GLADYS KNIGHT - YOU'RE NUMBER ONE

YOU'RE NUMBER ONE

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS

SONGWRITER: BUBBA KNIGHT, BURT BACACACH, DANA MEYERS & 16 MORE

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: VISIONS

LABEL: COLUMBIA RECORDS

GENRE: SOUL

YEAR: 1983

 

         Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B/soul/funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades.

            Starting out as simply The Pips in 1952, derived from a cousin's nickname, the founding members were Gladys Knight, brother Merald "Bubba" Knight, sister Brenda Knight and cousins Eleanor and William Guest. After a couple of years performing in talent shows, the group signed with Brunswick Records in 1957, recording a couple of singles that failed to chart. Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest eventually left the group and were replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten and a non-relative, Langston George in 1959. This lineup produced the group's first hit single, "Every Beat of My Heart". After the single was released on three different labels, they changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961. Langston George left the same year and Gladys Knight left in 1962 to start a family with musician Jimmy Newman. Knight rejoined in 1964 and this lineup continued until the group's disbandment in 1989.

             The group reached commercial success after signing with Motown Records in 1966. After a year and a half, the group recorded the first hit single version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" in 1967, which led to several hit singles for Motown's Soul Records label, including "Nitty Gritty", "Friendship Train", "If I Were Your Woman", "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" and the Grammy-winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)", before leaving the label for Buddah Records in 1973. At Buddah, they recorded the hits "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me", "I've Got to Use My Imagination", "I Feel a Song (In My Heart)" and their Grammy-winning and number-one hit single, "Midnight Train to Georgia". In 1974, they recorded the soundtrack to the successful film Claudine with producer Curtis Mayfield, which included the songs "On and On", "The Makings of You" and "Make Yours a Happy Home". Contractual difficulties with their labels forced the group to record side projects from 1977 until 1980 when they signed with Columbia Records. Later hits included "Landlord", "Save the Overtime (For Me)" and the Grammy-winning single "Love Overboard". In 1989, the group disbanded with the Pips retiring and Knight embarking on a successful solo career.

             Gladys Knight & the Pips are multiple Grammy and American Music Award winners and are inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1996 and 2001 respectively. 

Do me a favor

Won't you say what's on your mind?

I may not have the answer

But I can make it easier to find

 

Too many times

You gave more than you took

Now, I can show you

Things are better than they look

 

You're number one

(You're number one)

In my book

(You're number one)

 

Another chapter

Of a love that's yours and mine

This time we've got to capture

Things that should never be denied

 

My heart reads like a novel

And you'll find that I'm hooked

Just turn the page

And take a closer look

 

You're number one

(You're number one)

In my book

(You're number one)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ho

My number one

 

I know you're thinkin'

What do I want in return?

Well, you can rest easy

Your happiness is my only concern

 

It's rewarding now

If I can make you feel good

There is just one thing

I want clearly understood

 

You're number one

(You're number one)

In my book

(You're number one)

 

Too many times

You gave more than you took

Now, it's my turn to show you

Things are better than they look

 

You're number one

(You're number one)

You're number one

(You're number one)

In my, in my book

(You're number one)

You're number one in my book

(You're number one)

 

I've got to tell you, you've got to know

You're number one

(You're number one)

Never number two, I wouldn't do that to you

You're number one

(You're number one)

In my book.