Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she entered the music business at the age of 13, regularly performing live. In 1961 she was signed to the fledgling Scepter Records (later Wand Records), recording under the name "Tammy Montgomery". After coming to the attention of James Brown she recorded one single apiece for Brown's own Try Me record label and, in 1964, Checker Records. The year after that, she was spotted by Berry Gordy Jr. while playing live, and signed to his Motown label. Attractive and talented, she became romantically linked with both James Brown and David Ruffin, lead singer of The Temptations.
Tammy Montgomery changed her name to "Tammi Terrell" at the time of her Motown signing, and was teamed with producers Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol. After releasing a pair of minor R&B chart hits, "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On and See Me," Terrell was chosen to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's duet partner. The duo recorded a number of successful hits which remain popular today: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By", all written (and in the case of the latter two, produced by) Ashford & Simpson.
While on tour with Gaye in Virginia in mid-1967, Terrell fainted on stage, and was later diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor. While Terrell endured several operations and continued to record new material, her health steadily deteriorated. Fuqua and Bristol resorted to having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks to fill out the Gaye/Terrell duets albums. The final album attributed to Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Easy" (1969), actually features co-producer Valerie Simpson subbing for Terrell on all but two of the tracks.
Twelve of Tammi Terrell's solo Motown recordings, including "I Can't Believe You Love Me", "Come On and See Me," and a minor hit cover of The Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", were issued as Terrell's only solo album, "Irresistible," in January 1969. Terrell died of brain cancer at age 24 on March 16, 1970.
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
Tammi Terrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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've got your picture hanging on the wall
I realize it's just a picture in 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't you 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
Nothing 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, oh darling)
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
In Tammi Terrell's song "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," the lyrics express the idea that although images, letters, and memories can provide some comfort, they can never compare to the real thing. The singer describes having a picture of the person hanging on the wall and reading their letters, but they don't provide the same comfort as actually hearing the person's voice or having them physically present. The singer admits to playing a "fantasy" game, pretending that the substitutes are enough, but ultimately realizes that only the real thing can fully comfort them.
The song is about the irreplaceable nature of genuine connections and experiences. It expresses the idea that while memories and substitutes can bring some comfort, nothing compares to being with someone who truly understands and cares about you. The song is a tribute to the power of genuine relationships and the importance of cherishing them.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, baby
Expressing affection and intimacy towards the partner
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Nothing can replace the feeling of being with the partner for real
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Stating that no substitute is good enough, only the real thing is satisfactory
No, no, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Reiterating that nothing else can match up to the experience of being with the partner
Oh honey
Addressing the partner affectionately
I've got your picture hanging on the wall
Having a photograph of the partner to look at when they're not around
But it can't see or come to me when I call your name
Recognizing that the photo is just an object that cannot provide the same comfort as the partner's physical presence
I realize it's just a picture in a frame
Acknowledging that the photo is not a substitute for the partner, just a reminder
Ooh, I read your letters when you're not near me
Reading the partner's letters to feel closer to them
But they don't move me
Not feeling the same emotional impact from the letters as from being with the partner physically
And they don't groove me like when I hear
The letters cannot provide the same level of satisfaction as hearing the partner's voice directly
Your sweet voice whispering in my ear
Describing the pleasure and comfort derived from hearing the partner's voice directly
Don't you know
Asking the partner if they realize the same thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Reiterating the message that nothing can replace the real experience
I played my game, a fantasy
Admitting to being caught up in a fantasy or daydream about being with the partner
I pretend, but I know in reality
Acknowledging that the fantasy is not reality
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me
Expressing the desire for physical comfort and closeness with the partner
No other sound is quite the same as your name
Stating that the partner's name is unique and special, and irreplaceable
No touch can do half as much
Not finding comfort or satisfaction in any other touch besides the partner's
To make me feel better
Expressing the importance of the partner's touch for emotional wellbeing
So, let's stay together
Expressing the desire to remain together and not be apart
I got some memories to look back on
Having some memories of being with the partner in the past
And though they help me when you're gone
Finding some comfort in the memories when the partner is not present
I'm well aware
Acknowledging the fact that memories are not a substitute for the actual experience
Nothing can take the place of your being there
Stating the importance of the partner's physical presence over anything else
So glad we got the real thing, baby
Expressing happiness and satisfaction in being with the partner for real
Oh, Marvin, (so good) ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, (so good, oh darling)
Using the partner's name to address them affectionately, and repeating the message that nothing substitutes the real experience
Talk to me
Asking the partner to communicate and interact with the artist
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
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've got your picture hanging on the wall
But it can't see or come to me when I call your name
I realize it's just a picture in 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't you 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
Nothing 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, oh darling)
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
@donnamaria1000
I’m listening to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 2024 …. Class man !!! Soul at it finest … church people !!! And God is the same yesterday today and forever !
@ngoddessofvictory3565
Motown nailed it when they put Marvin and Tammi together. They brought the best out of each other vocally.
@conradford7493
Yes they did!
@michaelwoodward9894
Word one of the greatest duet of all time because duo was as successful,yet Marvin was a master at the duet having done songs with Mary Wells,Kim Weston,and later Diana Ross.
@maureskiarussell8341
@@michaelwoodward9894 Tammi 💕 and Marvin were the best together as a duet, though.
@cleverboy07
@@maureskiarussell8341 you better say that again for the world to here.🙌
@theborderer1302
@@michaelwoodward9894 Berri Gordy made Marvin sing in a key that was one pitch higher than his natural voice. It's what creates the tremendous lylical tension between him and TT.
@adedamolalafenwa9302
This song sends chills down my spine. No doubt, it remains one of their best duets together & the first song they ever recorded together, sharing the same microphone. Others were recorded using separate microphones. The result...simply MAGICAL.
@hasake8873
Ain't No Mountain High Enough was the first song they recorded, followed by Your Precious Love, etc. Ashford and Simpson didn't start to produce them until this song.
@thefamousaccountofdavid
@@hasake8873 first song with the same mic, I think they meant