kremlinshadow said:

I prefer the J5 version - but the finished version this one in post is the demo - the finished version is better with not such long drawn out vocals & can be found on 'Looking back to yesterday'.

Yeah this version is much better. This definitely goes toe to toe with Stevie's.

bboy87 said:

All I know is Motown needs to stop playing around and release J5's version of "If You Really Love Me"

they recorded that? do you know what other unreleased songs they recorded of stevies and other titles of songs they were supposed (or did) record together?

[Edited 7/31/10 9:52am]

mimi07 said:

bboy87 said:

All I know is Motown needs to stop playing around and release J5's version of "If You Really Love Me"

they recorded that? do you know what other unreleased songs they recorded of stevies and other titles of songs they were supposed (or did) record together?

[Edited 7/31/10 9:52am]

A Place In The Sun

Heaven Help Us All

Fingertips

For Once In My Life

If You Really Love Me

Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday

I think there are more...

IMO, it's Stevie's version and it's not even close. The J5 version is certainly funky and more mature, but I believe Stevie's vocal delivery to be more appropriate for the subject matter. It's a song about a teen engaging in puppy love, it's supposed to be euphoric, it's supposed to be ecstatic. You remember how you felt when you had YOUR first love? I do, Stevie does, and he remind us of it for two minutes. He makes us long to feel that way again, to not want the song to end-the love to end. High school nostalgia:-(

Anyhoo besides that I also dig the arrangements(the idiosyncratic celeste relaying the melody via the chorus) Joe Messina taking that typical 60's "chicken-scratching" guitar style & adding a bit more flavor and raunch to it. And of course James Jamersons memorable bassline. It's melodious and refined, filled with wonderful improvisation yet perfectly harmonized together with the music. The backing vocals are great & that tuba is a wonderful choice. Altogether as someone previously said, Stevie's had the better arrangements, a more memorable delivery & bassline. Stevie's ftw.

Stevie a better would be

I Don't Know Why I Love You or what about With a Childs Heart?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Stevie a better would be

I Don't Know Why I Love You or what about With a Childs Heart?

Stevie > J5 on "I Don't Know" BUT...

Michael finally did get one on Stevie with "With a Child's Heart" for sure!

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Stevie a better would be

I Don't Know Why I Love You or what about With a Childs Heart?

Stevie > J5 on "I Don't Know" BUT...

Michael finally did get one on Stevie with "With a Child's Heart" for sure!

My Cherie Amoure and Never Had a Dream COme True

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

Stevie > J5 on "I Don't Know" BUT...

Michael finally did get one on Stevie with "With a Child's Heart" for sure!

My Cherie Amoure and Never Had a Dream COme True

Stevie on both lol

Though I do love their take on "Never Had a Dream Come True". MJ & Jermaine out in front lol

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

My Cherie Amoure and Never Had a Dream COme True

Stevie on both lol

Though I do love their take on "Never Had a Dream Come True". MJ & Jermaine out in front lol

I think that's it, lol.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

Stevie on both lol

Though I do love their take on "Never Had a Dream Come True". MJ & Jermaine out in front lol

I think that's it, lol.

I do love the J5's/MJ's takes on Stevie's work though.

It's just that for me Stevie had a clearer edge...to me lol