Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell 1969 "I'm Your Puppet" MOTOWN-45

[rjb073]

In my opinion, when Tammi died, so did Marvin. He always seemed to have a thing for her and I thought for sure that they would hook up someday. They just seemed to be a perfect fit.

[Bettyboone1204]

Love this version, oh yes Marvin and Tammi rock! whew...

[Johnnybomb1]

It sucks that she died so young.

[sportsmediaamerica]

This is a misfire. Sorry...

[prodigyofpeace1983]

James and Bobby Purify's version is better actually. I love Marvin and Tammi, but the original is much smoother and loving.

[BelleVue1969]

Have the one by James and Bobby Purify but haven't heard this version before.Fab post, 5*.

[misery1965]

thanks for doing this collage, befits this beautiful song.

[TOMMYTOMA4]

Great song!!! Thanks for posting, We play alot of these great songs at

TOMA'S TIMELESS TUNES i hope you'll stop by and give a listen thanks again. Tommy Toma

[waynebrasler]

Valerie's story years after the fact and Marvin's death (he couldn't disagree) came up with the story of his confusing her guide vocals with genuine recordings for "Easy." It just is not true. Valerie stepped in to do the vocals because Tammi was too ill at that point to do anything (not even well enough to shoot a cover photo). Everyone I knew upon hearing the album knew they were not hearing Tammi Terrell.

[waynebrasler]

This is Valerie Simpson. There absolutely was no blending of Tammi and Valerie. Even for the preceding album, "You're All I Need," Tammi was already so ill she could only do a few tracks. Everything else was old Tammi recordings with Marvin dubbed in to create duets. Berry Gordy wanted the "Easy" album to be completed so Tammi's family could benefit from the royalties. But any Tammi fan knew on first hearing that wasn't Tammy singing on the album except for two older cuts.

[LaydeeTee0890]

In reading both novels about Tammi and Marvin's lives, things are a bit conflicting about who is singing on the Easy album. The most believable comes from "My sister Tammi," in which producers mention that it was sort of a blend between the two voices. I guess where Tammi couldn't get something where she wanted it, Valerie stepped in.

[MotownMagic1959]

@LaydeeTee0890 I can answer this one, as someone else has mentioned, Tammi was suffering a lot from her brain tumor during this recording and she wanted to carry on recording, so Valerie Simpson did help her with the voice overs, but it is mostly Tammi you can hear, who is sadly missed still! Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson were great composers for Marvin and Tammi. JOHN

[peterzang]

@MotownMagic1959 Did you ever hear the rumor that Anna Gordy was sure that Tammi was having an affair with Marvin, so she beat her badly about the head and face? And caused that hemmorhage?

[MotownMagic1959]

@peterzang I have indeed heard that many years ago, but I think it is a false rumor, Anna was once married to Marvin Gaye, and Marvin and Tammi were like brother and sister, but not in a relationship, Anna Gordy wasn't that bad! the first ever hit on Motown was on the Anna label "Money, (That's What I Want) " by Barret Strong! sadly these rumors take away the good things about the music don't they? Still I expect some people will believe them too! JOHN

[peterzang]

@MotownMagic1959 Trust me, MG is my favorite singer and it doesn't influence my listening. But I heard it from a Motown session man. Nice to meet a fellow fan

[LJH70122]

@LaydeeTee0890 You were reading biographies , not novels. Novels are books of fiction. Stuff that's made up.

If it's the true story of a person's life , it's a biography.

[PeanutsDotCom]

I like Marvin but the all time classic is by Bobby Purify!

[9577frasier]

they sound like thet was meant to sing together, they shouldve had kids so we would have a better music industry its an abomination

[marwray1]

However Tammi 's life has now gone, but her sound like so many other greats will live on forever. R.I.P.

[comando0110]

No, this is Tammi Terrell. Valerie Simpson practiced with Marvin Gaye when Tammy was sick. Tammi is sick during this recording and doing the best she can. They say it was amazing that she was able to sing at all. She was determined with Cancer, 7-8 operations and total ill health. Beautiful.

[leonaofficial]

@comando0110 Marvin Gaye publicly said that Tammi didnt make any recordings for the Easy album and that she only appears on I Cant Believe You Love Me and More More More which were solo songs onto which he overdubbed duet vocals. But i guess you know different....

[LuizzOliveira]

I think this is "Marvin Gaye & Valerie Simpson".

