Who's Lovin' You

Single infobox
Name = Who's Lovin' You


Artist = The Miracles
A-side = "Shop Around"
Album = Hi, We're the Miracles
Released = September 27 1960
track_no =
Recorded = 1960
Genre = Soul
Length = 3:06
Writer = Smokey Robinson
Label = Tamla
T 54034
Producer = Smokey Robinson Berry Gordy
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Last single = "Shop Around"
(1960)
This single = "Who's Lovin' You"
(1960)
Next single = "Ain't It Baby"
(1961)

Single infobox
Name = Who's Lovin' You


Artist = The Jackson 5
A-side = "I Want You Back"
Album = Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
Released = October 7 1969
Recorded = Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1969
Genre = Soul
Length = 4:01
Label = Motown
M1157
Producer = Bobby Taylor
Chart position = * #1 (US)
** #1 (R&B)
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Last single = "Big Boy"
(1968)
This single = "I Want You Back"/"Who's Lovin' You"
(1969)
Next single = "ABC"
(1970)

"Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song, written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. The song has been recorded by many different artists including The Miracles 1960 original version, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Terence Trent-D'arby, Brenda and The Tabulations, John Farnham, Human Nature and En Vogue. The most famous version is attributed to The Jackson Five.

The Miracles version

The song was written by Smokey Robinson for his group The Miracles, who recorded the song in 1960 for their first Motown album, "Hi... We're the Miracles". The song is a lamentation about an ex-lover, reminiscing on how their relationship went sour and wondering who's loving them now. A showcase for vocal runs, "Who's Lovin' You" was issued as a b-side to their first Motown hit, "Shop Around" (the label's first million-selling hit single) , and remained one of their most popular songs. During the 1960s, virtually every major Motown act, from The Supremes to the Temptations to Brenda Holloway, recorded a remake of the song.

Brenda and The Tabulations version

Though today this version is relatively obscure compared to others like those of The Miracles and The Jackson 5, it is to date the only one to place on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in 1967 on Dionn 501, Brenda and The Tabulations took this song to position #66. It was also a #19 hit on Billboard's R&B chart. The gender of the lyrics was amended to fit the female vocalist.

Jackson 5 version

The most famous cover of "Who's Lovin' You", and the one most future covers were based upon, was recorded on August 7, 1969 by The Jackson 5. Michael Jackson was the lead singer on this recording, with his brothers Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie on background vocals; Bobby Taylor of The Vancouvers served as producer. The Jackson 5 version of "Who's Lovin' You" was one of a number of early recordings the group made at the Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit, Michigan, with the Funk Brothers on instrumentation. Just after recording this song, Berry Gordy moved the entire Jackson family to Los Angeles, California to record the hit pop songs he would co-write for the group with The Corporation.

"Who's Lovin' You", which was included on the first Jackson 5 LP, "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5", was issued as the b-side to The Jackson 5's first single, "I Want You Back", released on October 14 1969. The single went to #1 on both the pop and R&B charts.

Lauryn Hill version

In 1988 13-year old Hill appeared as an Amateur Night contestant on "It's Showtime at the Apollo". Hill sang her own version of William "Smokey" Robinson's song "Who's Lovin' You?". A nervous Hill sung with the microphone far away from her mouth and was heckled at first; but she persisted and finished her song to a standing applause, though she did not win.

En Vogue version

En Vogue's cover of "Who's Lovin' You" was attached to the beginning of their first single, "Hold On" (1990), which was written as an answer song to Robinson's composition. The idea was born when, while the ladies were practicing the song in producer Denzil Foster's car, when he accidentally turned on a drum machine, creating an interesting juxtaposition of old school soul and new jack swing.

The opening section of "Hold On", released as the group's first single, was an a cappella version of the song's first verse. Once the ladies reach the line "and I wonder/who's lovin' you", a drum machine kicks in and starts a new jack swing beat, over which "Hold On" is delivered. "Hold On" was the anchor of En Vogue's first album, "Born to Sing", which eventually went platinum.

Terence Trent D'Arby version

Terence Trent D'Arby ended his 1987 debut album "Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby" with a cover of "Who's Lovin' You". The album earned D'Arby a Grammy award the following year.

Performing Credits

The Miracles version*

* Lead vocals by Smokey Robinson and Claudette Rogers Robinson ("on fade").
* Background vocals by Claudette Rogers Robinson. Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Bobby Rogers.
* Guitar by Marv Tarplin

The Supremes version*

*Lead vocals by Diane Ross
*Background vocals by Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Barbara Martin

The Temptations version*

* Lead vocals by David Ruffin
* Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams

Brenda & the Tabulations version

* Lead vocals by Brenda Payton
* Background vocals by Eddie Jackson, Maurice Coates and Jerry Jones

The Jackson 5 version*

* Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
* Background vocals by Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, and Marlon Jackson

=En Vogue version (intro to "Hold On")=

* Lead vocals by Terry Ellis
* Background vocals by Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, and Dawn Robinson

(*) Instrumentation on these versions performed by The Funk Brothers.

ee also

*"Hold On" (En Vogue song)