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10 Best Duets Ever: No. 2

'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing'
--Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1968)

Choosing the "best" of Gaye's duets with Terrell is a little ridiculous: It's like crowning the world's best ice cream flavor. They remain the gold standard by which all other duets are judged. Let's just say that 'Real Thing' barely edges 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' as the signature Gaye/Terrell song. Fittingly, both were written by another future power duo: Ashford & Simpson.

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HomerJFong

This whole list could have easily been all Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell songs.

August 14 2009 at 8:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to HomerJFong's comment
martinshaven

Yes the whole list should have been Gaye/Terrell,they had style and class. That was good music, moving music. The so called duets that were before them I'm not even sure they were of this earth. If they were did they know what they were doing, they didn't when they were getting ready to come out in public.

August 29 2009 at 1:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leeloodallas31

i just love it!!!

May 25 2009 at 10:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Black Canary

Your taste in music (except for good duet #1, which deserves to be on your good list somewhere) matches your AOL service: lousy.

And, of course, there were no duets before the 1970s, were there? No taste, no sense of history, and no memory for good music--you hit them all.

October 21 2008 at 3:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Black Canary's comment
The Warped Vinyl Junkie

Ummm...wake up, BC...Tammi Terrell was already dead by early '70...all the Marvin & Tammi duets were recorded in the '60s.

November 16 2009 at 11:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
crxla

Who was the old fart who came up with these lists?

October 21 2008 at 3:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to crxla's comment
chimayai

LOL you know, it never ceases to amaze me when I compare a tune to a classic song from the 1960s or 1970s, someone always writes in and asks who the old fart is. Simpoly put, the Gaye/Terrell duets were jaw-dropping examples of perfect pop verve and style. I love the old fart thing;in a couple years, I'll be an ancient fart. Can't wait to beat the crap out all of the young ruffians with my cane and my Docs.
Side note: the Collins/Bailey duet was probably one of the low points in either's career: definitely a label making a corporate decision rather than an artistic one.

October 21 2008 at 6:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wolfie

These two made great songs IMO

October 20 2008 at 9:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Georgia

Wonderful song!

October 20 2008 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Georgia's comment
trish

great song i love his voice

October 27 2009 at 9:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply