| "My Girl" | ||||
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| Single by The Temptations | ||||
| from the album The Temptations Sing Smokey | ||||
| B-side | "(Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby" | |||
| Released | December 21, 1964 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); September 25, November 10 and November 17, 1964 | |||
| Genre | Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop | |||
| Length | 2:59 | |||
| Label | Gordy G 7038 |
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| Writer(s) | Smokey Robinson Ronald White |
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| Producer | Smokey Robinson Ronald White |
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| The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
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| "My Girl" | ||
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| "My Girl" cover | ||
| Song by Otis Redding
from the album Otis Blue |
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| Released | 1965 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | Stax Studios, Memphis, Tennessee: 1965 | |
| Genre | Soul | |
| Length | 2:52 | |
| Label | Volt/Atco | |
| Producer | Steve Cropper | |
| Otis Blue track listing | ||
"My Girl" is a 1964 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label which became a number one hit in 1965. Written and produced by The Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, the song became the Temptations' first U.S. number-one single, and is today their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing this song was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was featured on the Temptations album The Temptations Sing Smokey.
Contents |
Recording and release
The recorded version of "My Girl" was the first Temptations single to feature David Ruffin on lead vocals. Previously, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams had performed most of the group's lead vocals, and Ruffin had joined the group as a replacement for former Temptation Elbridge "Al" Bryant. While on tour as part of the Motortown Revue, a collective tour for most of the Motown roster, Smokey Robinson caught the Temptations' part of the show. The group had included a medley of soul standards in the show, one of which, The Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk", was a solo spot for Ruffin. Impressed, Robinson decided to produce a single with Ruffin singing lead. Robinson saw Ruffin as a "sleeping giant" in the group with a unique voice that was "mellow" yet "gruff".[1]. Robinson thought that if he could write just the perfect song for Ruffin's voice, then he could have a smash hit.[1] The song was to be something that Ruffin could "belt out" yet something that was also "melodic and sweet".[1] After some persuasion from Ruffin's bandmates, Robinson had the Temptations record "My Girl" instead of The Miracles, and recruited Ruffin to sing the lead vocals. The signature guitar riff heard during the introduction and under the verses was played by Robert White of the Funk Brothers. This part can be heard without vocals on the 2004 Deluxe Edition of the soundtrack from the 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
"My Girl" was later sampled for "Stay", a single from the Temptations' 1998 album Phoenix Rising.
The single was re-released in 1992. It did not reach the Billboard charts, but did reach #2 in the UK Singles Chart.
Reception
"My Girl" climbed to the top of the U.S. pop charts after its Christmas time 1964 release, making it the Temptations' first number-one hit. The single was also the first number-one hit on the reinstated Billboard R&B Singles chart, which had gone on a fifteen-month hiatus from 1963 to 1965.[2]. The success of this single launched a series of Ruffin-led hits, including "It's Growing" (1965), "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965), "My Baby" (1965), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966), "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966), "All I Need" (1967), "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" (1967), "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967), and "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (1968). The former background figure quickly became the group's main (and, excepting irregular leads by Kendricks and Williams, only) lead singer by the end of 1965. After many Ruffin-led hits, he started to develop a large ego. He was later fired from the group (see the Temptations main article for more details).
In 2004, "My Girl" was ranked number 88 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.[3]
Personnel
- David Ruffin – lead vocal
- Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams – backing vocals
- William "Smokey" Robinson and Ronald White – producer
- Paul Riser – arrangement
- The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra – strings
Chart history
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B Singles | 1 |
Covers
In 1965, Otis Redding brought more of a traditional blues flavor to the song in his cover of "My Girl". This version, produced by Steve Cropper, was featured on Redding's critically acclaimed album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul, and was also on John Lennon's jukebox. Redding's version wasn't released as a single in the United States, but Atlantic UK released it in England to capitalize on the relative lack of success by the Temptations' original version, and Redding's cover eventually peaked at #11.
A cover version was included on The Rolling Stones Flowers in 1967. It was recorded two years earlier. The Mamas & the Papas featured this song on the third album Deliver (1967), and released it as a single that reached 15 on the U.S. pop charts. Al Green included a cover version on his 1969 album Green Is Blues. It has also been a hit for Jamaican ska rocksteady legend, Prince Buster. In 1977, Dolly Parton included a country version of the song on her album New Harvest - First Gathering. In 1980, Amii Stewart and Johnny Bristol recorded it as a duet in a medley with another Motown classic, "My Guy". In 1988, Suave had a Top 40 Pop hit & Top 10 R&B hit with the song.
"My Girl" has been covered frequently since the 1960s, including versions by other Motown stars such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
- American indie rock artist Eels segues his song "My Beloved Monster" into a cover of "My Girl" in the 2002 live album Electro-Shock Blues Show.
- Human Nature recorded this song in 2005 for their first of three Motown albums called Reach Out: The Motown Record.
- Miliyah Kato released the song as a single on May 30, 2007. It features Japanese boy-band COLOR.
- Patricia Barber recorded a version on her album Distortion of Love (1992).
- The Jesus and Mary Chain recorded it for the b-side of their single Blues from a Gun. It was also included their compilation album The Sound of Speed.
- Eurythmics recorded an electronic version (named "My Guy") for the aborted "TV Planet" project. It was released as a bonus track on the 2005 reissue of Revenge.
- Kelly Jones of Stereophonics performed a cover version on Jools Holland's Hootenanny new year celebration show for 2008/2009
- A version of the song is on the video game Karaoke Revolution Volume 2.
- Delroy Wilson recorded a reggae/dancehall version of "My Girl" on the Bam Bam Riddim. The song appears on the Various Artists Album called "Bum Bum With Bam Bam Rhythm" by VP Records.
- Nerious Joseph and Tenor Saw recorded a ragga/dancehall version of "My Girl" on the Fever Pitch Riddim. The song appears on the Various Artists album called "Fever Pitch" by VP Records.
Movies
"My Girl" has been featured in a number of films, including the 1991 My Girl, which was also named after the tune. A music video to promote the film combined footage from an archived 1965 television performance, clips from the film, and new footage of the 1991 Temptations lineup - original members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin alongside newer members Richard Street, Ron Tyson, and (wearing glasses to look like David Ruffin) Ali-Ollie Woodson - performing a cover of the tune alongside My Girl's co-stars Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin. The first half of the music video used the original soundtrack. The video was directed by Dominic Orlando.
- Ted Danson's character Jack sings the song to his baby daughter while in the shower in the 1987 blockbuster comedy Three Men and a Baby.
- The song appears in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July.
- In the 1991 movie, Father of the Bride, George Banks (Steve Martin) and his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams) played a game of one-on-one basketball as George was trying to come to grips with the fact that his daughter was to be married; "My Girl" played throughout their game.
- In Music and Lyrics, Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) sings the first four lines of the song to Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) when she is unimpressed by 80's music
- The song appears in the Korean movie My Sassy Girl.
- In Hollywood Homicide, the song was used as Harrison Ford's ringtone, a running gag, as well as in the closing credits.
- An Italian version of My Girl is briefly played in the movie Munich after the first target is assassinated.
- It was also used in the Walt Disney production of the 2007 movie "The Game Plan" starring Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, where after the opening night of his restaurant, he starts to drive home whilst listening to "my girl" on the radio, he then suddenly realises he has forgotten his daughter and goes back for her.
- The song was used in the 1975 film Cooley High, during the romantic scene on the bridge between Preach and Brenda.
Television
- Filipino-American star, Sam Milby recorded a version of the song which became the main theme song of the hit Filipino comedy-drama series, My Girl.
- On the series Full House, Danny Tanner is heard singing this song in the episode "Ol' Brown Eyes".
- On the series Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Uncle Phil sings the song to Will to explain love to him.
- On the series Family Matters, Steve Urkel serenades to Laura with this song with Eddie and Waldo as the backup singers.
- On the series Moonlighting, David Addison sings the song to a man in a parking lot to distract him.
- On the series Boy Meets World, on the Season 3 episode "Rave On", the song is performed by The Monkees' Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork guest starring as Gordy, Reginald and Jedidiah.
- On the series, Blossom, Nick sings the song on to Blossom on the video camera on Season 3 episode of the same name in 1992.
- On the series Martin (TV series), Martin sings this song to Gina on the episode "Woman With A Past, starring Keith Washington.
Notes
- ^ a b c Blair, Elizabeth. "My Girl". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1074993. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 803.
- ^ "The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
| Preceded by "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis & the Playboys |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single March 6, 1965 |
Succeeded by "Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles |
| Preceded by "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs |
Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles number-one single January 30, 1965 – March 6, 1965 |
Succeeded by "Shotgun" by Junior Walker & the All Stars |
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