My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: You’re a Wonderful One
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (68888)
United States
December 10, 2024 11:11am CST
More Motown! The perfect antidote to country music, right? 
Yes, indeed, I do love them both. I grew up with country music, but I grew into rock and roll, which may explain a lot of the discrepancies in my tastes. (Then again, I just have weird tastes. ) Here’s a name you know and a song you probably don’t.
You’re a Wonderful One - Marvin Gaye
Come on, hillbilly, why aren’t you picking “What’s Going On” or “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”? I know. No accounting for my crazy tastes, is there? Marvin Gaye had three #1 hits..and this wasn’t one of them. This came from pretty early in his career, and the best-remembered song of his from that timeframe (1963-65) is probably “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).”
My late, lamented comedian friend, Tim Wilson, used to say that Marvin Gaye was the greatest R&B singer in history. He offered as proof, “He sings a song about fish with mercury in their stomachs and women are taking their clothes off to it as fast as they can.” 
Absolutely true. You may have wanted Barry White narrating a steamy love scene, but you dang sure wanted Marvin Gaye singing “Let’s Get It On” during it!
There are lots of great Marvin Gaye songs out there, and this is one I keep going back to time and time again.
You’re a Wonderful One
Written by Holland/Dozier/Holland
Recorded by Marvin Gaye
From How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You, 1964
Peak chart position: #15
Today’s country song: “Wish I Was a Little Boy Again”
From my heart I mean these words:
Yes, indeed, I do love them both. I grew up with country music, but I grew into rock and roll, which may explain a lot of the discrepancies in my tastes. (Then again, I just have weird tastes. ) Here’s a name you know and a song you probably don’t.
You’re a Wonderful One - Marvin Gaye
Come on, hillbilly, why aren’t you picking “What’s Going On” or “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”? I know. No accounting for my crazy tastes, is there? Marvin Gaye had three #1 hits..and this wasn’t one of them. This came from pretty early in his career, and the best-remembered song of his from that timeframe (1963-65) is probably “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).”
My late, lamented comedian friend, Tim Wilson, used to say that Marvin Gaye was the greatest R&B singer in history. He offered as proof, “He sings a song about fish with mercury in their stomachs and women are taking their clothes off to it as fast as they can.” Absolutely true. You may have wanted Barry White narrating a steamy love scene, but you dang sure wanted Marvin Gaye singing “Let’s Get It On” during it!
There are lots of great Marvin Gaye songs out there, and this is one I keep going back to time and time again.
You’re a Wonderful One
Written by Holland/Dozier/Holland
Recorded by Marvin Gaye
From How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You, 1964
Peak chart position: #15
Today’s country song: “Wish I Was a Little Boy Again”
From my heart I mean these words:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
7 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
Slokay. Go play with Charlisofloof (all three cats). 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181177)
• United States
11 Dec
Yup. I know this one. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
Hot dog! It’s a relatively obscure Marvin hit. Glad you know it!
1 person likes this
@Manasha (2807)
• Pondicherry, India
11 Dec
What a fantastic choice—Marvin Gaye’s "You’re a Wonderful One" is such a gem! It might not be one of his massive chart-toppers, but it’s a prime example of how even his “lesser-known” tracks carry that irresistible Motown magic. Those early songs have such an uplifting energy, and his voice… well, it’s Marvin Gaye. Enough said!
I love how your tastes bridge the gap between country and rock, and it’s refreshing to see someone embrace the “discrepancies” rather than shy away from them. It’s the kind of eclectic mix that keeps things interesting and full of surprises! Your Tim Wilson anecdote is hilarious and absolutely spot-on—Marvin Gaye truly had a way of blending deep, poignant themes with sensuality in a way that no one else could.
As for today’s country pick, “Wish I Was a Little Boy Again” is a beautiful nostalgia trip. Songs like that always have a way of pulling at the heartstrings while reminding us how far we’ve come. It’s a perfect counterbalance to Marvin’s Motown groove!
Go ahead,, good..
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
Thank you so much! 
The legendary jazz great Duke Ellington once said, “There’s only two types of music: good and bad.” I’ve embraced that philosophy.
The legendary jazz great Duke Ellington once said, “There’s only two types of music: good and bad.” I’ve embraced that philosophy.
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
I just wish that Marvin Gaye and George Strait had toured together….
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Dec
Marvin Gaye makes me gay any time, Love his voice,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
This wasn’t a major hit for him at the time, and it’s not one of the “most played” songs from him in retrospect.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
10 Dec
I’m happy to hear that! They don’t play Marvin enough anymore…and they don’t play enough variety of Marvin songs when they do.1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11088)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
10 Dec
when someone's a good and loved singer, people in Bosnia say that he would sound good even if he was reading a cooking recipe
it's a nice song
it's a nice song 1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
11 Dec
Indeed. We used to say “sing the phone book,” but they don’t make those anymore.
1 person likes this
