AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for
the Tamla Motown label. The
composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit
again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes front woman Diana Ross. The song became
Ross's first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot
100 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Diana Ross version

After the Top 20 success of her first single, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)", Ashford and
Simpson had Ross re-record "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
Initially, Ross was apprehensive, as she had previously covered the song as a
member of the Supremes in a duet with The Temptations (see below). Eventually,
however, she was convinced to make the recording. The cover produced a version
similar to gospel with elements
of classical music strings, spoken word passages from
Ross, with the Andantes, Jimmy Beavers, and Ashford and Simpson as
backing singers giving the song a soul and gospel
vocal element.

Motown chief Berry Gordy didn't like the record upon first hearing
it. He hated the spoken-word passages and wanted the song to begin with the
climactic chorus/bridge. It was not until radio stations nationwide were
editing their own versions and adding it to their playlists that Ashford and
Simpson were able to convince Gordy to release an edited three-minute version
as a single. Ross' version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" rose up
to number one on both the pop and R&B singles charts,[2] and Ross
received a Grammy nomination for Best Female
Pop Vocal Performance. This version is in the key of C minor.