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{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
| name = Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
| Artist = [[Marvin Gaye]]
| cover = Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye.jpg
| alt =
⚫
| Album = [[M.P.G.]]
⚫
| type = single
| Cover = Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye.jpg
| artist = [[Marvin Gaye]]
⚫
| B-side = "[[Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)]]"
⚫
| album = [[M.P.G.]]
| Released = April 1969
⚫
| B-side = [[Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)]]
⚫
| Format = 7" single
| Recorded = [[Hitsville USA]] (Studio A); 1969
| released = April 2, 1969
| recorded = [[Hitsville USA]] (Studio A); 1969
⚫
| Genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| Length = 2:55
| studio =
| venue =
⚫
| Label = [[Motown|Tamla]]<br><small>T 54181</small>
⚫
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
⚫
| Writer = [[Norman Whitfield]] <br /> [[Barrett Strong]] <br /> [[Janie Bradford]]
| length = 2:55
⚫
| Producer = Norman Whitfield
⚫
| label = [[Motown|Tamla]]<br><small>T 54181</small>
⚫
| Last single = "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]"<br />(1968)
⚫
| writer = {{hlist|[[Norman Whitfield]]|[[Barrett Strong]]|[[Janie Bradford]]}}
| This single = "'''Too Busy Thinking About My Baby'''"<br />(1969)
⚫
| producer = Norman Whitfield
⚫
| Next single = "[[That's the Way Love Is (The Isley Brothers song)|That's the Way Love Is]]" <br />(1969)
⚫
| prev_title = [[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]
| prev_year = 1968
⚫
| next_title = [[That's the Way Love Is (The Isley Brothers song)|That's the Way Love Is]]
| next_year = 1969
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|eyZgAbXfsL4|"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
}}


"'''Too Busy Thinking About My Baby'''" is a [[Motown]] song written by [[Norman Whitfield]], [[Barrett Strong]], and [[Janie Bradford]]. The song was first recorded by [[The Temptations]] as a track on their 1966 album ''[[Gettin' Ready]]''. [[Eddie Kendricks]] sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. [[Jimmy Ruffin]] also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.
"'''Too Busy Thinking About My Baby'''" is a [[Motown]] song written by [[Norman Whitfield]], [[Barrett Strong]], and [[Janie Bradford]]. The song was first recorded by [[The Temptations]] as a track on their 1966 album ''[[Gettin' Ready]]''. [[Eddie Kendricks]] sings lead on the recording, which was produced by [[Norman Whitfield|Whitfield]]. [[Jimmy Ruffin]] also recorded a version with [[The Temptations]] providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.


Three years later, Motown artist [[Marvin Gaye]] recorded a cover version of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" as a follow-up single to his 1968 hit "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]", another Whitfield/Strong composition. Whitfield produced Gaye's version as well, which featured background vocals by [[The Andantes]]. The song's lyrics feature the male narrator discussing how he has "no time to discuss weather" or "think about what money can buy", because when he thinks about his woman, "I ain't got time for nothing else".
Three years later, Motown artist [[Marvin Gaye]] recorded a cover version of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" as a follow-up single to his 1968 hit "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]", another [[Norman Whitfield|Whitfield]]/[[Barrett Strong|Strong]] composition, which was a trans-atlantic top five hit. Whitfield produced Gaye's version as well, which featured background vocals by [[The Andantes]]. The song's lyrics feature the male narrator discussing how he has "no time to discuss weather" or "think about what money can buy", because when he thinks about his woman, "I ain't got time for nothing else".


In terms of chart success, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was Gaye's second biggest hit of the 1960s, after "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" peaked at number four on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the [[United States]], and remained at the number one position on ''Billboard's'' [[R&B singles chart|Black Singles Chart]] for six consecutive weeks, from the weeks of, June 7 until July 12, 1969,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=225}}</ref> with sales totaling 1.5 million copies.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} The single was the top-selling R&B single of the year,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=804}}</ref> and was the first release from Gaye's 1969 studio album ''[[M.P.G.]]''. The single also reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart.
In terms of chart success, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was Gaye's second biggest hit of the 1960s, after "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" peaked at No.4 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the [[United States]], and remained at the No.1 position on ''Billboard's'' [[R&B singles chart|Black Singles Chart]] for six consecutive weeks, from the weeks of, June 7 until July 12, 1969,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=225}}</ref> with sales close to two million records. The single was the top-selling R&B single of the year,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=804}}</ref> and also reached No.14 on Billboard’s year-end charts. The tune was the first release from Gaye's 1969 studio album ''[[M.P.G.]]''. The single also reached No.5 in the UK Singles Chart.

