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"The Onion Song" | ||||
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Single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell | ||||
from the album Easy [1] | ||||
B-side | " California Soul" | |||
Released | October 1969 (U.K.); March 20, 1970 (U.S.) | |||
Recorded | 1969, Detroit | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Tamla | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ashford & Simpson | |||
Producer(s) | Ashford & Simpson | |||
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell singles chronology | ||||
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"The Onion Song" was a hit for soul singers Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1969. [2] It reached the top ten overseas, where it became Gaye & Terrell's biggest hit in the United Kingdom, entering the singles chart on 15 November 1969 and peaking at No.9 on 9 December. [2] "The Onion Song" was a more modest hit in the U.S. where it peaked at No. 18 on the soul singles chart and No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 [3]
The song's lyrics reflected social consciousness. Tammi Terrell died, aged 24, just prior to the song's release as a single in the U.S., and it became her and Gaye's last official single together.
Record World called the song "a groovy, bouncy tune." [4] Cash Box said it has a "brotherhood message with the rhythmic familiarity of past Marvin-Tammi hits." [5]
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
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UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company) [6] | 9 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 50 |
US Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles | 18 |