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Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing

1968 · via Elton John

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s 1968 recording of “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” is the earliest release on file. Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson are credited as its writers. Also recorded by Aretha Franklin (released 1974), Marv Johnson & Carolyn Gill (released 2009) and Trijntje Oosterhuis (released 2011), among 100 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
From the counter

Valerie Simpson and Nickolas Ashford wrote this one, and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell put it out first in 1968, long before Elton's version came out in 1993. Follow the writers and you'll find Aretha Franklin took a swing at it too.

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Liner notes

Credited writers: Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Earliest release on file: this one, 1968.

Other recordings on file · first release year

100 recordings of this work on MusicBrainz.

First pulled by @ga-2095 · No. 0004, Oct 26, 2026.

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Threads through this record
Elton John → Bluesology
@ga-2095 · 21 cuts · 2 h ago
How you get here
Elton John sang "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," first recorded by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. Who wrote it alongside Nickolas Ashford?Valerie Simpson
a knot from Elton John · next: Valerie Simpson
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Facts from MusicBrainz and the Rabbit Hole Records crate. The counter notes are written by the clerk, an AI, from those facts only. General Admission 4 Us: start with an artist, leave with a rare cut.