''[[Cash Box]]'' described it as a "medium paced rock effort" with a "solid vocal" and "a phenomenal production using [[tom-tom]] effectiveness to stoke up dance fan fires."<ref>{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=April 19, 1969|page=22|accessdate=2021-12-08|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/CB-1969-04-19.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}</ref>


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
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===Marvin Gaye version===
===Marvin Gaye version===
* Lead vocals by [[Marvin Gaye]]
* Lead vocals by [[Marvin Gaye]]
* Background Vocals by [[The Andantes]]: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps
* Background vocals by [[The Andantes]]: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps
* Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
* Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers


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{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1969)
! Chart (1969)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
! Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url= |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1969-06-02 |accessdate=2017-04-04}}</ref>
|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |url=http://Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1969-06-02 |access-date=2017-04-04}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|23
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|-
|-
|UK Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|title=officialcharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11567/marvin-gaye/|website=officialcharts.com|accessdate=December 7, 2021}}</ref>
|UK
| style="text-align:center;"|5
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|-
|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[R&B]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
|US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B singles]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|-
|U.S. [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>[http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690621.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 21, 1969]</ref>
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100 <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690621.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 21, 1969 |access-date=January 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012736/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690621.html |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|5
|}
|}
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1969)
! Chart (1969)
! Rank
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|-
|UK
| UK
| style="text-align:center;"|43
| style="text-align:center;"|43
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1969.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-21}}</ref>
| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1969.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2017-07-21}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>[http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969]</ref>
| US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969 |access-date=January 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125055422/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|53
| style="text-align:center;"|53
|-
|-
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==Other cover versions==
==Other cover versions==
⚫
* [[Elkie Brooks]] recorded the song on her 1981 hit album ''[[Pearls (Elkie Brooks album)|Pearls]]''.
⚫
* [[Mark Oliver Everett|Mark Everett]] recorded a cover of the song for his 1985 debut ''[[Bad Dude in Love]]''
* [[Al Kooper]] recorded the song (as "Too Busy Thinkin' 'bout My Baby") on his 1969 Columbia album ''[[You Never Know Who Your Friends Are]]''.
* [[Al Kooper]] recorded the song (as "Too Busy Thinkin' 'bout My Baby") on his 1969 Columbia album ''[[You Never Know Who Your Friends Are]]''.
* [[The Young Vandals]] recorded the song for the Isley Brothers' T-Neck label. It peaked at #46 on the R&B charts in 1970. On lead vocals was [[Damon Harris]], who would replace [[Eddie Kendricks]] in the Temptations the next year.
* [[The Young Vandals]] cut the track for [[The Isley Brothers]]' T-Neck label. It peaked at No.46 on the R&B charts in 1970. On lead vocals was [[Damon Harris]], who would replace [[Eddie Kendricks]] in the Temptations the next year.
* "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was also covered by the New York-based rock group [[Mardi Gras (music group)]] in the early 1970s, and released as a single on Map City Records. It climbed high up the charts across Europe in 1971–72.
* "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was also covered by the New York-based rock group [[Mardi Gras (music group)|Mardi Gras]] in the early 1970s, and released as a single on Map City Records. It climbed high up the charts across Europe in 1971–72.
⚫
* [[Elkie Brooks]] included it on her 1981 hit album ''[[Pearls (Elkie Brooks album)|Pearls]]''.
⚫
* In 1995 [[The Manhattan Transfer]] performed the song on their album ''[[Tonin']]'' with [[Phil Collins]]. This version reached 27 on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] chart in the United States. In Canada, the song reached number 58 on the pop singles chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9008&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9008.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9008|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1995-05-15 |accessdate=2018-05-31}}</ref> and spent two weeks at number six on the Adult Contemporary chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9202&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9202.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9202|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1995-06-26 |accessdate=2018-05-31}}</ref>
⚫
* [[Mark Oliver Everett|Mark Everett]] put it on his 1985 debut ''[[Bad Dude in Love]]''
⚫
* In 1995, [[the Manhattan Transfer]] recorded the song for their album ''[[Tonin']]'' with [[Phil Collins]]. This version No.27 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart in the United States. In Canada, the song reached No.58 on the pop singles chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9008&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9008.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9008|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1995-05-15 |access-date=2018-05-31}}</ref> and No.6 on the Adult Contemporary chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9202&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9202.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9202|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1995-06-26 |access-date=2018-05-31}}</ref>
* A version performed by [[Ted Hawkins]] was included on his 1995 album, ''Songs from Venice Beach''.
* The song was later covered by British pop group, [[Steps (group)|Steps]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]s MotownMania. It was the second A-side for their 2001 single, "[[It's the Way You Make Me Feel (song)|It's The Way You Make Me Feel]]", and appeared on their album ''[[The Last Dance (Steps album)|The Last Dance]]''.
* The song was later covered by British pop group, [[Steps (group)|Steps]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]s MotownMania. It was the second A-side for their 2001 single, "[[It's the Way You Make Me Feel (song)|It's The Way You Make Me Feel]]", and appeared on their album ''[[The Last Dance (Steps album)|The Last Dance]]''.
* [[Phil Collins]] re-recorded a cover during the sessions of his 2010 album ''[[Going Back (Phil Collins album)|Going Back]]''
* [[Phil Collins]] re-recorded a cover during the sessions of his 2010 album ''[[Going Back (Phil Collins album)|Going Back]]''.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://secondhandsongs.com/work/30020/versions List of cover versions of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"] at SecondHandSongs.com
* {{MetroLyrics song|marvin-gaye|too-busy-thinking-about-my-baby}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->


