Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
1966 song by the Four Tops
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"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder, originally released in 1966 by the Four Tops via the Motown label.[2] In addition to co-writing the song, Wonder also instrumentally contributed drums to the track.
B-side"I Like Everything About You"
ReleasedMay 9, 1966[1]
RecordedApril 5, 1966[1]
VenueHitsville U.S.A., Detroit
| "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dutch picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Four Tops | ||||
| from the album On Top | ||||
| B-side | "I Like Everything About You" | |||
| Released | May 9, 1966[1] | |||
| Recorded | April 5, 1966[1] | |||
| Venue | Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriters | Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producer | Ivy Jo Hunter | |||
| Four Tops singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Cash Box described the song as a "hard-pounding, rhythmic, pop-R&B romancer all about a lucky guy who has finally found the gal that he’s always dreamed about."[3] Record World described it as a "teen beat love ode."[4]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
- Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson & Lawrence Payton
- Drums by Stevie Wonder
- Other instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
Chart performance
The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]
Cover versions
- Nick Kamen released a version in 1987, where it went to number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] Lola Borg of Smash Hits panned the song she described as an "outrage" to the original version and a "shocking business", adding it was "murdered" by Kamen who "reduce[d] it to utter mush".[7]
- The Band frequently performed the song as an encore, and recordings have been included on the reissues of their self-titled sophomore album, The Band; Rock of Ages; and the 2013 boxed set Live at the Academy of Music 1971.[8][9][10]
- Kiki Dee and Elton John did a duet cover on Dee's 1981 album Perfect Timing.[11]
- Susan Tedeschi covered it on her 2005 album Hope and Desire.[citation needed]
