Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff – HuffPost 5.7.10

[Note: This contains both advice for new artists as well as quotes about artists re-recording the duo’s material.]

Mike Ragogna: What is your advice to new songwriters?

Leon Huff: My advice to new songwriters is try to write music that’s going to stand the test of time. Write great stories that everybody could understand what you’re talking about. Great melodies. Me and Gamble focused on great melodies and great stories, stories like “Me and Mrs. Jones.” I love that song. That song will be around because “Me and Mrs. Jones” is a story. “Back Stabbers,” “For The Love Of Money.” Stories. “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” Stories. That’s my advice.

MR: Are there any favorite re-records that you’ve heard of your material recently?

Kenny Gamble: The cover songs I like the most right now are the ones by Michael Bubblé. He did “Me And Mrs. Jones” and “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” I like the flavor he adds when he interprets the songs.

LH: And there are some wonderful versions of Gamble and Huff songs on Rod Stewart’s new album. Rod Stewart did about five of our songs, and he did a fantastic version of “Love Train” and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” He did another song that I love “Never Gonna Give You Up,” and killed it!