Just Another Lonely Night

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"Just Another Lonely Night"
Song by The Temptations
from the album The Temptin' Temptations
ReleasedNovember 1, 1965
Recorded Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1965
Genre Soul
Length3:03
Label Gordy
Songwriter(s) William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunter
Producer(s) William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunter
"Just Another Lonely Night"
Song by Four Tops
from the album Fourever
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2001
Recorded Hitsville USA (Studio A); June 10, 1965, July 4, 1965 and July 13, 1967
Genre Soul
Length2:29
Label Motown
Songwriter(s) William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunter
Producer(s) William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunter
"Just Another Lonely Night"
Single by The Fantastic Four
from the album How Sweet He Is
B-side "Don't Care Why You Want Me (Long as You Want Me)"
ReleasedSeptember 23, 1969
Recorded1969; Hitsville USA (Studio A)
Golden World (Studio B)
(Detroit, Michigan)
Genre Soul, R&B
Length2:54
Label Soul
S35065
Songwriter(s) William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunter
Producer(s) Clay McMurray
The Fantastic Four singles chronology
"I Feel Like I'm Falling in Love Again"
(1969)
"Just Another Lonely Night"
(1969)
"On the Brighter Side of a Blue World"
(1970)

"Just Another Lonely Night" is a 1965 song co-written and co-produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It was recorded by four Motown acts: The Temptations, Brenda Holloway, The Four Tops, and The Fantastic Four. [1]

Contents

The Temptations first recorded in 1965 for the Gordy (Motown) label. Their version would be released as an album track on The Temptin' Temptations . [2] It features a lead by Paul Williams, one of the group's original lead singers who by then had been eclipsed by David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks as lead even on the group's album tracks and A B-sides. Although Williams still recorded several leads, they were often overlooked for release by the label. Williams and the other Temptations constantly complained about not allowing Williams more leads on album tracks, and singles, but Motown paid them no heed. The Andantes were added for additional backing vocals on the track.

Brenda Holloway later covered the song in 1966, and the Four Tops in 1967; the Andantes backed both recordings. In the Tops' case, lead singer Levi Stubbs recorded his lead soon after the Tempts completed their version, and the group (with the Andantes) dubbed backing vocals over the Tempts/Andantes original instrumental and vocal backing track. Joining the Andantes as backing vocals on Holloway's version were the Originals, who were signed to label earlier that year.

Detroit-based R&B group The Fantastic Four covered it as a 1969 single on Motown's Soul label, with the Andantes brought in once again to provide additional backing vocals. [3] [4] The group was one of the acts (along with Edwin Starr, J. J. Barnes, etc.) whose contracts were bought by Motown when they purchased both the Ric-Tic and Golden World labels. At Ric-Tic, the group was the label's most successful act, outselling Starr and the other acts signed. However, success would not follow them to Motown and the single failed to chart. "Just Another Lonely Night" was the second track on The Fantastic Four's cancelled and unreleased Motown album How Sweet He Is.

Personnel

Temptations version

Brenda Holloway version

Four Tops version

Fantastic Four version

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References

  1. "Don't Forget the Motor City". Dftmc.info. Retrieved 2016-10-02.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. Andrew Hamilton (2013-11-05). "Just Another Lonely Night - The Temptations | Song Info". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-10-02.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. Just Another Lonely Night at Discogs
  4. The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records