B-side "Don't Leave Me" Recorded 1959 | Released 1959 Label United Artists | |
Writer(s) Tyran Carlo, Gwen Fuqua, Berry Gordy, Jr., Marv Johnson | ||
"You Got What It Takes" is a 1959 single by Marv Johnson. In the US it reached #2 on the Black Singles chart, and #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1960. In the UK Singles Chart it reached a high of #7. The original recording of You Got What It Takes was by Bobby Parker on Vee-Jay 279 in 1958. Parker claims to have written the song, but later cover recordings credit Berry Gordy, Gwen Gordy, Billy Davis, and sometimes Marv Johnson.
Other recordings
The song was released under the title "You've Got What It Takes" by The Lana Sisters (featuring a young Dusty Springfield) as a B side in 1960. A 1967 cover of the song by The Dave Clark Five reached #7 in the United States and #28 in the UK. A rock and roll cover by Showaddywaddy reached #2 in the UK in 1977. On their 1967 album, United, duet performers Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell recorded an uptempo soul version and included a false ending.