Which is the second best version of Baby I’m For Real?

[Kesalocasoul]

Having unearthed an almost forgotten version by the Ballads, it got me wondering who has provided us with the second best performance of Baby I’m For Real.

My favourite Motown song, the Originals version is unsurpassable.  The simplicity of the group’s delivery and the accompaniment make it all seem so effortlessly soulful and still sends chills down my spine almost fifty years after first hearing it.

As well as the Ballads, I have just listened to Esther Phillips, Bohannon (featuring Carolyn Crawford), Sherrick, After7, 21^st Creation, Pat Lewis (featuring Duane Parham), Will Downing with Phil Perry, the Originals recut featuring Hank Dixon, and even Michael McDonald and one Rocky Padilla (offering a slight Latino twist), but my favourite is Matt Covington, followed closely by Bobby Taylor (medley with the Bells).  Credit to them all as they all show great respect to the original and there is not a bad version amongst them (the quality of Marvin and Anna Gaye’s song?); just some which are less good than others. 

Staying within the soul genre, are there other versions and do others have a preference, although I realise that there is a strong argument for just playing the Originals over and over?

[Tomangoes]

Debatable which is the second best version, but for sure when I sing along to this karaoke version, it's the worst version:)

Ed

 

[Steve Foran]

I think from memory Sherrick did a very good version around 1988- 90

[Steve Foran]

2 minutes ago, Steve Foran said:

I think from memory Sherrick did a very good version around 1988- 90

 

[Winsford Soul]

Sorry.  The Originals is every best version 1st ,2nd ,3rd onwards and upwards. 

Steve 

[Guest]

 

I'm certainly not inferring that this is better than the original but I think this guy is such a wonderful singer and I loved some of his Motown covers.