Rod Stewart – “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (1971)

Your love is fading

I can feel your love fading

[Putting not only the original Temptations recording of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” but also Rare Earth’s and Rod Stewart’s cover versions of that song in the 2 OR 3 LINES “GOLDEN DECADE” COVER RECORDS HALL OF FAME is an unprecedented decision that’s certain to be controversial.  I have only three words to say to those who don’t agree with it – can you guess what those three words are?  (Here’s a hint: the first of those three words is “go.”)] 

*     *     *     *     *

From Cashbox magazine’s November 12, 1966, review of the Temptations new single, “(I Know) I’m Losing You”:

It’s a surefire success for the Temptations with this emotion packed follow-up to “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep,” titled “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” The ork is throbbing, the chorus is smooth and the group tells its sad tale in exquisite fashion.

“The ork is throbbing”?  (Say what?)

*     *     *     *     *

Rod Stewart’s cover of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” – a #1 hit for the Temptations in 1966 – is yet another example of a great cover of a Motown song by a white recording artist.

That cover was the penultimate track on Stewart’s 1971 album, Every Picture Tells a Story – an album that everyone (and I do mean everyone) I knew in college owned.

Every Picture Tells a Story wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good – clearly Stewart’s best album ever.

*     *     *     *     *

Click here to listen to the Temptations’ original recording of “(I Know) I’m Losing You.”

Click here to listen to Rod Stewart’s cover of that record, the newest member of the 2 OR 3 LINES “GOLDEN DECADE’ COVER RECORDS HALL OF FAME.

Click here to buy that record from Amazon.