Just Don't Want to Be Lonely - Main Ingredient

There are literally hundreds of cover songs that became hits after just missing" for the original artist. Today, we're highlighting one of the many.

In 1973, Ronnie Dyson released a song called "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely."

It was actually quite good! Ronnie had a great voice, the arrangement was well done, and it was released on a major record label (Columbia).

For some reason however, it stalled at just #29 on the Soul Chart and #30 on the Hot 100.

Just a few months later in 1974,, The Main Ingredient covered it.

Lead Singer Cuba Gooding, Sr. (Junior's Dad), also did a nice job with it. The arrangement was well done (slightly funkier, with a spoken-word intro), and it was released by a major record label (RCA).

THIS time, the song reached the Top 10 on the Soul Chart (#8) and the Hot 100 (#10). It also reached #7 on Canada's Top 40.

All things considered, I believe both versions are "Great Songs of the '70s,"but I'll leave the final decision on which is best up to you. Feel free to listen to both and post your preference...

The Main Ingredient: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efl6JDJwVTM

Ronnie Dyson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mNaDmJ8hG0