Tammi Terrell: The Essential Collection (2001)

Tammi Terrell began recording for Scepter/Wand Records at the age of 15, before touring with the James Brown Revue for a year. In 1965, she married heavyweight boxer Ernie Terrell, the brother of future Supreme Jean Terrell. Terrell's warm, sensuous vocals won her a contract with Motown Records later that year, and in 1966 she enjoyed a series of R&B hits, among them a soulful rendition of ‘This Old Heart of Mine’. In 1967, she was selected to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's recording partner. This inspired teaming produced Gaye's most successful duets, and the pair issued a stream of hit singles between 1967 and 1969. From the beginning, their partnership was tinged with unhappiness, Terrell collapsing in Gaye's arms during a performance in 1967. She was diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour, and despite a series of major operations over the next three years, her health steadily weakened. By 1969, she was unable to perform in public, and on several of the duo's final recordings, their producer, Valerie Simpson, controversially claims to have taken her place. Tammi Terrell died on 16 March 1970, her burial service attracting thousands of mourners, including many of her Motown colleagues. At the time of her death, Tammi Terrell was just 24 years old. This compilation includes virtually all the material Terrell recorded at Motown on her own (even a solo version of her duet hit ‘Two Can Have a Party’). Beginning with her Motown debut ‘I Can't Believe You Love Me’ and ‘Come on and See Me,’ her twin R&B hits during 1966, The Ultimate Collection proves Tammi Terrell recorded a lot of glorious solo material for Motown. She usually worked with Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua, who made her a stunning alternative to Diana Ross or Martha Reeves with standouts like her cover of the Isleys' ‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)’ or ‘Tears at the End of a Love Affair.’ The final song, included presumably just for comparison, is one of her finest Marvin Gaye duets: ‘Ain't No Mountain High Enough.’ http://www.allmusic.com/, http://www.oldies.com/

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Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye's classic clip of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough':