For Once in My Life
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"For Once in My Life" is pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 (see 1967 in music). The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations recorded slow-ballad versions of the song.
The most familiar and successful version of "For Once in My Life" is uptempo hit version by Stevie Wonder, recorded immediately after DuShon's original. Wonder's version, issued on Motown's Tamla label in 1968 (see 1968 in music) which was a number-two hit in the United States in late 1968 and early 1969.
History
Jean DuShon version
Jean DuShon had originally been tapped by Ron Miller to demo "For Once in My Life", a song about the joy of finding the right romantic partner, as he was writing it. Miller was impressed by DuShon's rendition of the song, and she released her version as a single on Chess Records' Cadet label. Motown CEO Berry Gordy found out that Miller, a Motown staff writer, had given the song to an outside artist, and had Miller immediately make the song available for Motown artists Stevie Wonder and The Temptations to record. Meanwhile, DuShon's version made no significant impact on the singles charts Hamilton, Andrew. "Jean DuShon". Allmusic.com Retrieved from http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39vyxd7bjold on June 18, 2006..Stevie Wonder version
Stevie Wonder's version of "For Once in My Life" was recorded at about the same time as The Temptations' (summer 1967). However, Berry Gordy did not like Wonder's version, which, an upbeat rendition produced by Henry Cosby. Gordy vetoed the single's release, and the recording was shelved. Billie Jean Brown, the head of the Quality Control department, finally coerced Gordy into allowing Wonder's version to be released in October 1968. Posner, Gerald (2002). Motown : Music, Money, Sex, and Power. New York: Random House. ISBN 037-550062-6.Contrary to Gordy's instincts, "For Once in My Life" was a highly successful record, peaking at number-two on both the Billboard Pop Singles and Billboard R&B Singles (it was held off from the number-one spot on each chart by another Motown single Gordy had originally vetoed, Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It through the Grapevine"). "For Once in My Life", issued by Tamla with "Angie Girl" as its b-side, was later included as the title track on Wonder's For Once in My Life album.
The Temptations version
The Temptations' version was done in 1967 for their pop standards based album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood. Baritone singer Paul Williams sings the lead vocal on the song, and it resultantly became his showcase number in the Temptations' live shows. Williams' most famous performance of the number was during The Supremes and Temptations' TCB television special in 1968, a performance cited as the apex of Williams' career.Tony Bennett version
Also in 1967, "For Once in My Life" became one of Tony Bennett's more successful forays into contemporary songs. His version of the song peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, and was the title track of his album For Once in My Life. "For Once in My Life" remained in Bennett's concert repetoire into the 2000s.Notes
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