I Can't Get Next to You

"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 number-one single recorded by The Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was the number-one single on the Billboard Top Pop Singles chart for two weeks in 1969, from October 11 to October 25, replacing "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies and replaced by "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley. The single was also a number-one hit on the Billboard Top R&B Singles for five weeks,^[1] from October 4 to November 1, replacing "Oh, What a Night" by The Dells, and replaced by another Motown song, "Baby I'm For Real" by The Originals.

The single was the second of the Temptations' four number-one hits on the United States pop charts, and was also one of the best-selling singles the group released. Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1969.^[2]

ABC, a song released in the following year by fellow Motown act The Jackson Five, uses the same bridge section, featuring identifiable use of the stated "ya!" as well as the percussion.

Overview

"I Can't Get Next to You" was the second single from the 1969 Temptations LP Puzzle People, with "Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)", a ballad led by Paul Williams, as the b-side. The single was a number-one hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Top R&B Singles charts. The song has been frequently covered, with the most notable cover being a 1970 version by Al Green, which strips the composition of its fast pace and multi-lead vocals, and instead renders it as a slow-burning plea for love. Green's cover, the title track of his 1971 LP Al Green Gets Next to You, reached number sixty on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, and number eleven on the R&B chart.

Personnel

Lead and background vocals by Dennis Edwards (verses; choruses; outro), Eddie Kendricks (verses; choruses), Paul Williams (verses), Melvin Franklin (verses), and Otis Williams (last verse)
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Produced by Norman Whitfield
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers.

Covers

In 1970, The Osmonds (with newly added youngest brother Donny) covered the song on their eponymous MGM debut album as the finale of a medley of Motown hits. They later released a full version of the song on their 1974 album, Love Me for a Reason.

In September 1971 the British group Savoy Brown included a much slower and bluesier version in their album Street Corner Talking which was based on the Al Green version that came out a month before on his album Al Green Gets Next to You.

In 1976, The Jess Roden Band included a version on their album Play It Dirty, Play It Class.

In 1993, the Brazilian blues band Big Allanbik, covered this song on their first release "Blues Special Reserve", with a tinged Savoy Brown influence.

In 1995, Annie Lennox covered the song on her Medusa album, with a slight lyrical alteration to reflect her gender.

In 2000, Westlife used the song for the medley part of their Where the Dreams Come True Tour.

In 2002, Toto covered the song on their album Through the Looking Glass.

In 2006, San Francisco band Thee More Shallows covered the song on their EP Monkey vs. Shark.

In 2008, Lil Wayne sampled parts of the song for his song "Oh I", which was originally intended for Tha Carter II but did not make the final track listing, and had the chorus sung by Reel with different lyrics.

In 2014, David Cassidy posted a download link to the song on David Cassidy's official web site. David originally recorded the track in 2011 with Craig J Snider.

References

↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 571.
↑ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1969

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Preceded by "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (The Temptations version) October 18, 1969 (two weeks)	Succeeded by "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley
Preceded by "Oh, What a Night" by The Dells	Billboard's Best Selling Soul Singles number one single October 4 - November 1, 1969	Succeeded by "Baby, I'm for Real" by The Originals

The Temptations

Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Larry Braggs Willie Green Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams Elbridge Bryant David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali-Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Harry McGilberry Barrington "Bo" Henderson Ray Davis G. C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson

Studio albums	Meet the Temptations The Temptations Sing Smokey The Temptin' Temptations Gettin' Ready The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul The Temptations Wish It Would Rain Cloud Nine Puzzle People Psychedelic Shack Sky's the Limit Solid Rock All Directions Masterpiece 1990 A Song for You House Party Wings of Love The Temptations Do the Temptations Bare Back Hear to Tempt You Power The Temptations Reunion Surface Thrills Back to Basics Truly for You Touch Me To Be Continued... Together Again Special Milestone Phoenix Rising Ear-Resistible Awesome Legacy Still Here

Cover albums	The Temptations in a Mellow Mood For Lovers Only Reflections Back to Front

Live albums	Temptations Live! Live at the Copa Live at London's Talk of the Town The Temptations in Japan

