Junior Walker

&

The All Stars

How Sweet It Is

b/w Cleo’s Mood

Belgian re-release 1976

In 1966, Junior Walker & the All Stars released the song as a single, which reached No. 3 on the R&B Singles chart and No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to Jason Ankeny of AllMusic, this version makes up in grit what it lacks in Marvin Gaye’s grace, increasing the “celebratory” feel of the song. Ankeny described the version as “a rollicking floor-shaker fueled by his smoldering saxophone”. The drums are played by James Graves (1941-1967).