Peak
8
Weeks
13
Score
2,218
Chart Year
1968
This was written and produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, who worked on much of the material for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Motown founder Berry Gordy wasn't impressed with the Ashford & Simpson songwriting duo after hearing their breakout hit, Ray Charles' "Let's Go Get Stoned." He told them Motown was all about class acts like Diana Ross, the Temptations and Marvin Gaye. The couple, however, wouldn't take no for an answer. They returned home, locked themselves in a room and didn't emerge until they were ready to wow Gordy with "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing." The song explains how it's better to have loved ones nearby rather than materialistic items and memories as totems. Shortly after recording this song, Tammi Terrell collapsed onstage during a performance with Gaye in 1967. The diagnosis was a brain tumor. She died March 16, 1970. >> Donnie and Marie Osmond recorded this in 1977. Their version hit #21 in the US. This was used in TV commercials for Just For Men hair coloring and for Mercury vehicles. >> Aretha Franklin recorded this for her 1974 album Let Me In Your Life and won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Ooh, baby Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby Ain't nothing like the real thing No, no, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby Ain't nothing like the real thing Oh honey, I got your picture hangin' on the wall But it can't see or come to me when I call your name I realize it's just a picture inside a frame Ooh, I read your letters when you're not near me But they don't move me, and they don't groove me like when I hear Your sweet voice whispering in my ear Don'cha know, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby Ain't nothing like the real thing I played my game, a fantasy I pretend, but I know in reality I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me No other sound is quite the same as your name No touch can do half as much to make me feel better So, let's stay together I got some memories to look back on And though they help me when you're gone I'm well aware nothin' can take the place of your being there Oh, so glad we got the real thing, baby So glad we got the real thing Oh, Marvin, so good, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, so good Ain't nothing like the real thing Talk to me, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, oh I'm so glad Ain't nothing like the real thing
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 13, 1968 | 75 | 51 |
| 2 | Apr 20, 1968 | 56 | 70 |
| 3 | Apr 27, 1968 | 39 | 87 |
| 4 | May 4, 1968 | 25 | 101 |
| 5 | May 11, 1968 | 24 | 102 |
| 6 | May 18, 1968 | 14 | 112 |
| 7 | May 25, 1968 | 8 | 118 |
| 8 | Jun 1, 1968 | 8 | 118 |
| 9 | Jun 8, 1968 | 11 | 115 |
| 10 | Jun 15, 1968 | 11 | 115 |
| 11 | Jun 22, 1968 | 23 | 103 |
| 12 | Jun 29, 1968 | 23 | 103 |
| 13 | Jul 6, 1968 | 36 | 90 |