"The Way You Do the Things You Do" | ||||
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Single by The Temptations | ||||
from the album Meet the Temptations & The Temptations Sing Smokey | ||||
B-side | "Just Let Me Know" | |||
Released | January 23, 1964 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded |
Hitsville USA (Studio A) January 9, 1964 |
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Genre | Soul, doo-wop, R&B, pop | |||
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 | |||
The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
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"The Way You Do the Things You Do" | ||||
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Single by Rita Coolidge | ||||
from the album Love Me Again | ||||
B-side | "I Feel the Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)" | |||
Released | 1978 | |||
Format | 45 RPM | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 3:35 | |||
Label | A&M Records | |||
Writer(s) |
Smokey Robinson Robert Rogers |
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Producer(s) | David Anderle | |||
Rita Coolidge singles chronology | ||||
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"The Way You Do the Things You Do" | ||||
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Single by UB40 | ||||
from the album Labour of Love II | ||||
Released | 1989 July 1990 France September 11, 1990 US |
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Format |
CD single CD maxi 7" single |
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Recorded | 1989 | |||
Genre | Reggae | |||
Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | Virgin Records | |||
Writer(s) |
Smokey Robinson Robert Rogers |
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Producer(s) | UB40 | |||
UB40 singles chronology | ||||
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"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; it also went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart.
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. Its 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 at this time had had only one single that had ever made it onto a Billboard chart (1962's "Dream Come True" at #22 on the R&B singles chart) and six flopped singles. This version of the song actually appears on two of their mid 1960s albums: 1964's Meet The Temptations and 1965's The Temptations Sing Smokey.
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. While Ruffin would sing lead on stage he would remain a background singer on the singles 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".