The Temptations Sing Smokey
The Temptations Sing Smokey | ||||
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Studio album by the Temptations | ||||
Released | March 22, 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1964–1965 | |||
Studio | Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit | |||
Genre | Soul, rhythm and blues | |||
Length | 33:21 | |||
Label | Gordy | |||
Producer | Smokey Robinson | |||
the Temptations chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Temptations Sing Smokey | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | (A)[2] |
The Temptations Sing Smokey is the second studio album by the Temptations for the Motown label, released on the Gordy Records subsidiary (G 912) in 1965.[3] As its name implies, it is composed entirely of songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson, and several other members of the Miracles as well.
Several of the songs are covers of songs Robinson produced for the Miracles or Mary Wells, while the rest were originally recorded by The Temptations. Among these are three successful hit singles, starting with "The Way You Do the Things You Do", which featured Eddie Kendricks on lead vocals. The next two songs feature lead vocals by new Temptation David Ruffin – "It's Growing" and the group's signature song, "My Girl".
Not included are two singles which predate these two singles, "I'll Be in Trouble" and "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (whose B-side, "Baby, Baby I Need You", is here). These songs would be included on the next Temptations album, The Temptin' Temptations. A third hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do", is present here, although it was also issued on the previous Temptations album, Meet the Temptations.
Track listing
Side one
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) – 2:41
- "Baby, Baby I Need You" (Robinson) (lead singers: Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Temptations ensemble) – 2:53
- "My Girl" (Robinson, Ronald White) (lead singer: David Ruffin) – 2:55
- "What Love Has Joined Together" (Robinson, Rogers) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) – 2:58
- "You'll Lose a Precious Love" (Robinson) (lead singer: David Ruffin; Melvin Franklin on last line of bridge) – 2:35
- "It's Growing" (Robinson, Warren Pete Moore) (lead singer: David Ruffin) – 3:00
Side two
- "Who's Lovin' You" (Robinson) (lead singer: David Ruffin) – 2:59
- "What's So Good About Goodbye" (Robinson) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) – 2:40
- "You Beat Me to the Punch" (Robinson, White) (lead singer: Paul Williams) – 2:45
- "Way Over There" (Berry Gordy, Jr., Robinson) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks) – 3:03
- "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (Robinson) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks; co-lead harmonies: David Ruffin, Paul Williams) – 3:00
- "(You Can) Depend on Me" (Gordy, Robinson) (lead singers: Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams) – 2:32
Unreleased recordings from the Sing Smokey sessions:
- "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One" (Robinson) (lead singer: Paul Williams)
- "Happy Landing" (Robinson, White) (lead singer: Eddie Kendricks)
Both these songs have subsequently been released.
Personnel
The Temptations
- David Ruffin – vocals (all tracks except "Baby, Baby I Need You")
- Eddie Kendricks – vocals
- Paul Williams – vocals
- Melvin Franklin – vocals
- Otis Williams – vocals
- Elbridge "Al" Bryant – vocals ("Baby, Baby I Need You")
with:
- The Andantes – additional backing vocals ("It's Growing")
- The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra – strings
Technical
- Smokey Robinson – producer, executive producer
- Bob Folster – cover design
Chart and singles history
Title | Information |
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"The Way You Do the Things You Do" |
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"Baby, Baby I Need You" (recorded 1963; b-side of "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)") |
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"My Girl" |
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"It's Growing" |
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"You'll Lose a Precious Love" (b-side of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg") |
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Name | Chart (1964–1965) | Peak position |
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The Temptations Sing Smokey | U.S. Billboard Pop Albums | 35 |
The Temptations Sing Smokey | U.S. Top R&B Albums | 1 |
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 11 |
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" | U.S. CashBox R&B Singles | 1 |
"Baby, Baby I Need You" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | - |
"My Girl" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 1 |
"My Girl" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 1 |
"It's Growing" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | 18 |
"It's Growing" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 3 |
"What Love Has Joined Together" | U.S. Billboard Pop Singles | |
"What Love Has Joined Together" | U.S. Billboard R&B Singles |
- Note – There was no Billboard R&B singles chart from November 1963 until January 1965. Most discographies include R&B information from Cash Box magazine to fill in the gap in the R&B chart, as is done here with the 1964 releases.
See also
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1965 (U.S.)
References
- v
- t
- e
- Otis Williams
- Ron Tyson
- Terry Weeks
- Tony Grant
- Jawan Jackson
- Melvin Franklin
- Eddie Kendricks
- Paul Williams
- Elbridge Bryant
- David Ruffin
- Dennis Edwards
- Ricky Owens
- Richard Street
- Damon Harris
- Glenn Leonard
- Louis Price
- Ali-Ollie Woodson
- Theo Peoples
- Harry McGilberry
- Barrington "Bo" Henderson
- Ray Davis
- G. C. Cameron
- Joe Herndon
- Bruce Williamson
- Larry Braggs
- Willie Green
- Mario Corbino
- Meet the Temptations
- The Temptations Sing Smokey
- The Temptin' Temptations
- Gettin' Ready
- The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul
- The Temptations Wish It Would Rain
- Cloud Nine
- Puzzle People
- Psychedelic Shack
- Sky's the Limit
- Solid Rock
- All Directions
- Masterpiece
- 1990
- A Song for You
- House Party
- Wings of Love
- The Temptations Do the Temptations
- Hear to Tempt You
- Bare Back
- Power
- The Temptations
- Reunion
- Surface Thrills
- Back to Basics
- Truly for You
- Touch Me
- To Be Continued...
- Together Again
- Special
- Milestone
- Phoenix Rising
- Ear-Resistible
- Awesome
- Legacy
- Still Here
- Temptations 60
- The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
- For Lovers Only
- Reflections
- Back to Front
- All the Time
- Temptations Live!
- Live at the Copa
- Live at London's Talk of the Town
- The Temptations in Japan
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations
- TCB
- The Temptations Show
- Together
- On Broadway
- The Temptations Christmas Card
- Give Love at Christmas
- Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)
- Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits II
- Anthology
- Emperors of Soul
- The Ultimate Collection
- My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations
- Psychedelic Soul
(US/UK Top 10)
- "My Girl"
- "Get Ready"
- "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
- "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"
- "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
- "All I Need"
- "You're My Everything"
- "I Wish It Would Rain"
- "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"
- "Cloud Nine"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "Run Away Child, Running Wild"
- "I Can't Get Next to You"
- "Psychedelic Shack"
- "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)"
- "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
- "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
- "Masterpiece"
- "Let Your Hair Down"
- "Happy People"
- "Shakey Ground"
- "Treat Her Like a Lady"
- "The Motown Song"
- "My Girl" (reissue)
- Band members
- The Temptations (miniseries)
- Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
- Discography
- The Supremes
- The Undisputed Truth
- Smokey Robinson
- Norman Whitfield
- Barrett Strong
- Sly Stone
- George Clinton
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