The Way You Do the Things You Do

"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] 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.[2] A cover version by British reggae band UB40 hit number six in the U.S. in 1990.

"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"
ReleasedJanuary 23, 1964
RecordedHitsville USA (Studio A)
January 9, 1964
GenreSoul
Length2:42
LabelGordy
G 7028
Songwriter(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)

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
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 11
US Cash Box Top 100 [4] 10
US 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 Anytime...Anywhere
B-side"I Feel the Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)"
ReleasedJune 1978
Recorded1977
GenreSoft rock
Length3:35
LabelA&M Records
Songwriter(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"
(1978)		 "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, Anytime...Anywhere. 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.[5]

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (1978) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles [6] 16
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[7] 13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 20
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[8] 9
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 18

Year-end charts
Chart (1978) Position
Canada [9] 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").

In 1985, a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") was released by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick, reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, #12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #40 on the R&B chart,[10] and #24 on the pop chart.[11] The single was nominated for a Grammy Award.[2]

UB40 cover
"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love II
Released1989
July 1990 France
September 11, 1990 US
Recorded1989
GenreReggae
Length3:03
LabelVirgin Records
Songwriter(s)Smokey Robinson
Robert Rogers
Producer(s)UB40
UB40 singles chronology
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
(1989)		 "The Way You Do the Things You Do"
(1989)		 "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

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 571.
  2. "Hall and Oates". Recording Academy Grammy Awards.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2007). Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006. Record Research. p. 836.
  4. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, April 18, 1964". Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  6. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 58.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  10. "Daryl Hall & John Oates Chart History". Billboard.
  11. https://gghunt.utasites.cloud/charts/Songruns/H/HallandOates/way_you_do_the_things_you_do.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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