The Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote this. After seeing The Four Tops perform at a club in Detroit, Brian Holland invited them to the Motown studios, where they spent the rest of the night recording the song.
This was the first of many Motown hits for the group, and the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team. Lamont Dozier said in a 1976 interview with Blues & Soul: “We’ve all been together virtually since I was a kid in Detroit and we always had no problem working together. We used to just lock ourselves in the studios with some barbecue ribs and Cold Duck and come up with an album in a couple of days. I would say that they were probably the easiest guys to work with, always professional and polished.”
(source)
Lyrics to “Baby I Need Your Loving”
“Baby I Need Your Loving”
I need your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Although you’re never near
Your voice I often hear
Another day, another night
I long to hold you tight
‘Cause I’m so lonely
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Some say it’s a sign of weakness
For a man to beg
Then weak I’d rather be
If it means havin’ you to keep
‘Cause lately I’ve been losin’ sleep
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Empty nights echo your name
Whoa, sometimes I wonder
Will I ever be the same?
Oh yeah
When you see me smile, you know
Things have gotten worse
Any smile you might see
Has all been rehearsed
Darlin’, I can’t go on without you
This emptiness won’t let me live without you
This loneliness inside me, darlin’
Makes me feel half alive
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Baby, I need your lovin’
Got to have all your lovin’
Here are The Four Tops performing this tune in 1993
Here is a longer performance of them in ’96!
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