I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

Album: Diana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
Charted: 3 2
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Songfacts®:

  • This was credited to "Diana Ross and The Supremes with The Temptations." It was a confluence of the top male and female Motown groups. It was the first duet by Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations (it was one of their most popular duet hits but they never performed it live), and also the second non-Motown cover song to be a major Motown hit. The first was the Four Tops' hit "If I Were A Carpenter" in 1967.
  • This song was previously a hit for Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne Warwick's sister) in 1967; her version only reached #88. Before this was a hit for Diana Ross and the Supremes with the Temptations, a version by Madeline Bell reached #32 in the US in 1968.
  • Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff wrote this song along with Gamble's manager and songwriting partner Jerry Ross. It was an early hit for Gamble and Huff, who went on to form Philadelphia International records and work on hits like "Back Stabbers" and "Me And Mrs. Jones." Gamble and Huff re-used the lyrics, "I'm gonna shower you with love and affection, look out, it's comin' in your direction" in "Expressway (To Your Heart)," which they wrote for the Soul Survivors earlier in 1967.
  • For this song, Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks share the lead vocals, but Otis Williams does the spoken interlude with Ross.
  • Other artists who have covered this song include Nick DeCaro, the Lettermen, Play and Chris Trousdale, and Clodagh Rodgers. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for all above

Comments: 5

  • Moanin' Lisa from Chillicothe Mo.Way back in 1968, I was in grade school, but remember this hit got lots of airplay in the Kansas City area where I'm from. Lots of memories. Plus, it was my parent's favorite song. My 2nd grade teacher, Miss Coody, used to hum this almost all day in the winter of '68 & nearly drove us tots insane! It certainly was an infectious melody & great big hit. I still love The Supremes by the way.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5th 1969, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" by the Supremes with the Temptations peaked at #2 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on December 1st, 1968 and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    It also reached #2 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and #3 in the United Kingdom...
    The two weeks it was at #2 on the Top 100 & R&B charts, the #1 spot was held by fellow Motown act, Marvin Gaye, with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".
  • Camille from Toronto, OhFabulous collaboration between the Supremes and the Temptations.
  • John from Nashville, TnCo-writer Kenny Gamble would later form Philadelphia International Records, home of such millon-sellers as "Love Train" (the O'Jays), "Me And Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul), and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes). Philadelphia International replaced Motown as the r&b label of the 70s.
  • Kristin from Bessemer, AlThis song was also recorded by an obscure group called Aesop's Fables on the Cadet Concept label.
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