On this day in music history: October 15, 1968 - For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder is released. Written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden, it is the seventh pop and twelfth R&B top hit for the Motown superstar. Written in 1965 by Motown staff songwriters Miller and Murden, it is originally composed as a ballad. The song is first recorded by singer Barbara McNair, and also by Jean DuShon whose version will be released as a single by Chess Records in 1966, though neither version will make any significant impact. The first male artist who will cut the song is actor Jack Soo ( Detective Nick Yemana of Barney Miller), signed to Motown in 1965. Soo will cut the song in a slow pop ballad style. His version will not be released and remains in Motowns tape archives to this day. The Temptations will record For Once In My Life in 1967 for their The Temptations In A Mellow Mood album with Paul Williams on lead vocals. Around this time, singer Tony Bennett will record the song, and will become a part of his live performance repertoire for the next forty years. Having heard previously recorded versions of Life, Stevie Wonder will ask Miller if he can record the song in a dramatically different and uptempo style, to which he will agree. The basic track for Stevie Wonders version is recorded at Motowns Studio B (the former Golden World Studios located in the Donovan Building in downtown Detroit) on January 18, 1968 with members of The Funk Brothers providing musical backing. Wonder will overdub his initial lead vocal the next day on January 19, 1968 at Studio A, with the horns and strings added on January 25, 1968. Wonders initial version will be rejected by Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr., and the master is shelved. When work begins on a new Stevie Wonder album later in 1968, For Once In My Life will be pulled from the vault, with background vocals by The Originals and the Andantes added on August 28, 1968. Wonder will overdub the songs signature harmonica break on September 8, 1968, also re-recording his lead vocal. When these changes are made to the song, Billie Jean Brown, the head of Motowns Quality Control department will play the revamped version for Gordy, who will finally give it his approval for release. Issued in mid October of 1968, the single will be an immediate smash, racing up the pop and R&B singles charts simultaneously. Stevie Wonders version of For Once In My Life will peak at #2 on both the Billboard R&B singles chart and the Hot 100 on December 28, 1968, behind Marvin Gayes I Heard It Through The Grapevine, which ironically had also been shelved before finally being released. Published through Motowns Stein & Van Stock Music (sister to the companys Jobete Music publishing arm), For Once In My Life will become one of Motowns most recorded songs with versions by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Wilson, Andy Williams, Cilla Black, and Gladys Knight & The Pips.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 22:00:06 +0000
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