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I actually pull these two out from time to time...The Isleys are one of my all time favorite groups, and their version has so much depth and soul...but I just hate that galloping percussion, LOL...I know it's just me, but it always sounded to me like he was singing while riding horseback, LOL....

The Wham version is done more like classic straightforward 60's-style Pop/R&B....

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I dunno, what do y'all think?

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Great song no matter who sings it!

I love the galloping percussion. I agree that it sounds like it's being sung on horseback, but I think that helps to make the song unique.

At any rate, I have to go with the Isleys as my favorite because of the vocals. Young George is just way too earnest where Ron is cool, coy, and playful. The delivery of the line "you oughta see how the other girls behave when you're not around" says it all for me.

Wham, but props to The Isleys for writing it.

oh lord, that's a tuff one.

I must admit the Wham version is special to me, I had the song (and the album) on non stop play when it came out.. Yo I was 19 and I never heard the Isley version before... but triggered by Wham I bought my first regular Isley album (beside some earlier greatest hits compilation) and worked my way back trough most of their catalouge over the following years. while I adore Rons vocals, I still have I to give a slight nod to Wham for the overall performance

Dancelot said:

oh lord, that's a tuff one.

I must admit the Wham version is special to me, I had the song (and the album) on non stop play when it came out.. Yo I was 19 and I never heard the Isley version before... but triggered by Wham I bought my first regular Isley album (beside some earlier greatest hits compilation) and worked my way back trough most of their catalouge over the following years. while I adore Rons vocals, I still have I to give a slight nod to Wham for the overall performance

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I kinda feel the same --Love Ron's vocal delivery for the song, but I dig Wham's overall performance...

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Wham... for sure!

AlexdeParis said:

Great song no matter who sings it!

I love the galloping percussion. I agree that it sounds like it's being sung on horseback, but I think that helps to make the song unique.

At any rate, I have to go with the Isleys as my favorite because of the vocals. Young George is just way too earnest where Ron is cool, coy, and playful. The delivery of the line "you oughta see how the other girls behave when you're not around" says it all for me.

This is the big difference to me. George is trying just a bit too hard.

But damn, I never imagined that he'd be getting such favorable comparisons to the Isley Brothers way back in '84 when I heard this song coming from my sister's bedroom! I always liked Wham, too, but I'm surprised not only that vocally he holds up, but even the production of this song still sounds pretty good. Can't say that about everything from the 80's