The Way You Do the Things You Do

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
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
Genre Soul, doo-wop, R&B, pop
Length 2:42
Label Gordy
G 7028
Writer(s) Smokey Robinson
Robert Rogers
Producer(s) Smokey Robinson
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 eleven; it also went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart.[1]

Temptations version

Background

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".

The Temptations learned about the success of "The Way You Do the Things You Do" after returning home to Detroit, Michigan, and hearing nonchalantly from a Motown executive that "oh, you guys got a hit." After reading the number 76 ("with a bullet") listing in Billboard magazine, Temptations members Otis Williams and David Ruffin immediately began crying with joy. During this period the group's baritone Paul Williams was still considered the main lead singer; but due to the success of this single, Kendricks would be given the lead on the next two following singles.

Personnel

Chart history

Chart (1964) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart 11
U.S. Cash Box R&B Singles Chart 1

Rita Coolidge cover

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Single by Rita Coolidge
from the album Love Me Again
A-side The Way You Do the Things You Do
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
Producer(s) David Anderle
Rita Coolidge singles chronology
"We're All Alone"
(1977)		 "The Way You Do the Things You Do"
(1990)		 "You"
(1978)

Rita Coolidge covered "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and it was released in 1978 as the third single from her most successful album, Love Me Again. In the U.S., the single reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also reached #16 in Canada. It is ranked as the 151st biggest Canadian hit of 1978.[2]

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Canada RPM [3] 16
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 20
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 18

Year-end charts

Chart (1978) Position
Canada [4] 151

Other versions

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" has been recorded or performed by other artists many times, including a second version by the Temptations with Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1968. An Italian language version was recorded in 1967 by the Temptations, with the title "Sei solo tu" ("It's just you").

The song has been an American Top 40 hit in four successive decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. In 1985, a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") was released by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick, reaching #25.

There have also been versions by Eric Donaldson, Elkie Brooks, the Underdogs, Manfred Mann in 1965 on their Mann Made album, the Iveys (Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Ron Griffiths & Mike Gibbins, before Griffiths quit, to be replaced by Joey Molland, at which point the band changed its name to Badfinger[5]), Little Richard on 1971's The King of Rock and Roll, Jordan Pruitt, and Hilary Duff in the movie Raise Your Voice.

The Jerry Garcia Band performed the song in concert with an extended jam, often lasting ten minutes or more. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed an extended version, as part of a medley with "634-5789", during their radio-broadcast show at the Apollo Theater and continued to perform it throughout their 2012 Wrecking Ball Tour.

UB40 cover

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love II
Released 1989
July 1990 France
September 11, 1990 US
Format CD single
CD maxi
7" single
Recorded 1989
Genre Reggae
Length 3:03
Label Virgin Records
Writer(s) Smokey Robinson
Robert Rogers
Producer(s) UB40
Certification Silver France, 1991
UB40 singles chronology
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
(1989)		 "The Way You Do the Things You Do"
(1990)		 "Groovin"
(1991)

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the majority of European countries (in July 1990 in France), and was featured in the Ridley Scott–Michael Douglas film Black Rain.

Track listings

7"-Single
  1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
  2. "Splugen" (4:41)
CD-Single
  1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
  2. "Splugen" (4:41)
CD-Maxi
  1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Jazzy Club Mix) (6:11)
  2. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Paradise Mix) (4:07)
  3. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:00)
  4. "Splugen" (4:42)

Personnel

Charts, certifications and sales

Chart (1990–1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[6] 78
Canada (RPM) 42
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 15
France (SNEP)[8] 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 53
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 26
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[11] 49
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 6
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[12] 21
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[6] 63
End of year chart (1991) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 71
Country Certification Sales/shipments
France Silver[14] 151,000[15]

References

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