Originally recorded by Tami Lynn Kiki Dee elevated this song to something sublime. In true Northern Soul style there is a driving beat and a decent amount of brass.
But it’s Kiki’s sharp, soulful vocals, crisply delivered and with a sense of rhythm that would have pleased James Brown that makes this version my favourite.
Kiki Dee is best known for her duet with Elton John, but she seems to have missed out on wider recognition in her own right.
There is a video on YouTube of a 1966 French TV performance that is stunning
Artist: Kiki Dee
Performers: Kiki Dee
- Vinyl 45
- Released by/ Catalogue number: Fontana
- Year: 1966
- Composer: Bert Berns
- Arranged By:
- Producer:
- Published/ Record label: ?
- Mint
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee (Pauline Matthews) was the first female UK singer to sign with Tamla records and so also the first and perhaps only Yorkshire lass to have made it on to the Motown label. This should have signaled the start of a glittering career. Frustratingly Kiki Dee never really made an impact on popular culture until her duet with Elton John in 1976.
Kiki Dee started her musical career as a 16 year old singing in a local dance band in Bradford in the early 1960s. Moving on to providing backing vocals including for the legendary Dusty Springfield until she signed for Motown in 1963. She released 11 singles on Fontana – non of which had much impact on the popular market. However, several of these songs became firm Northern Soul favourites including “Magic Carpet Ride” and Dee’s stomping cover of the Tami Lynn track “Why Don’t I Run Away From You”.