Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

How Can I Forget

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Released
  
July 16, 1968

Genre
  
Soul

Format
  
7" single

Length
  
1:48

A-side
  
"Please Return Your Love to Me"

Recorded
  
Hitsville USA; June 29, 1968

"How Can I Forget" was originally recorded as a love ballad by Motown group The Temptations in 1968 and was re-recorded in a psychedelic soul/funk styling by fellow Motown artist, Marvin Gaye in 1969. His version, released on Motown's first subsidiary, Tamla, became a modest hit that almost reached the Top 40 of the pop charts while peaking at number-eighteen on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart in 1970. Marvin's recording was featured on his That's the Way Love Is album. The song is also notable for being (at the time) one of the shortest recordings for both The Tempts and for Gaye; recorded when most songs are over three minutes, its length is just under two.

Contents

The Temptations' version

  • Lead vocals by Paul Williams
  • Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
  • Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
  • Marvin Gaye's version

  • Lead (and additional) background vocals by Marvin Gaye
  • Background vocals by The Originals: Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Henry Dixon and C.P. Spencer
  • Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
  • Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
  • Produced by Norman Whitfield
  • References

    How Can I Forget Wikipedia