My Girl (song)

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My Girl is a song by The Temptations , written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White for Motown in 1964 and a number one hit on the American Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 . The song is one of the most famous of the Temptations. The inspiration for the song goes back to Robinson's wife, Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was released on the album The Temptations Sing Smokey .

Song information

My Girl was the first Temptations song that featured David Ruffin in the foreground instead of Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams . All important representatives of the Motown label of the 1960s were represented on the Motortown Revue Tour. When the group presented their songs, Robinson was very impressed by the voice of Ruffin in the background and decided to record a song with him as lead singer. This should sound “melodic and sweet”. The song was written in ten to twenty minutes. When Robinson finished My Girl and the group agreed to release it, they persuaded Ruffin to sing in the foreground. My Girl was also used in 1998 as a template for the Temptations single Stay, which was released from the album Phoenix Rising, which was released in the same year .

Successes and Developments

The song was released around Christmas in 1964 and climbed to the top of the American pop charts the following year. It was the group's first number 1 hit. The song also rose to number one on the R&B charts in 1965, making it the first in this chart category after a 15-month hiatus. In Great Britain the song only reached number 43. 27 years later it went better thanks to the film of the same name : A re-release of My Girl reached number two on the British charts.

The song recorded more hits with Ruffin as the singer in the foreground, for example 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). After these hits, David Ruffin began to develop a huge ego . He later dropped out of the group. In 2004, the song landed at number 88 on the list of the 500 best songs of all time .

Charts

Charts Highest position
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles 1

Contributors

Cover versions

My Girl has been covered many times, here are a few:

  • Michael Jackson covered the song in 1972 for his album Ben . (A flat major)
  • La Toya Jackson put a new version on their album Stop! In the Name of Love! before, but with the title My Guy. (C major)
  • In 1965 Otis Redding covered the song and brought more "traditional blues taste" into his version. This version, produced by Steve Cropper , was released on the album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul . In the US, the song was not released as a single, in the UK it came in at number eleven. (C major)
  • The Rolling Stones recorded a new version in 1965, which was released on their album Flowers in 1967 . (A flat major)
  • Also in 1967 The Mamas & the Papas presented a new version on their album Deliver . The new song came to number 15 on the US pop charts. (B flat major)
  • Also in 1967 The Temptations recorded a new version in Italian: Solamente Lai. (C major)
  • Al Green recorded a cover in 1969 and featured it on his album Green Is Blues. (C major)
  • Jamaica rock star legend Prince Buster also used this song. (B flat major)
  • In 1977 Dolly Parton presented a country version on her album New Harvest - First Gathering . (E major)
  • Amii Stewart and Johnny Bristol recorded a duet of the piece in 1980. (C major)
  • In 1988, Suave had a top 40 pop hit and a top 10 R&B hit with their version. (C major)
  • Michael Bolton covered the song for his album Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2. (D major)
  • Declan Galbraith covered the song in G major.
  • Westlife covered the song in C major.
  • Sam Milby covered the song in B major.
  • Also The Jesus and Mary Chain coverten the song in B major.
  • In advertising, the song was re-recorded for Ferrero Kinder Riegel . (C major)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Adam White and Fred Bronson: The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits , 1993, p. 2, ISBN 0-8230-8285-7
  2. ^ List of the 500 best songs of all time , Rolling Stone website, accessed February 20, 2014