Studio Album · No. 1
Meet the Temptations Songwriting Credits by The Temptations
Produced by Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Andre Williams
Holds writing credit on 2 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 2 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Temptations carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
The Temptations were interpreters, not writers, and Meet the Temptations makes that plain: nearly every song comes from Motown's in-house staff. Berry Gordy wrote the bulk of the record, and Smokey Robinson supplied the songs that mattered most, including the hit that opens it. 'The Way You Do the Things You Do' was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, both members of the Miracles, with Robinson also producing and Eddie Kendricks singing lead. Norman Whitfield, who would later define the group's psychedelic-soul era, appears here as an early co-writer on two tracks. Only two songs carry Temptations names in the credits, 'Isn't She Pretty' and 'Check Yourself,' where members joined Gordy on the writing.
Meet the Temptations is the 1964 debut album by the Temptations, released on Motown's Gordy label. It gathers the early singles the group cut between 1961 and 1964, so it plays as a compilation of a young act still searching for its breakthrough. That breakthrough arrives on the opening track, 'The Way You Do the Things You Do,' the Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers song that gave the group its first national hit with Eddie Kendricks on lead. Almost none of the material was written by the Temptations themselves; the songs come from Motown's staff writers, chiefly Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, with Norman Whitfield and Janie Bradford also credited. The lead vocals rotate between Kendricks and Paul Williams across the record, backed by Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, and Elbridge Bryant, with David Ruffin present on the newest recording. It is the starting point of one of Motown's defining vocal groups.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Way You Do the Things You Do
#11
|
Smokey RobinsonBobby Rogers | William RobinsonRobert Rogers | Smokey Robinson | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)David Ruffin (Backing Vocals) |
| 2 |
I Want a Love I Can See
|
Smokey Robinson | William Robinson | Smokey Robinson | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 3 |
(You're My) Dream Come True
|
Berry Gordy | Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 4 |
Paradise
|
Berry Gordy | Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Co-Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 5 |
May I Have This Dance
|
Janie BradfordNorman Whitfield | Janie BradfordNorman Jesse Whitfield | Norman Whitfield | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 6 |
Isn't She Pretty
|
Berry GordyEddie KendricksOtis Williams | Berry Gordy Jr.Edward KendrickOtis Miles Jr. | Berry Gordy | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 7 |
Just Let Me Know
|
Berry Gordy | Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 8 |
Your Wonderful Love
|
Berry Gordy | Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 9 |
The Further You Look, the Less You See
|
Smokey RobinsonNorman Whitfield | William RobinsonNorman Jesse Whitfield | Smokey Robinson | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 10 |
Check Yourself
|
Elbridge BryantMelvin FranklinOtis WilliamsBerry Gordy | Elbridge BryantDavid EnglishOtis Miles Jr.Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 11 |
Slow Down Heart
|
Smokey Robinson | William Robinson | Smokey Robinson | Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Co-Lead Vocals)Eddie Kendricks (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |
| 12 |
Farewell My Love
|
Berry Gordy | Berry Gordy Jr. | Berry Gordy | Eddie Kendricks (Lead Vocals)Paul Williams (Lead Vocals)Melvin Franklin (Backing Vocals)Otis Williams (Backing Vocals)Elbridge Bryant (Backing Vocals) |