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My Girl (The Temptations song)

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"My Girl"
File:Tempts-mygirl-cover.jpg
Single by The Temptations
From the album The Temptations Sing Smokey
B-side "(Talkin' Bout) Nobody But My Baby"
Single Released December 21, 1964
Single Format vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded Hitsville USA (Studio A); September 25, November 10, and November 17, 1964
Genre Soul
Song Length 2:59
Record label Gordy
G 7038
Producer Smokey Robinson & Ronald White
Chart positions 1 (US), 1 (R&B)
Temptations single chronology
"Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)"
1964 		"My Girl"
1964 		"It's Growing"
1965
Album track by Otis Redding
From the album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Recorded Memphis, Tennessee
Genre Soul
Song Length 3:03
Record label Atco
Producer Steve Cropper
This article is about the 1965 Temptations song. For the 1991 movie, see My Girl.

"My Girl", released December 21 1964, is a 1965 #1 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Motown label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White and produced by Robinson, the song became the Temptations' first US #1 hit single, and is today their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing this song was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson, and he originally intended to have his group record the song.

History

Recording and success

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. 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.

"My Girl" shot to the top of the US pop charts after its Christmastime 1964 release, making it the Temptations first #1 hit. The success of this single launched a series of Ruffin-led hits, including "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". 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 the year.

Covers and other uses

The following year, 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. The album featured a number of classic soul and R&B covers, as well as several original songs (including the future Aretha Franklin hit "Respect"). Though never given a release as a single, Redding's "My Girl" is held in high esteem among fans of classic southern soul.

Now considered a classic Motown tune, "My Girl" has been frequently covered since the 1960s. It has also been featured in a number of movies, including the 1991 film My Girl, which was also named after the tune.

Credits

Sample

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