Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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I’m Gonna Make You Love Me

First recorded by Dee Dee Warwick (US #88/R&B #13 1966).
Also recorded by Jerry Butler (1967), Jay & the Techniques (1968).
Hit versions by Madeline Bell (US #26/R&B #32 1968), Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations (US #2/R&B #2/UK #3 1968).

From the wiki: “Written by Philly Soul songwriters Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff (‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’, ‘Love Train’, ‘Now That We Found Love‘), and producer Jerry Ross (‘Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie‘, ‘Sunny‘), ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me’ was originally a Top-20 R&B hit for Dee Dee Warwick in 1966. It was released as the follow-up single to her Top-10 hit ‘I Want To Be With You’. Co-writer Ross produced the track while Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson provided background vocals. Warwick’s recording reached #13 R&B and crossed over to the Billboard Top 100 in December 1966.

“The song was later was covered by Madeline Bell, and first released by her on the 1967 album Bell’s A Poppin’. The arrangement was first offered to Dusty Springfield, who passed the song on to Bell, her friend and regular background vocalist. Springfield did sing backup vocals on Bell’s recording. Bell’s album was re-issued in 1968 ahead of the Supremes/Temptations, retitled I’m Gonna Make You Love Me with the now-title track released as the promotional single, becoming a Top-30 hit in America.

“Co-writer Ross would eventually produce ten different versions of ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me’. These included a version for Jerry Butler’s 1967 Soul Artistry album and another by Jay & the Techniques (‘Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie’) which was featured on that group’s 1968 album Love, Lost & Found. Ashford & Simpson sang background on all the versions of the song Ross produced. The Jay & the Techniques arrangement also featured Melba Moore.

“‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me’ was the lead single, released in November 1968, from the duets album, Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations. This version peaked for two weeks at #2 behind Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine‘ in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and at #3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1969.”

Jerry Butler, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (1967):

Madeline Bell, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (1968):

Jay & the Techniques, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (1968):

The Supremes & The Temptations, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (1968):