The group was formed in Harlem, New York City in 1964 as a trio called the Poets, composed of lead singer Donald McPherson, Luther Simmons, Jr., and Panama-born Tony Silvester. They made their first recordings for Leiber & Stoller's Red Bird label, but soon changed their name to the Insiders and signed with RCA Records. In 1968, after a couple of singles, they changed their name once again, this time permanently, to the Main Ingredient. The name came from a Coke bottle.
They then teamed up with record producer/arranger Bert DeCoteaux. Under his direction, the Main Ingredient reached the R&B Top 30 for the first time in 1970 with "You've Been My Inspiration". A cover of The Impressions' "I'm So Proud" broke the Top 20, and "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)" went into the Top 10. In 1971, they scored again, with the McPherson-penned black-power anthem "Black Seeds Keep on Growing," but tragedy struck that year. Don McPherson, who had suddenly taken ill with leukemia, died unexpectedly. Stunned, Tony Silvester and Luther Simmons re-grouped with new lead singer Cuba Gooding, Sr., who had served as a backing vocalist on some of their previous recordings and had filled in on tour during McPherson's brief illness.
The Gooding era began auspiciously with the million-selling smash "Everybody Plays the Fool", which hit number two R&B and number three pop to become the group's biggest hit. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in September 1972. The accompanying album, Bitter Sweet, became their first to hit the Top 10 on the R&B album chart; its follow-up, 1973's Afrodisiac, featured several songs written or co-written by Stevie Wonder, although it did not produce any huge successes on the singles charts. They peaked at number eight on the R&B chart in 1974 with "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely", which sold over a million copies,and also reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The track peaked at number twenty-seven in the UK Singles Chart in July 1974, although it was their only chart presence in the UK. In 1975, the group recorded several songs co-written by Leon Ware, including the R&B Top Ten "Rolling Down a Mountainside". By this point, however, Tony Silvester was harboring other ambitions; he released a solo album called Magic Touch that year, and left the group to form a production team with DeCoteaux. The two of them scored a Top 10 Pop and R&B smash with their production of Ben E. King's hit "Supernatural Thing" in 1975.
Silvester was replaced by Carl Tompkins, and Gooding departed for a solo career on Motown in 1977, which produced two albums; Simmons, meanwhile, left the music industry to work as a stockbroker. Gooding, Silvester and Simmons reunited as the Main Ingredient in 1979, and recorded two more albums, 1980's Ready for Love and 1981's I Only Have Eyes for You (the latter featured a minor hit in "Evening of Love"). The trio reunited for a second time in 1986, but their Zakia single "Do Me Right" flopped, and Simmons returned to his day job. He was replaced by Jerome Jackson on the 1989 Polydor album I Just Wanna Love You. In the wake of Aaron Neville's Top Ten revival of "Everybody Plays the Fool", Gooding resumed his solo career and issued his third album in 1993. Silvester and Simmons re-formed the Main Ingredient in 1999 with new lead singer Carlton Blount; this line-up recorded Pure Magic in 2001.
Tony Silvester died after a six-year struggle with multiple myeloma on November 27, 2006, at the age of 65, and original member Luther Simmons retired shortly thereafter. Cuba Gooding Sr. was found dead in his car on April 20, 2017. The current line-up of the group consists of Jerome Jackson, and Stanley Alston.
Where Were You When I Needed You
The Main Ingredient Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But is that really in her head
But I just want to live each day
To love her for what she is
Mary wants to be another movie star
But is that really in her mind
And all the things she wants to be
She needs to leave behind
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, and I think I can face-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can cope with everything going through your head
Mary wants to be a superwoman
And try to boss the bull around
But does she really think that she will get by with a dream
My woman want to be a superwoman
And I just had to say good-bye
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
But, very well, I believe I know you
Very well wish that you knew me too
Very well, and I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, think that I know you too
Very well, wish you knew me like I know you
Very well, but I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Your filthy head
Very well, dum dum da, dum dum da
Very well, wish you knew me too
Very well, and I wish I could think of everything going through your head
Very well, dum dum da, dum da, dum da dum dum da, dum da, very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
When the summer came you were not around
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
When the winter came you went further south
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
When the winter came you were not around
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
Oh I need you baby, I need you baby
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed,
But tomorrow will reflect love's past oh
Spring will fill the air and you will come around,
Well is it summer love that will let me down,
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Right now, right now, right now
Where were you when I needed you last winter, my dear
I need you baby, I need you baby, I need you baby
Oh, Where were you when I needed you last winter, last winter
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby,
Oh, you want me too need you baby
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
Yea
The Main Ingredient's song "Where Were You When I Needed You" tells the story of a relationship where the two partners have different goals and aspirations. Mary wants to be a "superwoman" and a "movie star", but the singer just wants to love her for who she is. He recognizes that she has a lot of things going on in her head, but he believes that he knows her very well and can cope with it. However, he ultimately has to say goodbye because he can't spend all his hours comforting her when she's chasing impossible dreams. The second half of the song shifts to the singer wondering where his partner was during the winter and summer months, as their love ultimately comes to an end.
The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration on the part of the singer, who wants his partner to be realistic about her goals and aspirations. Mary's desire to be a "superwoman" and "movie star" seem like impossible dreams, and her partner recognizes that she needs to leave those aspirations behind. However, Mary's dreams might suggest a desire for something more out of life, which the singer might not fully understand. The second half of the song's lyrics suggest that the singer also feels abandoned and hurt by his partner's absence during crucial moments in their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Where Were You When I Needed You" explore the complexities of a relationship where both partners have different goals and aspirations. The song highlights the challenges of finding a balance between supporting your partner's ambitions and being realistic about what is feasible.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary wants to be a superwoman
Mary has aspirations to be exceptional, like a superhero
But is that really in her head
But is that something she can realistically achieve
But I just want to live each day
However, I just want to take things one day at a time
To love her for what she is
To love her as she is, without expecting her to be more
Mary wants to be another movie star
Mary also dreams of being a famous actor
But is that really in her mind
But is that really attainable for her
And all the things she wants to be
And all the things she desires for her life
She needs to leave behind
She must abandon some of her aspirations
But, very well, I believe I know you-very well
However, I have a good understanding of who you are
Wish that you knew me too-very well
I wish you had the same level of understanding of me
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
I believe I can handle whatever thoughts and emotions you are experiencing
Very well, and I think I can face-very well
I am confident in my ability to confront challenges
Your filthy head
Your disturbing thoughts and negative mindset
When the summer came you were not around
During the summer, you were not present
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Now that summer is over, our love has disappeared
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
Where were you when I required you, last winter, my dear?
When the winter came you went further south
When winter arrived, you departed for a warmer climate
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Leaving our love behind, leaving me unsure
Oh I need you baby, I need you baby
Oh I require you, my dear
Spring will fill the air and you will come around
Spring will arrive and things will improve
Well is it summer love that will let me down
But is it just a fleeting summer romance that will fail me
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Where are you when I require you, right now?
Right now, right now, right now
At this moment, at this moment, at this moment
Oh where were you when I needed you last winter, my dear
Oh where were you when I required you last winter, my love
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby
Yes, I require you, my dear
Oh, you want me too need you baby
Oh, you also require me, my love
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
Oh where were you when I required you last, my dear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind