The Friday Five: Five Songs by The Temptations!

Welcome to THE FRIDAY FIVE! Each week, participants are given a topic and assigned to come up with five songs fitting that topic. This week, the topic is five songs by one artist. I chose to focus on one of my favorite groups, one that hasn't come up in my Friday Fives as of yet. That group is the fantastic Motown group The Temptations!

"My Girl"

Let me be upfront about this: "My Girl" is my all-time favorite Temptations song. In fact, it's probably one of my top 10 favorite songs of all time. It's one of the few songs that I consider absolutely PERFECT in every way. It may seem unconventional to kick things off with my all-time favorite Temptations song, but to heck with conventional wisdom!

From the moment you hear those opening base notes and guitar hook, you know you're in for something special. There's something so clean and pure about this song, and much of the credit for that has to go to Smokey Robinson's writing and production prowess. The arrangement is uncluttered, leaving plenty of room for David Ruffin's passionate lead vocal and the rest of the group's perfect harmonies. Robinson adds just a touch of echo to the music, giving the song "the same ozone-intoxicated feeling as the air just after a summer thunder shower" (to quote famed rock critic Dave Marsh). The lyrics flow off the tongue so smoothly that it's hard to believe that they were written; they're so perfect that it feels like they should have just existed, created by God. And, of course, there's the sweetly romantic vibe that the song discusses!

"It's Growing"

Smokey Robinson wrote the lyrics for "It's Growing" for The Temptations, trying to recapture the success the team had with 1964's "My Girl" (more on that song later). Robinson's skill really shows; this is just as much his song as it is David Ruffin's or any of the other Temptations'. Robinson was famous for clever wordplay and a keen sense of rhythm in his lyrics, and those skills really carry "It's Growing" to greatness. 

In "It's Growing," David Ruffin takes the lead vocal, tackling Robinson's intricate lyric lines. Each verse takes the feeling of growing affection and romance and uses long, elaborate similes to describe the feeling. This makes for some lines look unwieldy when read. When they're sung, however, the rhythm makes itself known, and the song transforms into a romantic little gem. David Ruffin nails each line perfectly. It's his vocals and Robinson's writing that make this song special!

"Get Ready"

"Get Ready" is a major hinge point in Temptations history, for this is the final time that the group collaborated with Smokey Robinson. You see, there was this young teen named Norman Whitfield who wanted to be a writer/producer. He began hanging out around Hitsville, USA (Motown Records's famous headquarters), doing odd jobs and making himself known. Motown president/founder Berry Gordy, Jr. came to like the kid and gave Whitfield jobs in Motown Records' quality control department and songwriting pool. Whitfield wanted to be a producer, though, and let Gordy know about his wishes. Gordy made a deal with Whitfield: if The Temptations' upcoming single, "Get Ready," under-performed, then Gordy would release Robinson as The Temptations' lead producer and give Whitfield the job.  

"Get Ready" only reached #29 on the Billboard charts, far below what Gordy was anticipating. True to his word, Gordy released Smokey Robinson from his position with the Temptations and filled it with Norman Whitfield. The Temptations would never sound the same again!

The above story really has no bearing on "Get Ready" itself; it's just an interesting tidbit. The behind-the-scenes dealing doesn't change the fact that "Get Ready" is a fun, fast-paced, well-written rocker of a love song. To hear it is to love it!

"I Can't Get Next To You"

Upon his arrival, Norman Whitfield immediately began taking The Temptations to bolder, funkier places. Where Smokey Robinson would tenderly touch nerves with his light, frothy lyrics, Whitfield would go directly to the heart with his extremely emotional ballads and gritty, funky uptempo numbers. The Temptations' work suddenly became dirtier and more down-to-earth, and music lovers responded positively; the group's records continued to sell well, and the Temptations became even bigger stars. Unfortunately, this led to the loss of David Ruffin; his cocaine habit and primadonna-like demands became too much for the group to take, and Ruffin was canned. To replace Ruffin, Whitfield brought in a new singer, Dennis Edwards.

Edwards turned out to be the magic ingredient that completed the Temptations' transformation. His voice has a tough, gritty, from-the-streets quality that Ruffin's voice lacked, allowing the group to tackle songs with more bravado and swagger. This is especially apparent in songs like "I Can't Get Next To You!" The lyrics revolve around a guy who can do just about anything he wants: he can travel back in time; he can make the seasons change with a wave of his hand; heck, he can even give himself immortality! He can't get with the girl he loves, though, and it's KILLING HIM! Edwards gives this song the macho swagger it needs to play well, and, brother, it DOES play well!

"Just My Imagination"

Like "Get Ready," "Just My Imagination" is another hinge point in Temptations history. While the group was appreciative of the success that Norman Whitfield had brought with his new sound, they were beginning to get tired of psychedelic, gritty numbers. Several members of the group went to Whitfield, saying that they wanted to record another romantic ballad. Whitfield initially resisted, but, eventually, he acquiesced, co-writing "Just My Imagination" with Barrett Strong. As it turned out, the song sat on the shelf several years until 1971, when Whitfield finally pulled it down. Sadly, however, this would be the final time Eddie Kendricks would lend his perfect falsetto to a Temptations release; he left the group soon after recording this tune. Just more interesting tidbits!

"Just My Imagination" isn't my favorite Temptations song (as you know), but it is the one I relate to most. The song revolves a young man who admires his crush from afar. His daydreams about her are extremely vivid, so much so that they almost seem real. The young man is very much aware that they're not, however, and it pains him. This was the story of my romantic life through my high school years, and, in some ways, it still is. This song speaks to me on a very personal level, and that's why I love it!