Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)

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B-side
  
"If You Don't Think"

Genre
  
Soul

Label
  
Atlantic

Released
  
November 1973

Length
  
3:28

Writer(s)
  
Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder

"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" is a song written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder. The song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967, but his version was not released as a single and did not appear on an album until 1977's anthology Looking Back. The most well-known version of this song is the 1973 release by Aretha Franklin, who had a million-selling, top 10 hit, on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard's R&B chart. The song reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1974. It became an RIAA gold record.

Contents

With this peak at number three, Franklin became the first artist in the history of the Hot 100 chart to have a hit song peak at each position from one to ten on the chart. To date, only three other artists have achieved this feat: Marvin Gaye in 1983, Madonna in 1996, and Taylor Swift in 2015. Aretha's version of the song was ranked by Billboard as the No. 11 song for 1974.

The song's subject tells of their abandonment by their partner, but declares their determination to contact and win their partner back.

Musicians

  • Aretha Franklin - lead vocals, acoustic piano
  • Donny Hathaway - electric piano
  • Chuck Rainey - bass
  • Kenneth Bichel - synthesizer
  • Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums
  • Joe Farrell - flute
  • Hugh McCracken - guitar
  • Gwen Guthrie - background vocals
  • Cissy Houston - background vocals
  • Margaret Branch - background vocals
  • Ann S. Clark - background vocals
  • Others

  • Eumir Deodato - arranger
  • Gene Orloff - concert master
  • Arif Mardin - producer
  • Cover versions

  • In 1983, Leo Sayer featured a cover on his album "Have You Ever Been in Love", and released it as a single.
  • The song became a hit again in 1984 when Luther Vandross released it as part of a medley with "Superstar". The Vandross medley peaked at No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Hot Black Singles chart.
  • In 1986, saxophonist Richard Elliot featured a cover on his album "Trolltown."
  • Basia recorded this song on her 1989 album London Warsaw New York; she had an adult contemporary chart hit with her version. The Basia video for "Until You Come Back to Me" featured footage shot in Seattle, with scenes including the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the landmark Paramount Theatre.
  • Miki Howard recorded the song for her 1989 self-titled album. Howard's version was an R&B hit in 1990 when it peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart.
  • Another remake was done by Bobby Caldwell on his 1995 album Soul Survivor. On the American Idol 3: Greatest Soul Hits album, Camile Velasco recorded this song.
  • Cyndi Lauper's version of "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" was the second single from her 2003 album At Last. It was a promo-only release. A live version is sung by Lauper on her Live at Last DVD.
  • The Rippingtons have a version on their 2005 CD release Wild Card.
  • Dionne Bromfield covered this song on her debut album Introducing Dionne Bromfield in 2009.
  • R&B stylist Milira covered the song on her 1990 debut release, Milira.
  • References

    Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) Wikipedia