How Can I Forget

"How Can I Forget"

Single by The Temptations

from the album The Temptations Wish It Would Rain

A-side

"Please Return Your Love to Me"

Released

July 16, 1968

Recorded

Hitsville USA; June 29, 1968

Genre

Soul

Length

1:48

Label

Gordy
G 7074

Songwriter(s)

Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong

Producer(s)

Norman Whitfield

The Temptations singles chronology

"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"
(1968)

"Please Return Your Love to Me" / "How Can I Forget"
(1968)

"Cloud Nine"
(1968)

"How Can I Forget"

Single by Marvin Gaye

from the album That's the Way Love Is

B-side

"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got"

Released

December 16, 1969

Recorded

Hitsville USA; 1969

Genre

Soul, funk, psychedelic soul

Length

1:55

Label

Tamla
T 54190

Songwriter(s)

Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong

Producer(s)

Norman Whitfield

Marvin Gaye singles chronology

"What You Gave Me"
(1969)

"How Can I Forget"
(1969)

"The Onion Song"
(1970)

"How Can I Forget" was originally recorded as a love ballad by Motown group The Temptations in 1968^[1]^[2] and was re-recorded in a psychedelic soul/funk styling by fellow Motown artist, Marvin Gaye in 1969.^[3] His version, released on Motown's first subsidiary, Tamla, became a modest hit that almost reached the Top 40 of the pop charts while peaking at number-eighteen on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart in 1970.^[4] Marvin's recording was featured on his That's the Way Love Is album. The song is also notable for being (at the time) one of the shortest recordings for both The Tempts and for Gaye; recorded when most songs are over three minutes, its length is just under two.

Personnel

The Temptations' version

Lead vocals by Paul Williams
Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Marvin Gaye's version

Lead (and additional) background vocals by Marvin Gaye
Background vocals by The Originals: Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Henry Dixon and C.P. Spencer
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Produced by Norman Whitfield

References

^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8: 1968 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
^ Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN 0-8154-1218-5.
^ The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9: 1969 [liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.

The Temptations

Otis Williams
Ron Tyson
Terry Weeks
Tony Grant
Jawan Jackson

Melvin Franklin
Eddie Kendricks
Paul Williams
Elbridge Bryant
David Ruffin
Dennis Edwards
Ricky Owens
Richard Street
Damon Harris
Glenn Leonard
Louis Price
Ali-Ollie Woodson
Theo Peoples
Harry McGilberry
Barrington "Bo" Henderson
Ray Davis
G. C. Cameron
Joe Herndon
Bruce Williamson
Larry Braggs
Willie Green
Mario Corbino

Studio albums

Meet the Temptations
The Temptations Sing Smokey
The Temptin' Temptations
Gettin' Ready
The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain
Cloud Nine
Puzzle People
Psychedelic Shack
Sky's the Limit
Solid Rock
All Directions
Masterpiece
1990
A Song for You
House Party
Wings of Love
The Temptations Do the Temptations
Hear to Tempt You
Bare Back
Power
The Temptations
Reunion
Surface Thrills
Back to Basics
Truly for You
Touch Me
To Be Continued...
Together Again
Special
Milestone
Phoenix Rising
Ear-Resistible
Awesome
Legacy
Still Here
Temptations 60

Cover albums

The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
For Lovers Only
Reflections
Back to Front
All the Time

Live albums

Temptations Live!
Live at the Copa
Live at London's Talk of the Town
The Temptations in Japan

Other albums

Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations
TCB
The Temptations Show
Together
On Broadway
The Temptations Christmas Card
Give Love at Christmas
Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)

Compilations

Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits II
Anthology
Emperors of Soul
The Ultimate Collection
My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations
Psychedelic Soul

Singles
(US/UK Top 10)

"My Girl"
"Get Ready"
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"
"(I Know) I'm Losing You"
"All I Need"
"You're My Everything"
"I Wish It Would Rain"
"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"
"Cloud Nine"
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
"Run Away Child, Running Wild"
"I Can't Get Next to You"
"Psychedelic Shack"
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
"Masterpiece"
"Let Your Hair Down"
"Happy People"
"Shakey Ground"
"Treat Her Like a Lady"
"The Motown Song"
"My Girl" (reissue)

