What's Easy for Two Is Hard for One
| "What's Easy for Two Is Hard for One" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Mary Wells | ||||
| from the album Mary Wells' Greatest Hits | ||||
| B-side | "You Lost the Sweetest Boy" | |||
| Released | 1963 | |||
| Recorded | 1963 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter | Smokey Robinson | |||
| Producer | Smokey Robinson | |||
| Mary Wells singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"What's Easy for Two Is Hard for One" (also known as "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One") is a song written and produced by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by singer Mary Wells for the Motown label.[1]
Song information
[edit | edit source]In this song, the narrator is longing for a longtime partnership with a suitor and constantly begs the man to "take her to the preacher man" in hopes the couple does "what should be done" because "what two can easily do is so hard to be done by one".
Release and reaction
[edit | edit source]Released in mid-1963, the song returned Wells to the top 30 where it peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #8 R&B).[1][2] Wells covered the song at least two more times.
Covers
[edit | edit source]"What's Easy for Two Is Hard For One" is one of the most covered Motown songs within the company.
- The Temptations recorded a version in 1965. Remained unreleased until 1999.[3]
- The Marvelettes recorded a version in 1966. It was released in 1968 (#114 U.S. Pop).[4]
- Connie Haines released a version in 1966.[5]
- Barbara Randolph recorded a version in 1966.[5]
- Lulu recorded a version for Decca Records in 1964.[6]
- The Intruders recorded a version for their 1974 album, Energy of Love.
Personnel
[edit | edit source]Mary Wells' version
[edit | edit source]- Lead vocals by Mary Wells
- Backing vocals by The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
Temptations' version
[edit | edit source]- Lead vocals by Paul Williams
- Backing vocals by Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
Connie Haines' version
[edit | edit source]- Lead vocals by Connie Haines
- Backing vocals by The Andantes
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Marvelettes' version
[edit | edit source]- Lead vocals by Wanda Young
- Backing vocals by The Andantes
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b The Complete Motown Singles Vol 3: 1963 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
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- ^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol 8: 1968 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
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