On Dec. 21, 1964, The Temptations launched what’s now thought of to be one of many best love songs ever recorded.
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White wrote and produced the basic Motown melody “My Woman.” It went on to turn into the group’s first No.1 single. It’s now a part of the Nationwide Recording Registry.
“I bear in mind being within the studio, and we heard ‘My Woman’ for the primary time,” Otis Williams, the group’s sole surviving founding member, advised Fox Information Digital.
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The Temptations, from left, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Eddie Kendricks. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photos)
“I used to be within the management room the place Smokey was doing the manufacturing, and I mentioned, ‘Smoke, I don’t understand how huge a document that is going to turn into.’ Then we have been on the Apollo. We obtained telegrams from the Beatles, Berry Gordy, The Supreme and Jules Podell, the man who ran the Copacabana. Nonetheless have these 4 telegrams hanging up in my residence at present.”
“They’re very valuable to me,” he mirrored. “I simply by no means imagined that The Temps can be receiving so many fantastic accolades at such an early stage. We shaped in 1961, however we didn’t have hits till 1964… The tune put us on the map.”
When requested who’s the thriller lady behind the only, Williams chuckled and replied, “You need to ask Smokey that one.”
Singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson rehearses a tune with the Temptations of their dressing room on the Apollo in 1964. (Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Photos)
“Smokey and his spouse on the time, Claudette, noticed us at a spot in Detroit, a very talked-about nightclub known as The 20 Grand,” Williams recalled. “They got here to see us, and he was like, ‘Man, you guys are dynamite.’ He then stopped and mentioned, ‘I’ve a tune for you.’ We have been younger and cocky, so we have been like, ‘Carry it on – we are able to sing something.’”
“My Woman” was a follow-up to a different tune that was written and produced by Robinson, Mary Wells’ “My Man,” Billboard.com reported. That observe can be celebrating its sixtieth anniversary.
Williams mentioned the key behind the tune’s lasting influence is surprisingly easy.
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Otis Williams performs on stage in California. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Photos)
“It’s obtained such a broad that means,” he defined. “It’s a tune that resonates with any life occasion. When fathers give away their daughters at their weddings, that can all the time be his lady in a way.
“When a man falls in love with a younger girl, he’ll say, ‘That’s my lady.’ It’s obtained quite a lot of totally different meanings, and it provides a variety of emotions. It’s not simply relegated to a man and a lady. It’s a approach of being expressive about love.”
Rating sheets for “My Woman” and “Magnificence is Solely Pores and skin Deep” on show in New York Metropolis. (Dom Emmert/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
“It’s merely an awesome tune with straightforward lyrics – it’s not offensive in any respect,” Williams continued. “It’s a melody anybody can bear in mind. That’s why it’s so priceless… It’s only a fantastic approach of expressing what a person would really feel about his lady… And that’s what Motown believed in – having nice songs with stunning lyrics that aren’t offensive to anybody.”
It was on March 6, 1965, that The Temptations’ bestselling single, “My Woman,” hit #1 on Billboard’s Scorching 100 chart. (Common Music Archives)
And there’s loads that at present’s artists can be taught from his era, Williams insisted.
“Look, I all the time inform those who the one factor that’s fixed in life is change,” he defined. “I attempt to not knock anyone of their endeavors eager to make their bones in present enterprise. However I’ve to say this, I’m not impressed with among the stuff I hear on the radio at present.”
“After I hear the lyrics… I hear cussing,” mentioned Williams. “I’m listening to quite a lot of degrading language. Now, I imagine in freedom of speech, nevertheless it’s very reflective of the place we’re as a society at present… You shouldn’t be listening to cussing on the radio.”
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In 1989, The Temptations have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. (Common Music Archives)
“I imagine in nice lyrics, lyrics that aren’t offensive and can resonate with anybody,” he shared. “That’s why Motown was so nice. They confused nice songs. They have been known as, ‘Songs for America.’
“I do know my time was a distinct time… however I’m simply not impressed with what I’m listening to on the radio nowadays. I don’t know what occurred when issues have gotten so relaxed which you could hear cussing or folks speaking about doing very naughty issues to ladies. Youngsters shouldn’t be listening to that.”
At age 83, Williams has zero plans to decelerate as a performer.
“Look, I all the time inform those who the one factor that’s fixed in life is change. I attempt to not knock anyone of their endeavors eager to make their bones in present enterprise. However I’ve to say this, I’m not impressed with among the stuff I hear on the radio at present.”
On Sept. 14, 1994, The Temptations got a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame in Los Angeles, and on June 7, 2019, given a star on The Apollo Theater’s Stroll of Fame in New York Metropolis. (Common Music Group)
“God has blessed me to be doing this for 64 years,” he shared. “I really feel being in present enterprise is particular. You possibly can attain so many individuals. You may give them hope. You possibly can uplift them throughout robust instances. So we’ll all the time attempt to be a healthful act. We is not going to come out on stage and seize our non-public components and sing about doing this or that.”
“We have been taught that in the event you carry out with the correct of respect and dignity, you’ll all the time have folks listening to you,” mentioned Williams. “So long as you give an excellent efficiency and preserve it healthful, you don’t have to fret about it an excessive amount of. We have been confused respect for our viewers and ourselves.”
“My Woman” has now crossed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify. Williams admitted he’s in awe that youthful listeners are discovering the tune on social media.
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The Temptations have surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. (Common Music Archives)
“God and his infinite knowledge introduced us into that studio – I really imagine that,” mentioned Williams. “And this was a really particular time in the course of the ‘60s. Now, the ‘60s was loopy, like we’re at present… nevertheless it’s a real testomony {that a} tune can nonetheless be liked 60 years later.”
“… Our viewers has grown up with us,” he shared. “We have been younger once we began, however look the place we are actually.”
