Two Lovers (Mary Wells song)

"Two Lovers"
Single by Mary Wells
from the album Two Lovers
B-side	"Operator"
Released	1962
Format	7" single
Recorded	Hitsville USA; 1962
Genre	Soul
Length	2:45
Label	Motown
Writer(s)	Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson
Mary Wells singles chronology
"You Beat Me to the Punch" (1962) "Two Lovers" (1962) "Laughing Boy" (1963)

"Two Lovers" is a single released in 1962 by Mary Wells on the Motown record label. The song was the third consecutive hit to be both written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles and recorded by Mary Wells, the two previous charters being "The One Who Really Loves You" and "You Beat Me to the Punch." The song's cleverly devised lyrics at first appear to be about a girl singing to one lover who is "sweet and kind" and a second who treats her bad and makes her sad; eventually, the girl reveals that the two lovers are actually the same person. The song became Well's most successful release to date reaching No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and number seven on the Billboard pop chart. Its success would be eclipsed two years later by the singer's most successful release ever, the signature tune "My Guy."

Personnel

• Lead (and additional) background vocal by Mary Wells
• Background vocals by The Love Tones (Joe Miles and Stan Bracely, with Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations)
• Written and produced by Smokey Robinson
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Covers

• Louise Cordet covered the song in 1964 in a Decca session with Jimmy Page.
• Steve Goodman covered the song on his 1977 Say It In Private album and in concert.
• Dolly Parton covered the song on her ill-fated 1987 pop album Rainbow.
• The Disney Channel featured the song in a D-TV music video set entirely to clips from the 1936 Mickey Mouse cartoon Mickey's Rival.

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1963 (U.S.)

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics