Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" is a song written by Ivy Jo Hunter and Stevie Wonder, originally released in 1966 by the Four Tops via the Motown label.^[2] In addition to co-writing the song, Wonder also instrumentally contributed drums to the track.

"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
Dutch picture sleeve
Single by Four Tops
from the album On Top
B-side	"I Like Everything About You"
Released	May 9, 1966 (1966-05-09)[1]
Recorded	April 5, 1966 (1966-04-05)[1]
Venue	Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit
Genre	Soul, pop
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	Ivy Jo Hunter
Four Tops singles chronology
"Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" (1966) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1966) "Reach Out I'll Be There" (1966)

Cash Box described the song as a "hard-pounding, rhythmic, pop-R&B romancer all about a lucky guy who has finally found the gal that he’s always dreamed about."^[3] Record World described it as a "teen beat love ode."^[4]

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
• Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson & Lawrence Payton
• Drums by Stevie Wonder
• Other instrumentation by the Funk Brothers

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[5]

Cover versions

• Nick Kamen released a version in 1987, where it went to number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.^[6] Lola Borg of Smash Hits panned the song she described as an "outrage" to the original version and a "shocking business", adding it was "murdered" by Kamen who "reduce[d] it to utter mush".^[7]
• The Band frequently performed the song as an encore, and recordings have been included on the reissues of their self-titled sophomore album, The Band; Rock of Ages; and the 2013 boxed set Live at the Academy of Music 1971.^[8][9][10]
• Kiki Dee and Elton John did a duet cover on Dee's 1981 album Perfect Timing.^[11]
• Susan Tedeschi covered it on her 2005 album Hope and Desire.^{[citation needed]}