"My Guy/My Girl" by Amii Stewart and Johnny Bristol

Song#:  0312
Date:  08/30/1980
Debut:  89
Peak:  63
Weeks:  8
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Stewart had a massive hit in 1979 with her #1 discofied remake of "Knock on Wood" from her debut disc, but her second LP failed to generate any chart songs. Looking for a hit, she was pared with famous Motown songwriter/producer Bristol for this mash-up of two major Motown hits, "My Guy" (Mary Wells) and "My Girl" (The Temptations). Bristol had not been on the chart since the early 70s where his best effort was the lone Top 10 "Hang On In There Baby" (#8, 1974). The duet got them both back on the chart, but not in any significant way and it would be the last pop chart entry for both of them. Oddly, they both had some better chart success in Europe, but in the US they are often considered one-hit wonders despite a few other low charters.

ReduxReview:  This is just...odd. And I'm having a hard time figuring out if it is odd in a good way or bad. And for 1980, this has more of a mid-80s sound. Some of the effects like the keyboard synth pad (those one-beat big, almost orchestral swipes) I haven't heard on any songs prior to this. So this kind of seems progressive for the time. But it is kind of loud and overbearing too. It's like the arrangement has sucked the soul right out of both songs. Weird. I don't hate it (and I like Bristol's voice), but I don't love it either.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Stewart's birth name is Amy, but when she signed up with Actor's Equity, the name Amy Stewart was already being used, so she altered the spelling to Amii.  2) Besides co-producing classics like the Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell duet "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Bristol has written/co-written major hits like "Someday We'll Be Together" (The Supremes).

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