The Way You Do the Things You Do
1964 single by The Temptations
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"The Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by American group 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 US 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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side A of the Australian single | ||||
| Single by The Temptations | ||||
| from the album Meet the Temptations and The Temptations Sing Smokey | ||||
| B-side | "Just Let Me Know" | |||
| Released | January 23, 1964 | |||
| Studio | Hitsville USA (Studio A) | |||
| Length | 2:42 | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Songwriters | Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers | |||
| Producer | Smokey Robinson | |||
| The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks
- Background vocals by Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers[3]
- Bass: James Jamerson
- Drums: Richard "Pistol" Allen
- Guitar: Eddie Willis
- Piano: Earl Van Dyke
- Tenor saxophone solo: Henry Cosby
Charts
| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada CHUM Chart Top 50 [4] | 43 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 11 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[6] | 10 |
| US Cash Box R&B Singles Chart | 1 |
Rita Coolidge version
| "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)" | |||
| Released | June 1978 | |||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriters | Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers | |||
| Producer | David Anderle | |||
| Rita Coolidge singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
American recording artist Rita Coolidge covered "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and it was released in 1978 by A&M Records as the third single from her most successful album, Anytime...Anywhere (1977). In the US, the single reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 20 on the Record World Singles Chart and number 18 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also reached number 16 in Canada. It is ranked as the 151st biggest Canadian hit of 1978.[7]
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 16 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] | 9 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 18 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1978) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM)[11] | 151 |
Hall & Oates version
In 1985, a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") was released by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, number 40 on the R&B chart[12] and number 24 on Radio & Records.[13] The single was nominated for a Grammy Award.[2]
Reception
John Leland at Spin said, "This record is pretty wonderful and it's definitely better than most H & O or Temps fare, but it also bores me in ways it shouldn't. If there was any emoting going on in the performance, it didn't translate onto wax."[14]
UB40 version
| "The Way You Do the Things You Do" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by UB40 | ||||
| from the album Labour of Love II | ||||
| B-side | "Splugen" | |||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Reggae[15] | |||
| Length | 3:03 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | UB40 | |||
| UB40 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered by the English reggae band UB40. It was released as the sixth single from their ninth album, Labour of Love II (1990). The song was released in 1990 by DEP International and Virgin Records in the majority of European countries.
Track listings
- 7-inch single
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
- "Splugen" (4:41)
- CD single
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
- "Splugen" (4:41)
- Maxi-CD
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Jazzy Club mix) (6:11)
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Paradise mix) (4:07)
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:00)
- "Splugen" (4:42)
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1990–1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | 78 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] | 37 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] | 42 |
| Europe (European Hit Radio)[19] | 13 |
| France (SNEP)[20] | 11 |
| Germany (GfK)[21] | 53 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[22] | 26 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 11 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] | 15 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[25] | 49 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[26] | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[27] | 6 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] | 21 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[29] | 4 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | 63 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1991) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[30] | 71 |
Certifications
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1990 | Cassette | Virgin | |
| Australia | November 19, 1990 |
|
[34] | |
| United Kingdom | January 21, 1991 |
|
|
[35] |