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| When one first encounters the Jobete song catalog, you realize just how much of its undeniable legacy was the work of a relatively small number of songwriters and producers. On closer examination, it becomes obvious how prolific these craftsmen were. Each of them had their own strengths and are recognized for contributions so unique that it is hard to imagine the Motown history without any of them.
As you'll see from the alphabetical list below of 62 selected songs from Norman Whitfield's portion of Jobete's vault, his compositions include several of Motown's finest milestones. As both writer and producer, his biggest achievement wastransforming The Temptations' sound, injecting it with a powerful, blues-tinged soul-searching quality which he matched with ear catching, percussive arrangements.
For an example of the Whitfield magic at work, listen to some of his first Temptation sides, such as AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG on which David Ruffin sang one of his finest-ever leads; then check out (I KNOW) I'M LOSING YOU which is driven along by Cornelius Grant's unforgettable guitar intro. Norman has written with various lyricists, but most notably Eddie Holland and Barrett Strong, who'd both been solo recording artists in the very early days of Motown.
AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG (NW/Eddie Holland)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1966) #1 R&B; #13 Pop; UK #21
The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stone: 1974) #17 Pop
Other versions include:
Hall & Oates with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks
(RCA), Willie Mitchell (Hi), