"When I'm Gone" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and a single he produced twice, one for early Motown star Mary Wells[1] and the other for fellow Motown vocalist Brenda Holloway.[2] Holloway's version became a hit while Wells' was aborted after the singer left the label in 1964.
"When I'm Gone" was produced under a beat similar to Mary Wells' big hit, "My Guy" though this song included hand claps, and was originally recorded by Wells. In the song, the narrator asks her cheating lover what would he do if she were to leave him explaining how everybody around them thinks they're happy in front of the public when inside the woman is suffering from the lover's behavior calling him a "real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" character. She also complains that though he flirts with "every girl that he sees", he comes running back to her when they do him wrong. Throughout the song, the narrator threatens to leave him and in the end repeats the question she asks in the beginning: "what are you gonna do when I'm gone?"
Mary Wells exit and Brenda Holloway's arrivaledit
The song was one of the last records Mary Wells recorded while at Motown. Fresh from the success of "My Guy" and with her Motown contract expiring the year of "My Guy" and its success, Wells decided to terminate her contract with Motown complaining of Gordy refusing to give Wells the royalties she earned during her successful tenure at the label. She argued that her Motown contract was invalid because she'd signed with the company at the age of seventeen. Due to the underage clause, Motown allowed Wells' contract to expire. (Had Wells not exited Motown, "When I'm Gone" would have been her next release, the follow-up to the million-selling "My Guy").[1] The singer then headed to 20th Century Fox Records after being offered a $500,000 contract that also offered Wells to do movies. Meanwhile, Motown's latest new signed artist, Brenda Holloway, was releasing her first single, "Every Little Bit Hurts", which shot to number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[3][4] After Wells departed, Motown eventually convinced Holloway to record some of Wells' songs, partially due to the fact that Gordy felt Holloway was the next Mary though both singers' vocals differed from each other: Wells' deep, smokey contralto vocal contrasted with Holloway's lighter soprano. Holloway recorded "When I'm Gone" in Detroit.
Chartsedit
Brenda Holloway versionedit
Released as a single in 1965, Holloway's version reached #25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and performed slightly better on the R&B chart reaching number 12. Holloway performed her version on the show Shivaree Video on YouTube. It was Holloway's second-biggest Motown chart hit, after Every Little Bit Hurts. Wells' version was released to the Motown compilation album, Vintage Stock.
^"Brenda Holloway Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^"Brenda Holloway Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
^"TOP R&B SINGLES OF 1965 (Ratings are based on chart action from Jan. 30 to Oct. 30.)" (PDF). Billboard. p. 40. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
March 22, 2024
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When I m Gone is a song written by Smokey Robinson and a single he produced twice one for early Motown star Mary Wells 1 and the other for fellow Motown vocalist Brenda Holloway 2 Holloway s version became a hit while Wells was aborted after the singer left the label in 1964 When I m Gone Single by Mary Wellsfrom the album Vintage StockB side Guarantee For a Lifetime Released1964RecordedHitsville USA 1964GenreSoul popLength2 16LabelMotownM 1061Songwriter s Smokey RobinsonProducer s Smokey RobinsonMary Wells singles chronology What s the Matter With You Baby with Marvin Gaye 1964 When I m Gone 1964 Whisper You Love Me Boy 1964 When I m Gone Single by Brenda Hollowayfrom the album AnthologyB side I ve Been Good To You ReleasedMarch 6 1965Recorded1964 Hitsville USA Detroit MichiganGenreR amp B SoulLength2 11LabelTamlaT 54111Songwriter s Smokey RobinsonProducer s Smokey RobinsonBrenda Holloway singles chronology I ll Always Love You 1964 When I m Gone 1965 Operator 1965 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Song information 1 2 Mary Wells exit and Brenda Holloway s arrival 2 Charts 2 1 Brenda Holloway version 2 1 1 Weekly charts 2 1 2 Year end charts 3 Personnel 3 1 Mary Wells version 3 2 Brenda Holloway version 4 ReferencesOverview editSong information edit When I m Gone was produced under a beat similar to Mary Wells big hit My Guy though this song included hand claps and was originally recorded by Wells In the song the narrator asks her cheating lover what would he do if she were to leave him explaining how everybody around them thinks they re happy in front of the public when inside the woman is suffering from the lover s behavior calling him a real Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde character She also complains that though he flirts with every girl that he sees he comes running back to her when they do him wrong Throughout the song the narrator threatens to leave him and in the end repeats the question she asks in the beginning what are you gonna do when I m gone Mary Wells exit and Brenda Holloway s arrival edit The song was one of the last records Mary Wells recorded while at Motown Fresh from the success of My Guy and with her Motown contract expiring the year of My Guy and its success Wells decided to terminate her contract with Motown complaining of Gordy refusing to give Wells the royalties she earned during her successful tenure at the label She argued that her Motown contract was invalid because she d signed with the company at the age of seventeen Due to the underage clause Motown allowed Wells contract to expire Had Wells not exited Motown When I m Gone would have been her next release the follow up to the million selling My Guy 1 The singer then headed to 20th Century Fox Records after being offered a 500 000 contract that also offered Wells to do movies Meanwhile Motown s latest new signed artist Brenda Holloway was releasing her first single Every Little Bit Hurts which shot to number 13 on the U S Billboard Hot 100 3 4 After Wells departed Motown eventually convinced Holloway to record some of Wells songs partially due to the fact that Gordy felt Holloway was the next Mary though both singers vocals differed from each other Wells deep smokey contralto vocal contrasted with Holloway s lighter soprano Holloway recorded When I m Gone in Detroit Charts editBrenda Holloway version edit Released as a single in 1965 Holloway s version reached 25 on the U S Billboard Hot 100 and performed slightly better on the R amp B chart reaching number 12 Holloway performed her version on the show Shivaree Video on YouTube It was Holloway s second biggest Motown chart hit after Every Little Bit Hurts Wells version was released to the Motown compilation album Vintage Stock Weekly charts edit Chart 1965 PeakpositionCanada Top Singles RPM 5 43US Billboard Hot 100 6 25US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 7 12 Year end charts edit Chart 1965 RankUS Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 8 44Personnel editMary Wells version edit Lead vocal by Mary Wells Background vocals by The Andantes Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersBrenda Holloway version edit Lead vocal by Brenda Holloway Background vocals by The Andantes Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony OrchestraReferences edit a b The Complete Motown Singles Vol 4 1964 CD liner notes New York Hip O Select Motown Universal Records The Complete Motown Singles Vol 5 1965 CD liner notes New York Hip O Select Motown Universal Records When I m Gone at AllMusic Whitburn Joel 2004 The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits 8th Edition Billboard Publications page 289 Top RPM Singles Issue 5672 RPM Library and Archives Canada Brenda Holloway Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Brenda Holloway Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard TOP R amp B SINGLES OF 1965 Ratings are based on chart action from Jan 30 to Oct 30 PDF Billboard p 40 Retrieved January 14 2022 via worldradiohistory com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title When I 27m Gone Motown song amp oldid 1180940926, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
