Gamble & Huff: selected hit songs written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, 1966-1971

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Songbook’s Gamble & Huff pages:

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All songs featured on this page were written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff except “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, ” which was written by Gamble, Huff, and Jerry Ross.

1966

I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Ross)*

The song was introduced by Dee Dee Warwick in 1966. Other early recordings include those by Jerry Butler, Madeline Bell, Aesop’s Fables, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations, and Jay & the Techniques.

Dee Dee Warwick with back vocals by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson — issued in November 1966 on the single Mercury 72638**, c/w “Yours Until Tomorrow” (Goffin & King) — produced by Jerry Ross, arranged by Jimmy Wisner — US singles chart success: #13 R&B, #88 Hot 100 in December 1966

On the corresponding UK single, the sides are reversed. The single (UK) Mercury MF 953, issued in December 1966, features “Yours Until Tomorrow” as the A-side and “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” as the B-side.

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B-side of the single (UK) Mercury MF 953, issued in December 1966, with “Yours Until Tomorrow” as the A-side

Jerry Butler — from the 1967 album Soul Artistry, Mercury Records SR 61105, SR-61105 (Stereo), MG 21105, MG-21105 (Mono)

Madeline Bell — originally released in November 1967 on her album Bell’s A Poppin’, and issued in January 1968 on the single Philips 40517, b/w “Picture Me Gone” (Taylor, Gorgoni) — Billboard Hot 100 singles chart success: #26 Hot 100, #32 R&B in April 1968

Madeline Bell — video performance, shown on a 1968 episode of Beat Club

Aesop’s Fables — issued in July 1968 on the single Cadet Concept 7005, b/w “They Go Out and Get It” — also released in 1969 on the LP (US, Canada) In Due Time, Cadet Concept LPS-323

discography:
single – 45cat.com, Discogs.com (group credited as “Aesops Fables”)
album – Discogs.com (group credited as “Aesop’s Fables”)

lip-sync performance, c. 1968

Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations — A recording of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” is included on their collaborative album Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, which was released on 8 November 1968. Less than two weeks later, a slightly shorter edit (2:56 vs. 3:05 on the album) was issued on the single Motown M 1137 (also M-1137, MOTOWN 1137, etc.), b/w “A Place in the Sun.” It became a top ten hit, peaking at #2 for two weeks in December that year.

album version

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Together (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff)

The Intruders — issued in April 1967 on the single Gamble Records G-205, b/w “Up and Down the Ladder” (Gamble, Huff) — “Together” became the first top ten Billboard R&B single for the Intruders (#9), and reached #48 on the Hot 100 pop singles chart.

Gladys Knight & the Pips — from the 1968 LP Silk N’ Soul, Soul ‎SS-711, Soul ‎SS711

Sunny & the Sunliners — from side one of their 1968 LP Little Brown Eyed Soul, Key-loc ‎KL-3005

The Jaggerz — from the 1969 album Introducing the Jaggerz, Gamble ‎SG 5006, Gamble ‎LP 5006; also issued in December 1969 on the single Gamble G238, as the B-side of “Let Me Be Your Man”

The Jaggerz are best known for their big 1970 hit “The Rapper.”

Tierra — issued in November 1980 on Boardwalk WS8 5702, b/w “Zoot Suit Boogie/In the Mood Theme” — reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in early 1981

Tony Strong & the Philly All Stars — from their 2013 tribute album Perform the Hits of the Intruders

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1967

Expressway to Your Heart (Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff)

The Soul Survivors — issued in July 1967 on the single Crimson Records CR-1010, b/w “Hey Gyp” (Donovan); also included on the 1967 Crimson Records album When the Whistle Blows Anything Goes (Discogs.com, RateYourMusic.com)

Wikipedia says:

“Expressway to Your Heart” was a #1 hit regionally in Philadelphia and New York in the fall of 1967, and the tune reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 nationally. “Expressway to Your Heart” spent 15 weeks in the charts and sold over one million copies.^[1]

(below) an extended version, of unknown source

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1968

Cowboys to Girls (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff)

The Intruders — issued in March 1968 on the single Gamble Records G-214, b/w “Turn the Hands of Time“

The recording features an arrangement by Bobby Martin. It became the best selling single by the group, their lone #1 Billboard R&B hit (one week, 11 May 1968), and their only crossover hit to break the top twenty (#6) of the Hot 100 pop chart. Gamble Records also released an Intruders album titled Cowboys to Girls in 1968, which includes “Cowboys to Girls” and “Turn the Hands of Time” as the first two tracks on side A, and nine other recordings.

1971

I Bet He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff)

The Intruders — Gamble Records single G 4016, issued in September 1971, b/w “Do You Remember Yesterday” (Linda Creed, K. Gamble, Thom Bell); produced by Gamble & Huff, featuring an arrangement by Bobby Martin; #20 R&B, the 18th top 40 hit by the group since 1966.

from Soul Train (TV series), Season 1, Episode 7, air date: 13 November 1971

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* On “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” songwriting credits — Although Billboard, on page 18 of its 12 November 1966 issue, and the labels of early recordings credited only “Gamble-Ross” (Kenny Gamble and Jerry Ross) as writers of the song, BMI presently credits Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Jerry Ross as the songwriters. On disagreements regarding the songwriting credits, Wikipedia says:

Most versions of the song credit the songwriting to Jerry Ross and Kenny Gamble, who were the only two writers named on original record labels. Some recordings also credit Jerry Williams as a third writer, although BMI and some other sources credit Leon Huff, rather than Williams.

** According to 45cat.com, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” is on the A-side of the US single Mercury 72638, and “Yours Until Tomorrow” is on the B-side. This order is confirmed in the 12 November 1966 issue of Billboard Magazine, where the single is announced on page 18, in the “Pop Spotlights” column. On the corresponding UK single, Mercury MF 953, the sides are reversed.