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1967 single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

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"If This World Were Mine"

Single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

from the album United

A-side

"If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"

Released

November 14, 1967

Recorded

1967

Studio

Hitsville USA

Genre

R&B, soul

Length

2:41

Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell singles chronology

"Your Precious Love"
(1967)

"If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" / "If This World Were Mine"
(1967)

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
(1968)

"If This World Were Mine" is a 1967 song by soul music duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album United. Written solely by Gaye, it was one of the few songs they recorded without Ashford & Simpson writing or producing. When it was released as a single in November 1967 as the B-side to the duo's "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You", it hit the Billboard pop singles chart, peaking at number 68, and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Gaye would later put the song into his set list during his last tours in the early 1980s as he performed a medley of his hits with Terrell. The song was covered by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn who had an R&B hit with it in 1982.

Charts

Chart (1967)	Peak
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	68
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles	27

Cover versions

Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn version

"If This World Were Mine"

Single by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn

from the album Instant Love

Released

1982

Recorded

1981

Genre

R&B

Length

5:27

Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller

Cheryl Lynn singles chronology

"Instant Love"
(1981)

"If This World Were Mine"
(1982)

"Look Before You Leap"
(1983)

Luther Vandross singles chronology

"Don't You Know That?"
(1981)

"If This World Were Mine'"
(1982)

"Bad Boy/Having a Party"
(1982)

Fifteen years after the original recording, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn re-recorded it for her album Instant Love and made the song a hit peaking at number 4 in 1982 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. This version also appears on Vandross's 1989 compilation album, The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love.

Charts

Chart (1982-1983)	Peak
U.S. Billboard 100 Hot 100	30

Other versions

A decade later, Coko of SWV and rising R&B singer Tyrese recorded it for her 1999 solo album Hot Coko. The song is featured on John Legend's 2004 live album Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory, with Imani Uzuri singing the female lead.

In 2005, Alicia Keys and Jermaine Paul recorded it for the Luther Vandross tribute album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross. The song was nominated Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the Grammy Awards. They did not win; instead, the Grammy was awarded to Beyoncé Knowles and Stevie Wonder for their cover "So Amazing," which appeared on the same Vandross tribute album.

In 1973, Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager recorded the song on their album The Love We Have, the Love We Had.

Sampling

R&B singer Tweet sampled the Gaye/Terrell original for the intro of her 2005 single "Turn Da Lights Off", featuring Missy Elliott.

In 2013, American house music producer Chris Malinchak sampled the song on "So Good to Me".

The Vandross/Lynn version was sampled in "Luther," a ballad with SZA, off of Kendrick Lamar's 2024 album GNX.

References

Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top Billboard Hot 100 Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 368.
RCA Music Group (8 December 2005). "RCA Music Group Artists Earn 28 Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy". prnewswire.com.
"Chris Malinchak - 'So Good To Me' (Official Video)". Capital FM. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2018.

v t e Alicia Keys songs
Discography
Songs in A Minor	"Girlfriend" "How Come You Don't Call Me" "Fallin'" "A Woman's Worth"
The Diary of Alicia Keys	"Karma" "If I Was Your Woman / Walk On By" "You Don't Know My Name" "If I Ain't Got You" "Diary"
Unplugged	"Unbreakable" "Every Little Bit Hurts" "Wild Horses" "Love It or Leave It Alone / Welcome to Jamrock"
As I Am	"Superwoman" "No One" "Like You'll Never See Me Again" "Teenage Love Affair"
The Element of Freedom	"Doesn't Mean Anything" "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" "Wait Til You See My Smile" "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" "Put It in a Love Song" "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" "We're Almost There"
Girl on Fire	"Brand New Me" "New Day" "Girl on Fire" "Fire We Make" "Tears Always Win" "Not Even the King"
Here	"Blended Family (What You Do for Love)" "In Common"
Alicia	"Show Me Love" "Time Machine" "Underdog" "So Done" "Perfect Way to Die" "Good Job" "Love Looks Better" "A Beautiful Noise" "Wasted Energy"
Keys	"Lala" "Best of Me" "Trillions" "Come for Me"
Santa Baby	"December Back 2 June" "The Christmas Song"
As featured artist	"Brotha" "Calma" "Empire State of Mind" "Fireworks" "Gangsta Lovin'" "Ghetto Story" "I Will Pray (Pregherò)" "International Party" "Looking for Paradise" "New Day" "What's Going On"
Other songs	"28 Thousand Days" "America the Beautiful" "Another Way to Die" "Back to Life" "City of Gods" "Die Without You" "Don't Give Up (Africa)" "Finally" "Lifeline" "If This World Were Mine" "It's On Again" "Kaleidoscope" "Little Drummer Girl" "My Boo" "People Get Ready" "Rapture" "Someday We'll All Be Free" "Speechless" "Us" "Wake Me Up" "We Are Here" "We Gotta Pray"
Category

