Sky’s the Limit cover art
Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources cited

Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)

Soul1970s
92BPM
C majKey
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM, Deezer
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Whitfield & Strong), no dispute found — closes this catalogue’s Motown / Whitfield-Strong / Dennis Coffey thread; Eddie Kendricks’ and Paul Williams’ poignant swan song.
Quick Facts
Released1971
AlbumSky’s the Limit
GenreSoul, R&B, Psychedelic Soul
LabelGordy / Motown Records
ProducerNorman Whitfield
Recorded atDetroit
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of recordNorman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
Wikipedia · checked Jul 2026
The current administratorNot confirmed — originally Motown/Gordy; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-covered #1 soul ballad; closes this catalogue’s Motown / Whitfield-Strong / Dennis Coffey thread.
Wikipediachecked Jul 2026
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute found.
Compiled from public sourceschecked Jul 2026

The two permissions you need, and who holds them

The song itself (the writing)Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
Recorded Nov–Dec 1970, released Jan 14, 1971, from “Sky’s the Limit” (Gordy/Motown) — #1 Hot 100 (two weeks), #1 R&B (three weeks), the group’s third pop #1. Written back in 1969 but shelved ~two years before Whitfield pivoted back to balladryWikipediachecked Jul 2026
A poignant dual swan songThis was lead vocalist Eddie Kendricks’ final single with the Temptations before leaving for a solo career (he’d grown to dislike Whitfield’s psychedelic direction). It was also the last song for Paul Williams, who sings one line — Williams stayed on salary as an advisor but was struggling with alcoholism and died by suicide in 1973, at 34.
Songfactschecked Jul 2026
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Motown / Gordy Records (original label) — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup. No dispute foundchecked Jul 2026

Receipts

Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found

The Funk Brothers thread, one more time

The session guitarists were Dennis Coffey (connected throughout this catalogue via “Scorpio,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “War” and “Cloud Nine”) and Eddie Willis, with a bassline by fellow Funk Brother Bob Babbitt.

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Can You Use It for Free?

How to check PD →
Is it public domain?No
Compiled from public sourceschecked Jul 2026

Sample History

Times sampled
A #1 soul ballad; the group’s third pop #1
Covers
First flip

Who to Contact

JI
Whitfield & Strong / Motown
The confirmed songwriters of record
Confirmed · checked Jul 2026
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References

Every source cited on this page — 3 in total

Page history · 3 updates
Jul 2026BPM set to 92 (feel tempo) — the two-source pass read the 184 double-time octave; halved to this song’s natural tempo. Key C maj confirmed.
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 15)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass
Last checked Jul 2026 · Compiled from Wikipedia, Wikidata, Discogs, MusicBrainz, Nolo, Stereogum, Songfacts.
This page is informational, not legal advice — always confirm current rightsholders before release.
ConfirmedReportedUnknown