You're All I Need to Get By

Written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, it became one of the few Motown recordings of the 1960s that was not recorded with the familiar "Motown sound". Instead, "You're All I Need to Get By" had a more soulful and gospel-oriented theme surrounding it, that was influenced by the writers, who also sing background vocals on the recording, sharing vocals in a church choir in New York City. Marvin and Tammi recorded the song at Hitsville. Ashford & Simpson later stated how the session was hard as Terrell was recovering from surgery on the malignant brain tumor that ultimately caused her death less than three years after they recorded the song.

During moments in the recording, Gaye can be heard encouraging Terrell to sing her verses, ad-libbing come on Tammi several times. A year later, Gaye was performing this song with Stax vocalist Carla Thomas at the Apollo Theater, when Terrell, who was seated in the front row in her wheelchair, began singing along, prompting Gaye to leave the stage and sing the song with Terrell, who was offered a microphone. It was Terrell's final performance before her death in March 1970. The song was played during Terrell's funeral while Gaye gave a brief, tearful eulogy.

The original recording by Gaye and Terrell peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number-one on Billboard's Hot R&B/Soul Singles chart for five weeks,[1] becoming one of the longest-running number one R&B hits of 1968 and the most successful duet recording of Marvin Gaye's career. It reached #19 on the British singles charts in late 1968, staying there for 19 weeks.

• All lead vocals by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
• Background vocals by Ashford & Simpson
• Produced by Ashford & Simpson
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

"You're All I Need to Get By"
Single by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
from the album That's What Friends Are For
B-side	"You're a Special Part of My Life"
Released	July 1978
Genre	Pop
Label	Columbia
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams singles chronology
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" (1978) "You're All I Need to Get By" (1978) "Love Won't Let Me Wait" (1984)

Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams recorded "You're All I Need to Get By" for their 1978 duet album That's What Friends Are For. It was the follow-up to their U.S. number-one hit, "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late".

Their version of "You're All I Need to Get By" peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Hot Soul Singles Chart, #16 on the Adult Contemporary chart,[6] and #45 on the UK Singles Chart. It did best on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart, where it reached #5.[7]

• Aretha Franklin recorded the song as a single in 1971 (Atlantic 45-2787). The song was also included on her compilation album Aretha's Greatest Hits which was released later the same year. Her version peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It also features in a 2020 holiday advertisement for Walmart.[11]
• Tony Orlando & Dawn's version became the third to reach the U.S. Top 40, peaking at #34 in 1975. They also reached #13 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[12]

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• List of cover versions of "You're All I Need to Get By" at SecondHandSongs.com