You're All I Need equals the debut of
Marvin Gaye &
Tammi Terrell in every way except chart position and newness. It reached number 60 on the pop charts, a good showing but 31 rungs lower than
United, their debut. It includes arguably their finest recording, "You're All I Need to Get By," a testament to their singing skills and the writing/producing talents of Nickolas Ashford &
Valerie Simpson -- and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is no slouch either. The urgent "Keep on Lovin' Me Honey" is the lesser of three single releases, but a quality cut just the same, thanks in part to the twang in
Tammi's voice on the uptempo pleader.
Johnny Bristol and Robert Beavers' "Baby Dontcha Worry" gets an update; Johnny & Jackey first recorded the chugger on Harvey Fuqua's Tri Phi label in 1962. As on all three releases,
Marvin and
Tammi perform one of
Tammi's solo cuts; in this case, "Come on and See Me" takes a backseat to the original. "Memory Chest," an overlooked number, is one of their most charming ballads. ~ Andrew Hamilton