If This World Were Mine

"If This World Were Mine" was originally a 1967 song by soul music duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album "United". Written solely by Gaye, it was one of the few songs they recorded without Ashford & Simpson writing or producing. When it was released as a single in November 1967 as the b-side to the duo's "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You", it hit the "Billboard" pop singles chart peaking at number sixty-eight and peaked at number twenty-seven on the "Billboard" R&B singles chart. Gaye would later put the song into his set list during his last tours in the early-1980s as he performed a medley of his hits with Terrell.

The song is covered by Joe Bataan on the 1968 Fania Allstars LP "Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 2"

Fifteen years after the original recording, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn re-recorded it for her album "Instant Love" and made the song a R&B top five smash peaking at number four in 1982. To many listeners, Vandross and Lynn's take of the song is the most memorable. A decade later, Coko of SWV and rising R&B singer and rapper Tyrese recorded it for her 1999 solo album "Hot Coko". In 2005, Alicia Keys and Jermaine Paul recorded it for the Luther Vandross tribute album "".R&B singer Tweet sampled the Gaye/Terrell original for the intro of her 2005 hit single "Turn Da Lights Off", featuring Missy Elliott.

This song was also covered by glam rock/hard rock group Slade on their 1969 debut album "Beginnings", when they were still called Ambrose Slade.

The song is also featured on John Legend's 2004 live album "", with Imani Uzuri singing the female lead.