We felt like that could be our entry to Motown. Nick called it the ‘golden egg’.” Springfield recorded a similar verse melody in “I’m Gonna Leave You” on Dusty.
The original 1967 version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was a top-20 hit. According to record producers, Terrell was a little nervous and intimidated when recording the song, as she was a huge fan of Gaye’s. Gaye, however, was very supportive and encouraging, and the two recorded the song in just a few takes.
Recording and production
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was recorded at the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, Michigan in 1966. The song was produced by Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol.
The recording features Gaye and Terrell on vocals. Gaye’s vocals are passionate and soulful, while Terrell’s vocals are sweet and angelic. The song’s instrumentation is simple, yet effective, with a driving beat and a catchy melody.
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“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is a beautiful and moving song that will be cherished for generations to come.
Here are some additional details about the song:
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- The song was written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson.
- The song was originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1966.
- The song was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
- “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” has been covered by many artists, including Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, and The Temptations.