How sweet it is to be loved by you lyrics

James Taylor Lyrics

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"

How sweet it is to be loved by you. How sweet it is to be loved by you.

I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were.
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were.
With sweet love and devotion, deeply touching my emotion,
I want to stop and thank you baby. I want to stop and thank you baby.
How sweet it is to be loved by you. How sweet it is to be loved by you.

I close my eyes at night wondering where would I be without you in my life.
Everything I did was just a bore, everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before.
But you brighten up for me all of my days with a love so sweet in so many ways,
I want to stop and thank you baby, I just want to stop and thank you baby.
How sweet it is to be loved by you, feels so fine. How sweet it is to be loved by you.

You were better for me than I was for myself,
for me, there's you and there ain't nobody else,
I want to stop and thank you baby. I just want to stop and thank you baby, yes I do,
how sweet it is to be loved by you. How sweet it is to be loved by you.
Feels so fine, how sweet it is to be loved by you.
Just like jelly baby, oh yeah, how sweet it is to be loved by you.
Just like honey to the bee, babe, how sweet it is to be loved by you.

Writer(s): Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland, Brian Holland

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album: "Gorilla" (1975)

How sweet it is to be loved by you lyrics

Marvin Gaye Lyrics

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs
and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night,
wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore,
everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brightened up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

You were better to me than I've been to myself
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

[Repeat and fade:]
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

Writer(s): Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland, Brian Holland

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  3. Marvin Gaye Lyrics

album: "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" (1965)

How sweet it is to be loved by you lyrics

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
How sweet it is to be loved by you lyrics
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You
B-side"Forever"
ReleasedNovember 4, 1964
RecordedJuly 24, 1964
StudioHitsville U.S.A. (Studio A)
Genre
  • Soul
Length2:57
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s)
  • Brian Holland
  • Lamont Dozier
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"What Good Am I Without You"
(1964)
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
(1964)
"I'll Be Doggone"
(1965)
Official audio
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" on YouTube

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!"

Marvin Gaye version[edit]

Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, the song was released as a single in September 1964. It peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1965 and at number three on US Billboard's R&B Singles chart.[1] Up to that point, it was Gaye's most successful single with record sales exceeding 900,000 copies.[2] The song's personnel includes Marvin Gaye on lead vocals;[3] The Andantes on background vocals; and The Funk Brothers on various instruments, including piano and percussion. Gaye also released a German-language version of the song entitled "Wie Schön Das Ist".

Cash Box described it as "a medium-paced, rollicking chorus-backed ode about a fella who's on top of the world since he met up with Miss Right."[4] AllMusic critic Jason Ankeny described the song as a "radiant pop confection," noting that it was unusual for Gaye in being a "straightforward love song" that doesn't reflect Gaye's usual demons.[5] Ankeny commented on the soulfulness of the song, and particularly noted the piano riff.[5]

Gaye's recording has subsequently been released on many greatest hits albums.[5]

Personnel[edit]

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumental backing

Chart history[edit]

James Taylor version[edit]

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
How sweet it is to be loved by you lyrics
Single by James Taylor
from the album Gorilla
B-side"Sarah Maria"
ReleasedJune 1975
Recorded1975
GenreSoft rock
Length3:33
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s)Russ Titelman, Lenny Waronker
James Taylor singles chronology
"Walking Man"
(1974)
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
(1975)
"Mexico"
(1975)

James Taylor released his version of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" as the lead single from his album Gorilla (1975).[11] Taylor's 1975 single has been the most successful remake of the song to date, hitting number one on the Easy Listening chart and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[12] In addition to James Taylor on lead vocals and guitar, other personnel include his then-wife Carly Simon on harmony vocals, Danny Kortchmar on guitar, David Sanborn on saxophone, Clarence McDonald on piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano and possibly ARP String Ensemble, Lee Sklar on bass guitar and both Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel on drums with Kunkel doubling on tambourine.[13] Author Ian Halperin believes that the song was included on Gorilla as a tribute to Simon, who was then his wife.[14] It was produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman.[14] After his success with "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," Taylor continued to record R&B hits applying his soft rock approach.[11]