v t e Cheryl Lynn
Studio albums	Cheryl Lynn In Love In The Night Instant Love Preppie It's Gonna Be Right Start Over Whatever It Takes
Songs	"Got to Be Real" "Keep It Hot" "Shake It Up Tonight" "If This World Were Mine" (with Luther Vandross) "Encore"

v t e Luther Vandross
Discography Tours
Studio albums	Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father
Compilation albums	The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever: The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection: Luther Vandross Love, Luther Lovesongs
Live albums	Live Radio City Music Hall 2003
Singles	"Never Too Much" "Don't You Know That?" "If This World Were Mine" "Bad Boy"/"Having a Party" "Since I Lost My Baby" "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" "I'll Let You Slide" "Superstar"/"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (Medley) "Til My Baby Comes Home" "It's Over Now" "Wait for Love" "Give Me the Reason" "Stop to Love" "There's Nothing Better Than Love" "I Really Didn't Mean It" "So Amazing" "Any Love" "She Won't Talk to Me" "For You to Love" "Here and Now" "Treat You Right" "Power of Love/Love Power" "Don't Want to Be a Fool" "The Rush" "Sometimes It's Only Love" "The Best Things in Life Are Free" "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" "Heaven Knows" "Never Let Me Go" "Endless Love" "Always and Forever" "Love the One You're With" / "Going in Circles" "Every Year, Every Christmas" "Your Secret Love" "I Can Make It Better" "Nights in Harlem" "I Know" "Take You Out" "Can Heaven Wait" "I'd Rather" "Dance with My Father" "Think About You" "Buy Me a Rose" "The Closer I Get to You" "One Shining Moment" "Shine"
Other songs	"A House Is Not a Home" "Any Day Now"
Tribute albums	Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II
Related articles	Luther (album) This Close to You Change (band) Luther Burger

v t e Marvin Gaye singles
1960s: (Tamla)	1961 "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" 1962 "Sandman" "Soldier's Plea" "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" "Hitch Hike" 1963 "Pride and Joy" "Can I Get a Witness" 1964 "You're a Wonderful One" "Once Upon a Time" "What's the Matter with You Baby" "Try It Baby" "Baby Don't You Do It" "What Good Am I Without You" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" 1965 "I'll Be Doggone" "Pretty Little Baby" "Ain't That Peculiar" 1966 "One More Heartache" "Take This Heart of Mine" "Little Darling (I Need You)" "It Takes Two" 1967 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Your Unchanging Love" "Your Precious Love" "You" "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You"/"If This World Were Mine" 1968 "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" "You're All I Need to Get By" "Chained" "Keep On Lovin' Me Honey" "You Ain't Livin' till You're Lovin'" "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 1969 "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By" "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" "That's the Way Love Is" "Abraham, Martin and John" "What You Gave Me" "How Can I Forget"
1970s: (Tamla)	1970 "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" "The Onion Song" "California Soul" "The End of Our Road" 1971 "What's Going On" "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" "Save the Children" 1972 "You're the Man" "Trouble Man" "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" 1973 "Let's Get It On" "You're a Special Part of Me" "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" "Come Get to This" 1974 "You Sure Love to Ball" "My Mistake (Was to Love You)" "Don't Knock My Love" "You Are Everything" "Distant Lover" 1976 "I Want You" "After the Dance" "Since I Had You" 1977 "Got to Give It Up" 1978 "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)" 1979 "A Funky Space Reincarnation" "Anger" "Ego Tripping Out"
1980s: (Tamla/ Columbia)	1981 "Praise" "Heavy Love Affair" 1982 "Sexual Healing" 1983 "My Love Is Waiting" "'Til Tomorrow" "Joy"
Posthumous	1985 "Sanctified Lady" "It's Madness" "Just Like" 1986 "The World Is Rated X" 1991 "My Last Chance" 1994 "Lucky, Lucky Me" 1995 "This Love Starved Heart Of Mine(It's Killing Me)" 2001 "Music" 2005 "Let's Get It On (The M.P.G. Groove Remix)" 2015 "Where Are We Going"
Category

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