{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Marvin Gaye}}
{{Marvin Gaye}}
{{Marvin Gaye singles}}
{{Marvin Gaye singles}}
{{Elkie Brooks}}
{{Elkie Brooks}}
{{Al Kooper}}
{{Al Kooper}}
{{Steps}}
{{Steps songs}}
{{Phil Collins}}
{{Phil Collins}}
{{The Manhattan Transfer}}
{{The Manhattan Transfer}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1966 singles]]
[[Category:1966 singles]]
[[Category:1969 singles]]
[[Category:1969 singles]]
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[[Category:The Temptations songs]]
[[Category:The Temptations songs]]
[[Category:Jimmy Ruffin songs]]
[[Category:Jimmy Ruffin songs]]
[[Category:The Manhattan Transfer songs]]
[[Category:Motown singles]]
[[Category:Motown singles]]
[[Category:Tamla Records singles]]
[[Category:Eels (band) songs]]
[[Category:Eels (band) songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield]]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 10 February 2024

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album M.P.G.
B-side"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"
ReleasedApril 2, 1969
RecordedHitsville USA (Studio A); 1969
GenreSoul
Length2:55
LabelTamla
T 54181
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
(1968) 		"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
(1969) 		"That's the Way Love Is"
(1969)
Audio video
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" on YouTube

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.

Three years later, Motown artist Marvin Gaye recorded a cover version of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" as a follow-up single to his 1968 hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", another Whitfield/Strong composition, which was a trans-atlantic top five hit. Whitfield produced Gaye's version as well, which featured background vocals by The Andantes. The song's lyrics feature the male narrator discussing how he has "no time to discuss weather" or "think about what money can buy", because when he thinks about his woman, "I ain't got time for nothing else".

In terms of chart success, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was Gaye's second biggest hit of the 1960s, after "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" peaked at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and remained at the No.1 position on Billboard's Black Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks, from the weeks of, June 7 until July 12, 1969,[1] with sales close to two million records. The single was the top-selling R&B single of the year,[2] and also reached No.14 on Billboard’s year-end charts. The tune was the first release from Gaye's 1969 studio album M.P.G.. The single also reached No.5 in the UK Singles Chart.

Cash Box described it as a "medium paced rock effort" with a "solid vocal" and "a phenomenal production using tom-tom effectiveness to stoke up dance fan fires."[3]

Personnel

[edit]

Temptations version

[edit]

Jimmy Ruffin version

[edit]
  • Lead vocals by Jimmy Ruffin
  • Background vocals by David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams
  • Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Marvin Gaye version

[edit]
  • Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye
  • Background vocals by The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps
  • Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Chart history

[edit]

Other cover versions

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 225.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 804.
  3. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 19, 1969. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". 1969-06-02. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  5. ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  7. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 21, 1969". Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  10. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1995-05-15. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1995-06-26. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
[edit]
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