Band members
The Temptations (miniseries)
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
Discography
The Supremes
The Undisputed Truth
Smokey Robinson
Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong
Sly Stone
George Clinton

Category

v t e The Temptations singles discography
1960s	"Oh Mother of Mine" (1961) "Check Yourself" (1961) "(You're My) Dream Come True" (1962) "Paradise" (1962) "I Want a Love I Can See" (1963) "Farewell My Love" (1963) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964) "I'll Be in Trouble" (1964) / "The Girl's Alright with Me" (1964) "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (1964) "My Girl" (1964) "It's Growing" (1965) "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965) / "You've Got to Earn It" (1965) "My Baby" (1965) / "Don't Look Back" (1965) "Get Ready" (1966) "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966) "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966) "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966) "All I Need" (1967) "You're My Everything" (1967) / "I've Been Good to You" (1967) "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" (1967) "I Wish It Would Rain" (1968) "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (1968) "Please Return Your Love to Me" (1968) "Cloud Nine" (1968) "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1968) / "Silent Night" (1968) "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (1969) "Runaway Child, Running Wild" (1969) "I'll Try Something New" (1969) "I Second That Emotion" (1969) "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969) "The Weight" (1969)
1970s	"Psychedelic Shack" (1970) "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" (1970) "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970) "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971) "Mother Nature" (1972) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) "Masterpiece" (1973) "Law of the Land" (1973) "Let Your Hair Down" (1973) "Happy People" (1974) "Shakey Ground" (1975) "Glasshouse" (1975)
1980s	"Standing On The Top - Pt. 1" (1982) "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1984) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1986) "Lady Soul" (1986) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (re-issue) (1987)
1990s	"The Motown Song" (1991) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1992)

v t e Marvin Gaye
Studio albums	The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961) That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1962) When I'm Alone I Cry (1964) Hello Broadway (1964) How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (1965) A Tribute to the Great Nat "King" Cole (1965) Moods of Marvin Gaye (1966) In the Groove (1968) M.P.G. (1969) That's the Way Love Is (1970) What's Going On (1971) Trouble Man (1972) Let's Get It On (1973) I Want You (1976) Here, My Dear (1978) In Our Lifetime (1981) Midnight Love (1982) Dream of a Lifetime (1985) Romantically Yours (1985) Vulnerable (1997) You're the Man (2019)
Duet albums	Together (with Mary Wells, 1964) Take Two (with Kim Weston, 1966) United (with Tammi Terrell, 1967) You're All I Need (with Tammi Terrell, 1968) Easy (with Tammi Terrell, 1969) Diana & Marvin (with Diana Ross, 1973)
Compilations	Greatest Hits (1964) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1967) Marvin Gaye and His Girls (1969) Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Greatest Hits (1970) Super Hits (1970) Anthology (1974) Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits (1976) Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye: Never Before Released Masters (1986) The Marvin Gaye Collection (1990) The Norman Whitfield Sessions (1994) Love Starved Heart: Rare and Unreleased (1994) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (1994) The Master (1961–1984) (1995) Marvin Gaye: The Love Songs (2000) The Complete Duets (2001) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye (2001)
Live albums	Marvin Gaye Recorded Live on Stage (1963) Marvin Gaye Live! (1974) Live at the London Palladium (1977) Marvin Gaye at the Copa (2005) What's Going On Live (2019)
Video albums	The Real Thing: In Performance (1964–1981) (2006)
US/UK top ten singles	"Pride and Joy" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" "I'll Be Doggone" "Ain't That Peculiar" "Your Precious Love" "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" "You're All I Need to Get By" "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" "That's the Way Love Is" "Abraham, Martin and John" "The Onion Song" "What's Going On" "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" "Trouble Man" "Let's Get It On" "You Are Everything" "Got to Give It Up" "Sexual Healing"
Family	Marvin Gay Sr. (father) Alberta Gay (mother) Anna Gordy Gaye (first wife) Denise Gordy (son's birth mother) Nona Gaye (daughter) Frankie Gaye (brother) Gordon Banks (brother-in-law)
Related topics	Discography Songs Albums Songs by Marvin Gaye Albums produced by Marvin Gaye Songs produced by Marvin Gaye Personal life Death Tributes Songs in memory The Marquees Harvey Fuqua Tammi Terrell Leon Ware Marvin's Room Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album Divided Soul Sexual Healing Tour
Category

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