Other albums	Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations TCB The Temptations Show Together On Broadway The Temptations Christmas Card Give Love at Christmas Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968)

Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Anthology Emperors of Soul The Ultimate Collection My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations Psychedelic Soul

Singles (US/UK Top 10)	"My Girl" "Get Ready" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" "(I Know) I'm Losing You" "All I Need" "You're My Everything" "I Wish It Would Rain" "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" "Cloud Nine" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "Run Away Child, Running Wild" "I Can't Get Next to You" "Psychedelic Shack" "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Masterpiece" "Let Your Hair Down" "Happy People" "Shakey Ground" "Treat Her Like a Lady" "The Motown Song" "My Girl" (reissue)

Related	The Temptations (miniseries) Discography The Supremes The Undisputed Truth Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Sly Stone George Clinton

Book Category

The Temptations singles discography

1960s	"Oh Mother of Mine" (1961) "Check Yourself" (1961) "(You're My) Dream Come True" (1962) "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" (1962) "Paradise" (1962) "I Want a Love I Can See" (1963) "Farewell My Love" (1963) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964) "I'll Be in Trouble" (1964) / "The Girl's Alright with Me" (1964) "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (1964) "My Girl" (1964) "It's Growing" (1965) "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965) / "You've Got to Earn It" (1965) "My Baby" (1965) / "Don't Look Back" (1965) "Get Ready" (1966) "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966) "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966) "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966) "All I Need" (1967) "You're My Everything" (1967) / "I've Been Good To You" (1967) "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" (1967) "I Wish It Would Rain" (1968) / "I Truly, Truly Believe" (1968) "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (1968) "Please Return Your Love to Me" (1968) "Cloud Nine" (1968) "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1968) / "Silent Night" (1968) "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (1969) "Runaway Child, Running Wild" (1969) "I'll Try Something New" (1969) "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" (1969) "I Second That Emotion" (1969) "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969) "The Weight" (1969)

1970s	"Psychedelic Shack" (1970) "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" (1970) "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970) "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" (1970) / "Hum Along and Dance" (1970) "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) "It's Summer" (1971) "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971) "Take a Look Around" (1972) "Mother Nature" (1972) / "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" (1972) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) "Masterpiece" (1973) "Plastic Man" (1973) "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" (1973) "Law of the Land" (1973) "Let Your Hair Down" (1973) "Heavenly" (1974) "You've Got My Soul on Fire" (1974) "Happy People" (1974) "Shakey Ground" (1975) "Glasshouse" (1975) "Keep Holdin' On" (1976) "Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)" (1976) "Who are You (and What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)" (1976) "In a Lifetime" (1977) "Think for Yourself" (1977) "Bare Back" (1978) "Ever Ready Love" (1978)

1980s	"Power" (1980) "Struck By Lightning Twice" (1980) "Aiming At Your Heart" (1981) "Oh What A Night" (1981) "Standing On The Top - Pt. 1" (1982) "More On The Inside" (1982) "Money's Hard To Get" (1982) "Love On My Mind Tonight" (1983) "Surface Thrills" (1983) "Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)" (1983) "Sail Away" (1984) "Treat Her Like a Lady" (1984) "My Love Is True (Truly For You)" (1985) "How Can You Say That It's Over" (1985) "Do You Really Love Your Baby" (1985) "Deeper Than Love" (1985) "Touch Me" (1986) "I'm Fascinated" (1986) "A Fine Mess" (1986) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1986) "Lady Soul" (1986) "To Be Continued..." (1986) "Someone" (1987) "I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now" (1987) "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (re-issue) (1987) "Look What You Started" (1987) "Do You Wanna Go With Me" (1988) "All I Want From You" (1989) "Special" (1989) "Loveline" (1989)

1990s	"Soul to Soul" (1990) "One Step At A Time (Remix)" (1990) "The Motown Song" (1991) "The Jones" (1991) "My Girl" (re-issue) (1992) "Hoops of Fire" (1992) "Error of Our Ways" (1994) "Silent Night" (1995) "Stay" (1998) "This is My Promise" (1998) "How Could He Hurt You" (1999)

2000s	"I'm Here" (2000)

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