Little Darling (I Need You)

"Little Darling (I Need You)" is a 1966 single written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland and recorded and released by Marvin Gaye on the Tamla label.

Background
This song was released after the modest success of the Miracles-produced single "Take This Heart of Mine" in hopes that Gaye's work with the hit-making trio Holland-Dozier-Holland would bring him back to the pop top ten.

Similarly conceived with the same musical background as their previous collaboration, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", the song has the singer declaring to his woman to stay beside him promising her that he'll be "(her) number-one fool".

Billboard described the song as a "swinger that should have no trouble making a rapid chart climb," with "strong material and performance." Cash Box said that it is a "wailing throbber with a built-in zoom quality." Record World said that "The song has danceable beat and is just irresistible."

While it reached the top forty of the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart peaking at number sixteen, it did not perform as well as "Take This Heart of Mine" on the pop charts, peaking at number 47.

Marvin Gaye personnel

 * Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
 * The Andantes (Marlene Barrow, Jackie Hicks, Louvain Demps) – backing vocals
 * The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Doobie Brothers recording
In 1977, The Doobie Brothers, included their recording on their Livin' on the Fault Line LP. In the US, this recording went to No. 48 on the Hot 100.

The Doobie Brothers personnel

 * Michael McDonald – keyboards, vocals
 * Patrick Simmons – guitar, backing vocals
 * Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar
 * Tiran Porter –  bass guitar, backing vocals
 * Keith Knudsen – drums, backing vocals
 * John Hartman – drums

Additional musicians

 * Ted Templeman – tambourine
 * Bobby LaKind – congas, backing vocals
 * Rosemary Butler – backing vocals
 * David Paich – horn and string arrangement