🎶 The Song “Who Can I Run To?” – The Jones Girls vs. Xscape
The Original Version: The Jones Girls (1979)
The song “Who Can I Run To?” was originally recorded by the R&B trio The Jones Girls in 1979.
It appeared on their album The Jones Girls.
The song was written and produced by legendary Philadelphia producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the architects of the famous Philadelphia soul sound.
Their version is smooth, emotional, and rooted in classic late-70s R&B.
The original track was a Top 10 R&B hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1979. At the time, it became one of the group’s signature songs.
The Jones Girls lineup included:
Shirley Jones
Brenda Jones
Valerie Jones
The song tells the story of a woman whose relationship is falling apart and she’s asking a painful question:
“Who can I run to when I need love?”
🎤 The Xscape Version (1995)
In 1995, the Atlanta R&B group Xscape recorded a cover version of the song for their album Off the Hook.
Members at the time:
Kandi Burruss
Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle
LaTocha Scott
Tamika Scott
Their version turned the song into a 90s R&B classic.
📊 Chart success:
#8 on the Billboard Hot 100
#2 on the R&B chart
Became one of Xscape’s biggest hits.
The production had a 90s slow-jam feel with layered harmonies and a stronger vocal arrangement.
⚖️ Why People Still Debate This Song
Fans still argue about which version is better:
The Jones Girls version
Classic Philadelphia soul
Smooth, emotional, vintage R&B
Xscape version
Stronger gospel-style vocals
Bigger commercial success
Introduced the song to a new generation
Many younger fans thought Xscape created the song, not realizing it was a cover.
🎧 Fun Fact
Even though Xscape made the song bigger commercially, the songwriting credit and publishing still trace back to Gamble & Huff, meaning the original creators from the Jones Girls era still receive royalties.
✅ Quick Summary
Artist
Year
Chart Impact
The Jones Girls
1979
Top 10 R&B hit
Xscape
1995
Top 10 Pop hit
💬 Pop culture question for you, Spencer:
If you had to choose — The Jones Girls’ smooth classic version or Xscape’s powerful 90s version — which one do you think hits harder?
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