When you think of lovemaking music, what else is sweeter than the sound of two voices – one male, one female – singing together in perfect harmony? It’s something that artists like Angela Winbush know firsthand. As part of Rene and Angela, she sang on some of the most beautiful duets of our time.
After splitting with duet partner Rene and ex-husband Ronald Isley and maintaining a successful solo career, Winbush is now starring in the gospel play, “Church Girl,” with Robin Givens, Sean Blakemore and Karen Clark-Sheard. The play kicked off in Detroit Tuesday and now heads around the country to Chicago, Baltimore, Houston, and Washington D.C. (For more cities times, info and tickets, visit www.churchgirlstageplay.com.).
While Winbush has moved on to the stage, we can’t forget how amazing her duets were, and that inspired some musing about some other great moments in duet history. Here’s our list of the 10 best.
“YOU’RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY,” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1968)
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell simply reinvented the duet for their work together at Motown. The two recorded some of the most popular duets of all time during their respective careers there. This is the classic that they are best known for, and even today, it’s ode to true love still resonates. Surprisingly, they cut the song separately, as Terrell was in a wheelchair recovering from the brain tumor that would eventually kill her. It’s surprising because the song is so urgent, you’d think they were there staring into each other’s eyes at Hitsville Studios. Terrell died a young woman in 1970, but her music and her chemistry with Gaye – who died in 1984 – lived on. This song would be the sample and basis for Mary J. Blige and Method Man’s Grammy-winning hip-hop take on the song in 1995.
“THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU,” Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (1978)
Roberta Flack was one of the most successful singer/songwriters of the 70’s, as was the legendary Donny Hathaway, so it was no surprise that the two would hook up and create beautiful music together. This 1978 duet would go on to become one of the most popular duets ever recorded, a radio staple that would also be a love theme for couples all around the globe.
It was first released on Flack’s 1977 album, “Blue Lights In the Basement,” and became a number-one R&B hit, as well as a crossover hit. The single went gold.
Flack and Hathaway continued to make music together. In fact, they did a two CDs together, though Hathaway’s tragic 1979 death meant that he only appeared on two songs on the second one. Those two songs turned out to be “You Are My Heaven” and “Back Together Again,” two of their most popular duets.
“REUNITED,” Peaches and Herb (1978)
This might be the soundtrack song for every couple who’s ever broken up, only to get back together. The 1978 single sold over two million copies and has become a duet classic.
Herb Fame has consistently been the Herb of the group, but there have actually been six different women who have filled the shoes of Peaches. It’s the third, Linda Greene, that most people think of as the real McCoy. She and Fame had the most success together, and it was she who sang on “Shake Your Groove Thing” and “Reunited.”
Though they had hits, Fame and Greene had to sue for royalties due them for the music they recorded. Fame still records with the sixth Peaches, while Greene has moved into the gospel realm.
“IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE,” Luther Vandross and Cheryl ..
