THE TEMPTATIONS - THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO / AIN’T TO PROUD TO BEG

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO

Released : January 23, 1964

Charted:  US: #11 

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the Top 20 at number eleven. The song has been an American Top 40 hit in four successive decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. A version by Hall & Oates featuring Temptation members Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986. A cover version by British reggae band UB40 hit number six in the U.S. in 1990.

Smokey Robinson wrote this after Berry Gordy implored his Motown writers to come up with something for The Temptations. Gordy wrote his own song for the group, but he put it on the shelf when enough people at Motown told him that Smokey's song was better. Robinson became the primary songwriter for The Temptations.

This is one of the most memorable lyrics in music history, this song is a great bit of romantic poetry, listing all the wonderful things about the lady. From the first lines, it's clear the singer is on to something:

“You got a smile so bright

You know you could have been a candle”

Otis Williams of The Temptations recalled in Mojo magazine February 2009: "The first time we heard the song, we loved it. The melody swung, and the lyrics had lots of charm. They were silly in a way, talking about a girl you loved as a candle, a handle, a schoolbook, a cool crook, a broom, a perfume, but, typical Smokey, he made it work. It got a good response whenever we did it live, so our hopes were up. We knew from past experience that even the best tracks don't always click."

A dancer named Cholly Atkins was brought in to do choreography for The Temptations, which was particularly effective on this song, where they did literal interpretations of the lyrics, miming sweeping the floor or putting on cologne, for example.

AIN’T TO PROUD TO BEG

Released : May 3, 1966

Charted:  US: #13  UK: #21

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr. The song was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for eight non-consecutive weeks. This was very popular among US soldiers who were fighting in Vietnam.

Smokey Robinson was The Temptations' main writer at the time. Motown decided to release his "Get Ready" instead of this song, which drove Whitfield nuts. After "Get Ready" didn't meet expectations, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" was released as The Temptations next single. From there, Whitfield became the regular producer of the Temptations.

Whitfield also produced this song. He had Temptations singer David Ruffin sing slightly higher than his normal range, resulting in the pained vocal that went with the lyrics. Whitfield had Marvin Gaye do the same thing on "Heard It Through The Grapevine." "Norman was hell-bent on taking us in a new direction," The Temptations' Otis Williams told Uncut magazine. "Norman pushed David to vocal heights we hadn't heard before. David was sweating like crazy through the entire session."