Nothing to This Top Ten: Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing (#10)

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This countdown is a whole lot of nothing! And it’s going to be a whole lot of music from all over the place! To start off this collection of songs with “nothing” (the word) in the title, let’s start with a great Motown classic for your Saturday dancing and dining pleasure. #10: Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell Talk about a couple of tragic figures. You all know what happened to Marvin Gaye (shot to death the day before his 45th birthday by his own father). How about Tammi Terrell? You probably haven’t heard of her if you’re younger, and that’s because her career was cut tragically short by a brain tumor. She collapsed onstage in 1967 during a concert with Gaye. From there, the tumor was found and she was operated on eight times. The tumor took her life in 1970 at the age of 24. For that brief moment in time, though, Marvin and Tammi made pure magic together. This song was released shortly after her initial diagnosis and first surgery, prompting a short-lived optimism. As John Hiatt sang in “Pirate Radio,” “One star in the sky…maybe Marvin Gaye looking for his Tammi Terrell.” Nothing like it, baby. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing Written by Nick Ashford and Valarie Simpson Recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell From You’re All I Need, 1968 I’ve got your picture: