B-side "Brainwasher-Pt 2" Format 7" single Genre Soul | Released 1968 Recorded Hitsville U.S.A. Length 2:58 | |
"What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" is a 1968 song that was a 1969 hit single by Jr. Walker & The All Stars. The single was one of Jr. Walker's most successful releases, becoming a hit on both the R&B and pop singles charts. "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)," written by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, and Vernon Bullock, made it into the top five on the Hot 100, and became Jr. Walker's second number one on the R&B charts. The song was also a hit in the UK in 1969, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. It remained in the chart for 12 weeks. The song was voted Top US Soul Record of 1969 and has sold over a million copies. Its extended intro and saxophone solo have influenced the works of David Sanborn, Clarence Clemons and Bobby Keys.
Alton Ellis also covered the song on his album Mr Soul of Jamaica. Many sources give the release date for this album as 1967. Many, such as Allmusic, question the year of release. The version released as a single is dated 1970. In 1986 instrumentalist Kenny G (with Ellis Hall on vocals) covered this tune on his 1986 album "Duotones".