Do What You Gotta Do (Jimmy Webb song)

Al Wilson's version was released as a single in December 1967. It was produced by Marc Gordon and arranged by Marty Paich.^[1] For the week ending Jan 6, 1968, the single was bubbling under the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 127.^[2] By February 10, 1968, it was bubbling under at 103.^[3] The following week it had only moved up one place to 102,^[4] but at the same time, it was at No. 46 in the R&B chart.^[5] It peaked at No. 39 on March 9, 1968, and spent a total of 6 weeks on the R&B chart.^[6] In Canada it reached No. 85, March 30, 1968.^[7]

The B-side to "Do What You Gotta Do" was the composition by Willie Hutch, "Now I Know What Love Is". It was produced by Marc Gordon.^[8] It was one of a number of songs that Hutch wrote for Wilson, which included "Who Could Be Lovin' You" and "Getting Ready for Tomorrow". Hutch was also a Soul City label-mate of Wilson.^[9] It would eventually become a Northern soul hit and enduring favorite on the scene,^[10][11][12] possibly influencing some record sellers to list the record in auctions with "Now I Know What Love Is" as the A-side instead of its proper allocation as the B-side.^[13] It would appear on compilations such as Northern Soul from the City, released in 2004,^[14] and the Kev Roberts compiled Mastercuts Northern Soul, released in 2005.^[15]

Nina Simone's version was released in August 1968. The credited producer was Stroud Productions and Enterprises, Inc., and it was arranged and conducted by Horace Ott.^[16] It spent 5 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 83 on October 26, 1968.^[17] It was released double-sided together with "Ain't Got No, I Got Life" in the UK and reached No. 2 on the chart.^[18]