[oceanbound222]

not good, much prefer the original

[Markgr122]

Valerie Simpson and Marvin!!

[thch86]

the best cover of this song I've heard so far.

[kjg0623]

I like the Bernie Mac, Sammy Jackson, and John Legends version on Soul Men

Life is on Fast Forward

[djkevcastle]

And I thought the Purify Brothers version was good. This is better and I did not even know this existed.

[THEKAYLAJONESSHOW]

Val says she never subbed for Tammi.....but I know someone is soing a damn good Tammi imitation here.....u can tell by the way Marvin is singing.

[MotownConnoisseur30]

Oh yes! Val won't ever admit it's her doing the singing!

[tonysouldays]

magic!

[FAFYWARRIOR]

lovelyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[28matt28]

the guy in the photo (top left)[1:23] of the the moniters looks familiar.

was he later part of the temptations?

[dimbrown1]

28matt28...

Yes, that is Richard Street. He joined the Temptations after Paul Williams left.

[JACKIEBROWNable]

sensational love soul music!!!!

[dapayne]

I only responded to someone who said tammi & david should have made a song together which I didn't agree with because of Tammi and David relationship. That's all. I love Marvin & Tammi, I love them as if they were family.

[bewititbewitoutit]

Pull the string and I'll wink at you, I'm your puppet

I'll do funny things if you want me to, I'm your puppet

Mm. I'm yours to have and to hold

Darling, you've got full control of your puppet

[dapayne]

WHY would anybody want David Ruffin doing a duet with Tammi when it was him that abused her. This is fact. Ask anyone from detriot that knew them back then. FYI

[Gedster100]

HELLO! if you can't tell the difference between Marvin & David Ruffin, go back to square 1!

[plumbweis]

I also think it's Valerie jaust as it also is on Baby I need your lovin! It still sounds good. I love the old school. I love Motown! It's magical!

[christheone8773]

by the time the Marvin/Tammi "Easy" album was released, it was Valerie Simpson doing the impressions of Tammi - Marvin was against the idea, but went along with it for the sake of Tammi's family-

[LOWDY2008]

I agree with motownsoulboy its not our Tammi singing this, if you listen carefully its too nasaly and is propably Val Simpson good version though.

[bigsonny07]

i used to think the same thing, even after valerie simpson denied the claims. but since taking a vocal course at school and studying Val's own recordings, it would have been difficult if not immposible for her to duplicate Tammi's sound. If anything she probably only overdubbed and at most sang entirely on one or two songs. and the rest, were done by either the ailing tammi or an unidentified third party.

[rinmem10]

as great as they are together. just wish tammi & david ruffin had recorded something while they were 2gether

[millionairepr]

u got it go'n!!

[plumbweis]

Love it! Love it! Love it! - the best!

[motownsoulboy]

its not tammi singing its val simpson she was to ill to do it so miss simpson stood in for her on the last lp,well at least im think so ?still a great record

[newsy8]

Thank you. that was wonderful to see again. i saw that stuff a little growing up in the sixties and it was so weird to me especially in texas. i had my little radio though thank goodness. Marvin and Tammi RULE!

[juiceinla]

I have always liked the James & Bobby Purify version. This was nice. As Paula would say,"They Made it Their Own." Thanks for posting. Would have been cool to see the video on this.

[tamlaone]

Top tune, but I'd rather have the record collection

[mmemmorry]

I never knew that Tammi and Marvin did a version of this song. I love finding out new information and songs done by them. Just wish I could find some more footage on these two other than Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Thanks for posting.

[rinmem10]

hey, this may be late but there's a 2 disc set of all three marvin and tammi's albums along with some of her solo tracks

[crazzyman08]

thank you so much for sharing

[HLeonick]

Haven't heard this song by this great duo for more than 20 years..Thanks for posting..NICE

[Rock4Evr]

I also loved the James & Bobby Purify version.

[MotownMagic1959]

Yes, it was a very good song was that one, and I usually don't like other people's songs recorded by someone else, do you?

John

[Rock4Evr]

Depends. Sometimes the remake is good. But, the original is always better. Especially on the Oldies But Goodies.

[PeanutsDotCom]

@Rock4Evr that version is

[dggd]

@Rock4Evr I loved their version too. As well as Sam and Dave's versionl. A great song! (I'm your puppet)