"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Question

[Com King]

Hi, I'd like to know all the artists who performed this song.
Who composed it and who first sang it?

Please give me all info (Year, Label if you know it).

[Disco Funk]

Ain't No Mountain High Enough was written by Ashford and Simpson. The earliest version I know was by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Diana Ross did it as her first solo single. And Inner Life did a version in the late 70s/early 80s.

If you need any other examples, you can also check out allmusic.com. Do a search by Song.

Disco Funk

[Bernie]

Or this.

[Com King]

Disco Funk would you have the year of release of Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrel versions, because I don't find this track on any Marvin Gaye LP.

I'd be interested on the year of release and name of the album of Ashford & Simpson (Have they recorded it as I'm a fan of Ashford & Simpson and don't know their recording of this track), Diana Ross, and Jocelyn Brown (?) versions..

[DISCODISK]

Originally Posted by Com King

Disco Funk would you have the year of release of Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrel versions, because I don't find this track on any Marvin Gaye LP.

you wont find this on any of marvins solo albums its on the l.p 'united'- marvin gaye & tammi terrell released aug 67 in the u.s single was earlier mar 67
a really nice film of this [recorded at the funfair videoscooter ] is available on marvins new d v d 'the real thing which i picked up monday, well reccomended to marvin fans.
aint no mountain is going through a revival in soul clubs in the u.k

[remicks]

*****

Very interesting .


Do I have any validity in my complaint about this duet between Marvin and Tammi .... the harmony hurts my ears . Harshly squawky??? I believe it's because Marvin is singing too high .... maybe its the song itself .... the delivery is more that of a man and a woman shouting over each other .... than trying to be congruent

But then I feel that way about every Marvin Gaye duet with the ladies. There's not a one I hear as pleasing ....

Which is a shame because I have the highest regard for Marvin Gaye . I love his voice when he's solo ......

:roll: :roll:

It's not about the song itself as I listen regularly to The Boystown Gang 's version ......


*****

[Com King]

So am I right saying Ashford and Simpson composed the track for Marvin Gaye, as they were doing at Motown at that time? Then The track was covered by Diana Ross, then by Inner Life?

[FrontPage22]

Yes you would...Diana's was a complete rework though. Slowed down with spoken word etc. Very Babs-by-way-of-Motown.

The Inner Life version sticks closer to the original tune's upbeat verses/chorus concept. The Garage Mix is a stormer in every sense. The tune that actually first took me from really commercial disco into more underground stuff...

[Nano]

With all due respect remicks, Marvin Gaye was THE soul male singer for duets, in Motown or anywhere else. The guy was just perfect for the ladies. And Tammi Terrell! Maybe she's not so incredible alone, but the two together are just heaven to my ears! 8)

Their version of "Ain't no mountain high enough" is definitive, as with many other songs they did ("You're all I need to get by" and "Your precious love" are just two examples).

Diana's version of "Ain't no mountain..." is an interesting re-arrangement, but her vocals are weak.

[Pierre Declercq]

Originally Posted by Nano

With all due respect remicks, Marvin Gaye was THE soul male singer for duets, in Motown or anywhere else. The guy was just perfect for the ladies. And Tammi Terrell! Maybe she's not so incredible alone, but the two together are just heaven to my ears! 8)
Their version of "Ain't no mountain high enough" is definitive, as with many other songs they did ("You're all I need to get by" and "Your precious love" are just two examples).

Diana's version of "Ain't no mountain..." is an interesting re-arrangement, but her vocals are weak.

Originally Posted by remicks

*****
Do I have any validity in my complaint about this duet between Marvin and Tammi .... the harmony hurts my ears . Harshly squawky??? I believe it's because Marvin is singing too high .... maybe its the song itself .... the delivery is more that of a man and a woman shouting over each other .... than trying to be congruent
But then I feel that way about every Marvin Gaye duet with the ladies. There's not a one I hear as pleasing ....

Yes it's true, I agree with you. I always thought the same. The Gaye/Terrell duets are disappointing.
My favourite versions of «You're all I need to get by» are
Non-disco: Dionne Warwick
Disco: Gloria Gaynor.
Do other disco versions of «Ain't No Mountain high enough» exist besides Boys Town Gang and Inner Life versions ?

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Yes, there's more...

A great version of it done by Paris Red, 1992 - SONY Music/Dance Pool
The 12" has 2 different mixes. And I did a mix, with additional rythmn overdubs, for Hot Tracks/NRG 4 The 90's Series.

[discokicks]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

Yes, there's more...

A great version of it done by Paris Red, 1992 - SONY Music/Dance Pool
The 12" has 2 different mixes. And I did a mix, with additional rythmn overdubs, for Hot Tracks/NRG 4 The 90's Series.

A great remix too! Thanks Stephen for taking out those floor-clearing dropouts!

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by discokicks

A great remix too! Thanks Stephen for taking out those floor-clearing dropouts!

My pleasure!
Glenn Cattanaugh had taught me his "Kentucky Multi-track" method, and I used it to do those overdubs.
But everything is lined-up by ear. A mind-numbing experience, after a few hours!