On this day in music history: September 19, 1970 - “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks, also topping the R&B singles chart for 1 week on October 3, 1970. Written and produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, it is the first solo chart topper for the former lead singer of The Supremes. Originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1967, Ashford and Simpson dramatically revamp the song for the Motown diva, punctuated by sections of spoken dialogue by Ross. The basic track is recorded at Motown Studio A in Detroit on March 13, 1970, with members of The Funk Brothers including James Jamerson (bass), Johnny Griffith (celeste), Earl Van Dyke (clavinet), Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina (guitars), Eddie “Bongo” Brown (congas), Jack Ashford (tambourine), Uriel Jones and Andrew Smith (drums). Valerie Simpson also plays piano on the session. Ross records her vocal the following day on March 14, 1970, and background vocals sung by Ashford & Simpson and Jo Armstead. The orchestral accompaniment arranged by Paul Riser is recorded in New York City four days later on March 18, 1970. The completed version of the song runs nearly six and a half minutes, far too long to release as a single. Motown founder and chairman Berry Gordy, Jr. is also not fond of the new arrangement at first, feeling that it takes too long to “get to the point”. However, the song quickly finds favor with fans, and radio stations respond by making their own edits and putting it in heavy rotation. Motown reacts quickly by editing it down to three minutes and fifteen seconds, rush releasing it as a single on July 16, 1970. Entering the Hot 100 at #46 on August 8, 1970, it rockets to the top of the chart six weeks later. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” sells over a million copies in the US, earning Diana Ross a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1971. One of Ashford & Simpson’s most beloved songs, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is covered by many other artists including Hugh Masekela, Inner Life Featuring Jocelyn Brown, Howard Hewett & Stacy Lattisaw, Human Nature, Michael McDonald, and also recorded live by Ashford & Simpson in 1981. In 2004, an instrumental mix of Ross’ version appears on the Deluxe Edition of the “Standing In The Shadows Of Motown” soundtrack.
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