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InterMedia Arts Center 2/2/08
Huntington, NY
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The Temptations
Charted: #11 in March 1964
Judging from Motown’s roster, it sometimes seems as if every black kid who grew up around Detroit in the late ‘50s was musically talented. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, the Marvellettes, Martha and the Vandellas, and numerous others were all contributing to the cottage industry that became Motown. When Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. offered Otis Williams and the Distants an audition for his label after hearing them perform live, he was simply delving into the wellspring of local talent. Like so many others, the Distants were looking for a ticket out of a life spent working at a local car factory, and music was the most hopeful and glamorous alternative.
Otis Williams began trying to sing professionally as soon as he was old enough to take it seriously. He formed groups whose names and members changed constantly, but he held fast to his original intentions. Once he had established himself somewhat, he wanted to recruit bass singer Melvin Franklin, but when they met on the street, Franklin was afraid of him. Williams had a street-tough air, so when he came walking toward Franklin and called his name, Franklin was worried. Williams’ processed hair and leather jacket screamed “gang member,” so Franklin discreetly crossed the street to avoid any confrontation. When Williams crossed over to catch up to him, Franklin doubled back, convinced that Williams was going to rough him up. When they finally came face to face, Franklin was relieved to hear Williams explain why he was chasing him. Franklin replied that he could only join if he got his mother’s permission, so Williams agreed to speak with her. While Franklin hid behind a tree, Williams approached his mother’s house and soon convinced her that her son Melvin would do just fine in the Distants. The first two members of what was to become the classic Temptations lineup had come together. Despite their inauspicious beginning, the two became fast friends.
At the same time, another band called the Primes was playing around Detroit. Members Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Kell Osborne were making a name for themselves with sophisticated three-part harmonies and clever choreography that greatly impressed the Distants. But managerial problems soon splintered the group, and they faced an uncertain future. The Distants were hardly doing better. Through attrition, they were whittled down to three members just before they were due to audition for Motown. Accepting an invitation from Williams, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams jumped ship and signed on to assist Otis Williams and the Distants for their tryout. Three Distants (Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Al Bryant) combined with two Primes (Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams), and together they passed the audition. Back then, Paul Williams was usually the lead singer, while Kendricks’ falsetto would occasionally be featured. All they needed was a new moniker, and the Temptations sounded about as good as anything.
The band’s first releases were cut in 1961 on Gordy’s short-lived Miracle Records, whose slogan was “If it’s a hit, it’s a Miracle.” This proved to be ironically prophetic when none of their records went anywhere, and the label soon folded. Nineteen sixty-two saw them relocated to the main label, but still there were no hits. They even attempted releasing a song as the Pirates, which had no better luck. Nineteen sixty-three wasn’t any better, but the Temptations were persistent and, luckily, Gordy didn’t give up on them. It soon became a personal challenge for him to get them their first hit. Gordy was a gambling man, and he made a bet with Smokey Robinson to see who would finally provide the song that would catapult the Temptations onto the charts.
Meanwhile, tensions were developing within the band. Bryant was becoming increasingly difficult and at one point even assaulted Paul Williams with a beer bottle during a backstage argument. The Ruffin brothers, Jimmy and David, were both talented singers who expressed interest in joining the Temptations. Once Bryant’s aberrant behavior had become unbearable, the others decided to dismiss him, and his likely replacement was to be Jimmy Ruffin. One night, though, David Ruffin spontaneously jumped onstage with the band during an encore, and the audience went into a frenzy because of his rousing performance. Overnight, David became the newest member, and finally the classic lineup was complete. All they needed was a hit record, and it came when Robinson handily won his bet with Gordy by writing “The Way You Do the Things You Do” in tandem with fellow Miracle Bobby Rogers.
In typical Robinson fashion, the lyrics are a string of metaphors, comparing his girlfriend to a broom, a handle, a cool crook, a schoolbook, and even some perfume. The lyrics were silly but entertaining, and the jaunty melody virtually guaranteed the song hit status. Robinson opted to feature Eddie Kendricks on lead vocals, since he possessed a light tenor that was similar in quality to his own voice. They may have been late getting out of the gate, but the Temptations were finally off and running. It took three years and eight attempts, but the seemingly never-ending string of hits that started with “The Way You Do the Things You Do” would soon enough separate them from the rest of the pack.
 
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