Genre: soul
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Take Two
Company: Tamla
Catalog: T 270
Year: 1966
Country/State: Washington, D.C.
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: mono pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5402
Price: $45.00
Selected to replace Mary Wells after she left Motown for a solo career with 20th Century Fox, Weston first teamed up with Gaye for the 1964 single 'What Good Am I without You' b/w 'I Want You 'Round' (Tamla catalog number T 54104). They made their album debut two years later with 1966's "Take Two". Produced by William Stevenson (Weston's then-husband), like most mid-1960s Motown releases the results were erratic, though occasionally fascinating. Apparently pieced together from previously recorded solo efforts ('I Love You, Yes I Do'), demos ('Baby Say Yes') and new material the set was a bit on the choppy side. Adding to the problem, falling victim to Motown's marketing demographics, about half of the material seemed oriented to middle class, middle aged (aka white) audiences. No matter how good their performances, Gaye and Weston simply couldn't salvage heavily orchestrated MOR material like 'I Love You, Yes I Do', 'Till There was You', 'Secret Love' and what may have been the world's dullest cover of 'Baby I Need Your Loving'. Still Weston's clear and powerful voice blended well with Gaye and the other 50% of material was worthwhile. 'It Takes Two' was easily one of the best duets Gaye ever recorded, while 'It's Got To Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)', 'Love Fell On Me' and 'I Want You 'Round' were all worth hearing. Certainly not the best of Gaye duet's set, but worth hearing. anyhow.
Released as a single 'It Takes Two' b/w 'It's Got To Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)' (Tamla catalog number T-54141) hit # 14 pop. The parent album failed to hit the pop charts, but went to # 24 on the R&B charts. Unfortunately before she could take advantage of the success (a follow-on collaboration entitled "Side By Side" was apparently planned), Weston and husband Stevenson found themselves at odds over royalties with Berry Gordy and the Motown organization. She subsequently reappeared as a solo act on MGM.
"Take Two" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) It Takes Two (William Stevenson - Sylvia Moy) - 2:53
2.) I Love You, Yes I Do (S. Nix - Henry Glover) - 2:18
3.) Baby I Need Your Loving (Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier - Eddie Holland) - 3:09
4.) It's Got To Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love) (Sylvia Moy - V. Bullock - William Stevenson) - 3:27
5.) Baby Say Yes William Stevenson - Kim Weston) - 3:12
6.) What Good Am I without You (A. Higdon - William Stevenson) - 2:50
(side
2)
1.) Till There was You (William Stevenson) - 2:24
2.) Love Fell On Me (Sylvia Moy - William Stevenson) - 2:25
3.) Secret Love (P. Webster - S. Fain) - 2:44
4.) I Want You 'Round (William Stevenson - Smokey Robinson) - 2:24
5.) Heaven Sent You I Know (William Stevenson - H. Cosby - V/. Bullock) - 3:01
6.) When We're Together (V. Bullock - Sylvia Moy) - 2:36