Two Lovers (Mary Wells song)
Encyclopedia
"Two Lovers" is a single released in 1962 by Mary Wells
on the Motown record label. The song was the third consecutive hit to be both written and produced by Smokey Robinson
of The Miracles
and recorded by Mary Wells, the two previous charters being "The One Who Really Loves You
" and "You Beat Me to the Punch
." The song's cleverly devised lyrics at first appear to be about a girl singing to one lover who is "sweet and kind" and a second who treats her bad and makes her sad; eventually, the girl reveals that the two lovers are actually the same person. The song became Well's most successful release to date reaching No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart
and number seven on the Billboard pop chart
. Its success would be eclipsed two years later by the singer's most successful release ever, the signature tune "My Guy
."
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
on the Motown record label. The song was the third consecutive hit to be both written and produced by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
of The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
and recorded by Mary Wells, the two previous charters being "The One Who Really Loves You
The One Who Really Loves You (song)
"The One Who Really Loves You" is a single recorded by Mary Wells on the Motown label in 1962. It was written and composed by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Billboard R&B chart....
" and "You Beat Me to the Punch
You Beat Me to the Punch
"You Beat Me to the Punch" is a soul single by Motown singer Mary Wells, released on the Motown label in 1962. It was co-written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, who was responsible for the majority of hits released by Wells while she was a Motown artist, and another Miracles member, Ronnie...
." The song's cleverly devised lyrics at first appear to be about a girl singing to one lover who is "sweet and kind" and a second who treats her bad and makes her sad; eventually, the girl reveals that the two lovers are actually the same person. The song became Well's most successful release to date reaching No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and number seven on the Billboard pop chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Its success would be eclipsed two years later by the singer's most successful release ever, the signature tune "My Guy
My Guy
"My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's dedication to the goodness of her man .The single became the biggest hit ever for Wells, Motown's first female star, and reached the...
."
Personnel
- Lead (and additional) background vocal by Mary Wells
- Background vocals by the Love Tones
- Written and produced by Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
Covers
- Louise CordetLouise CordetLouise Cordet was an English pop singer who also sang in French, best known as a one-hit wonder for her 1962 single, "I'm Just a Baby".-Early life:...
covered the song in 1964 in a Decca session with Jimmy Page. - Steve GoodmanSteve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
covered the song on his 1977 Say It In Private album and in concert. - Dolly Parton covered the song on her ill-fated 1987 pop album RainbowRainbow (Dolly Parton album)-Chart performance:-External links:*...
.