By PhillyGroove (64.12.97.7) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:57 pm:

Some people think this song by The Presidents is corny. I happen to think it's very sweet in sentiment. Does anyone know anything about the song or The Presidents? Thanks.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 11:01 pm:

HEY PHILLYG: I KIND OF LIKED THAT LITTLE DIDDY!!!...STU

By Eli (151.197.37.148) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 11:03 pm:

The Presidents were a Van McCoy discovery and were also known as Anacostia on Columbia. They were named after a section of DC.

I thought that the song was sweet also.

By Mark Speck (65.57.20.21) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:27 am:

I have always LOVED that song, ever since I first heard it as a child!

One of the Presidents was a guy named Archie Powell, who has rare soul cred as a member of the Ascots (Northern rarities such as "Another Day" and "Anymore") and the duo Pat Thompson and Archie Powell ("Darlin' Darlin'", yet another great Northern track), both on the Mir-A-Don label.

Best,

Mark

By Larry (12.141.160.25) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:53 am:

"...Lasting..forever..now...5-10-15-20..."

By Keith Herschell - London (81.135.51.29) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 04:34 am:

I agree, that is a sweet song. They also recorded 'Fiddle de dee', which is a great song but with possibly a bad title, although it makes sence in context with the lyrics. Also, both B Sides are good. One of them is a lovely ballad 'Hey diddle diddle (I'm playing second fiddle)', the other is 'Sweet magic', which I have always thought bears a resemblance to 'Girls are out to get you' by The Fascinations. (Four good sides on two singles. Now that is good value). I remember buying these purely on the recommendation of dave Godin in Blues and Soul magazine circa 71/72. His tips were rarely wrong (except 'Autumn of your tomorrow' by The Crow; what was that about?)
As Anacostia I believe they recorded the original version of 'Off and on' which is superb. David Ruffin also did a fine version, and whilst his voice is wonderful, I think that raising the tempo spoiled the song. I prefer the arrangement of the anacostia recording, which they sing as a ballad.
When I first heard this song, I couldn't work out what they meant when they sang "You're like a fawcet,turning off and on". I had never heard this word, as in England we say "tap".
Anacostia also did an interesting version of 'Too busy thinking about my baby'.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

Great slice of soul from the late Van McCoy...I still play it off the Sussex 45.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

HEY,NO LESS OF AN AUTHORITY THAN THE OL SOUL PROSPECTOR CALLS IT A GOLDEN NUGGETT,WHICH MAKES IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME,OH OH,I THINK I JUST STEPPED IN SOME MULE DUNG!

By Scratcher (65.132.79.236) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

The Presidents--Tony Boyd, Archie Powell and Billy Shorter--also recorded an rendition of "For You" for their first Sussex single and later did a version of "The Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven" on the same label.

Only Boyd sang with Anacostia who took the name from a Washington D. C. project housing development. The other members of Anacostia were Tommy Williams and Ron Sinclair.

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:49 pm:

Marvin Gaye's version of this song is well done, as well. I read in an UK magazine that it was originally supposed to be a duet with Diana Ross. But I guess her vocals weren't ever recorded, or it would have been included on the recent "DIANA AND MARVIN" remastered cd.

By Scratcher (65.132.79.236) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:51 pm:

The Presidents were old DC friends of Marvin.

By Eli (151.197.112.114) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 03:48 pm:

Archie Powell was a cousin to our bassist Ronnie Baker.

By Sly fan (67.115.74.239) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

That song is still beautiful to me...I always thought it was The Delfonics that made that song when I was little..

Classic!!

By HW (68.37.216.164) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 09:37 pm:

Yes, at Motown in 1972, a cover of "5-10-15-20" was tracked by the producer as a Marvin-Diana duet, but the female vocals were never dubbed in.

By norman richmond (64.231.237.106) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:48 pm:

Marvin Gaye's rendition of the Presidents song was the bomb.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:50 pm:

Hello everyone,

What CD is Marvin's version of this song featured on? Thank you kindly.

Peace!

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 12:54 pm:

Common,
Marvin's version is included on the boxed set THE MARVIN GAYE COLLECTION. It might be on some other compilations, but I'm not sure.

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:06 pm:

Reese: Thank you kindly. I will look into that. I love me some Marvin!

Peace!

By HW (68.37.216.164) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 10:41 pm:

That box set is out of print. The song hasn't been re-compiled yet.