Rolling Stone critic Bud Scoppa described Taylor's version as "a relaxed rendition" and considered it to be Taylor's way of acknowledging Gaye as a source of inspiration for Taylor's romantic point of view at the time.[15] Music critic Robert Christgau regarded Taylor's version as a "desecration of Marvin Gaye."[16] Taylor biographer Timothy White described it as "music for the park on Sunday."[13] Cash Box said that the "orchestration is tastefully executed" and that "vocally Taylor puts an oh so mellow coating to this surefire winner."[17]

Taylor's version has been released on many live and compilation albums. These include the compilation albums Greatest Hits (1976), Classic Songs (1990), The Best of James Taylor (2003) and The Essential James Taylor (2013).[18][19][20][21] Live versions have been included on Live and Live at the Beacon Theater.

Personnel[edit]

Source:[22]

  • James Taylor - vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar - electric guitar
  • Leland Sklar - bass
  • Jim Keltner - drums
  • Russ Kunkel - drums, tambourine
  • Clarence McDonald - piano, Fender Rhodes
  • David Sanborn - saxophone
  • Carly Simon - vocals

Chart history[edit]

Other versions[edit]

In 1966, Junior Walker & the All Stars released the song as a single, which reached number 3 on the R&B Singles chart and No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to Jason Ankeny of AllMusic, this version makes up in grit what it lacks in Gaye's grace, increasing the "celebratory" feel of the song.[5] Ankeny described the version as "a rollicking floor-shaker fueled by his smoldering saxophone."[5] The drums are played by James Graves (1941-1967).[32] The song was also recorded by Michael Bublé & featured regularly in Jerry Garcia Band sets.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Marvin Gaye awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.
  3. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 26 - The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 5]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  4. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 21, 1964. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ankeny, J. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  6. ^ "UK Official Singles Chart". UK Official Charts Company. December 16, 1964. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  8. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard. January 9, 1965. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  9. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 30, 1965". Retrieved 18 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1965/Top 100 Songs of 1965". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Ruhlmann, W. "Gorilla". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 239.
  13. ^ a b White, T. (2009). Long Ago and Far Away. Omnibus Press. pp. 233–235. ISBN 9780857120069.
  14. ^ a b Halperin, I. (2003). Fire and Rain: The James Taylor Story. Citadel. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-0806523484.
  15. ^ Scoppa, B. (July 17, 1975). "Gorilla". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  16. ^ Christgau, R. "James Taylor". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  17. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 21, 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  18. ^ Ruhlmann, W. "Greatest Hits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  19. ^ Woodstra, C. "Classic Songs". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  20. ^ Jurek, T. "The Best of James Taylor". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  21. ^ Collar, M. "The Essential James Taylor". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  22. ^ "Classic Tracks: "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)"". Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  23. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  24. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-09-06. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  25. ^ "RPM Weekly Top Singles August 23, 1975 (Volume 23, No. 26)". Library and Archives Canada. RPM Weekly (archived). 2013-07-17. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  26. ^ New Zealand Top 40 Singles, 20 October 1975
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary Chart - Billboard", Billboard, retrieved January 10, 2017
  28. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 8/16/75". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  29. ^ Lyttle, Brendan (2013-07-17). "Top 200 Singles of 1975". Library and Archives Canada. RPM Weekly (archived). Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  31. ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts - 1975". tropicalglen.com. December 27, 1975. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  32. ^ Talevski, Nick (7 April 2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved August 20, 2017 – via Google Books.

  • Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) on YouTube
  • James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) on YouTube

Who first recorded How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You?

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Did Jackie Gleason use to say how sweet it is?

"How sweet it is!", a catchphrase used by Jackie Gleason.

Who are the singers in Motown How Sweet It Is?

This show will have you Dancing On The Ceiling, with songs from legendary artistes such as Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers, Edwin Starr and many, many more.

What key is Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You in?

How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) is written in the key of C.