The Way You Do the Things You Do
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| "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | ||
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| Single by The Temptations | ||
| from the album Meet the Temptations | ||
| Released | January 23, 1964 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); January 9, 1964 | |
| Genre | Soul | |
| Length | 2:42 | |
| Label | Gordy G 7028 |
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| Writer(s) | Smokey Robinson Robert Rogers |
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| Producer(s) | Smokey Robinson | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Temptations singles chronology | ||
| "Farewell My Love" (1963) |
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964) |
"I'll Be in Trouble" (1964) |
"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 11.
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[edit] About the song
[edit] Original version
Falsetto Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the record, composed by Robinson and Rogers while on the road with The Miracles as part of the Motortown Revue tour. It's plethora of pick-up lines ("You got a smile so bright/you know you coulda been a candle/I'm holding you so tight/You know you coulda been a handle") began as a light-hearted joke between Robinson and Rogers to pass time on the long bus rides. Realizing they had something they could work with, the Miracles kept the lyrics in mind and prepared the song for the Temptations, who by this time had only one single that had ever made it onto a Billboard chart (1962's Dream Come True" made it to #22 on the R&B singles chart) and six flopped singles.
The recording was done on January 8, 1964, a mere two weeks after founding Temptation Elbridge Bryant had been fired, and Jimmy Ruffin's younger brother David Ruffin had taken Bryant's place. Ruffin would remain a background singer for most of 1964, but after Smokey Robinson heard him sing lead during the Temptations' Motortown Revue performance, Ruffin was assigned to sing lead on what would become the Temptations' first number-one hit, "My Girl".
The Temptations learned about "The Way You Do the Things You Do's" success after returning home to Detroit, Michigan and hearing nonchalantly from a Motown executive that "oh, you guys got a hit." After reading the number 77 ("with a bullet") listing in Billboard magazine, Temptations members Otis Williams and David Ruffin immediately began crying with joy.
[edit] Covers
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" has been covered many times, including a second version by The Temptations with Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1968, versions by Rita Coolidge and UB40, and a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick. The Coolidge, UB40, and Hall & Oates/Ruffin/Kendrick versions were also released as singles (charting, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 at #20 in 1978, at #6 in 1990, and at #20 in 1985).
Also, The Jerry Garcia Band frequently performed an extended jam of the song in concert, often lasting ten minutes or more.
[edit] Credits
- Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks
- Background vocals by Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams
- Written by William "Smokey" Robinson and Robert Rogers
- Produced by William "Smokey" Robinson
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
[edit] Sample
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Released in 1964 as a single from Meet the Temptations; The Temptations' first Top 40 and Top 20 single.
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
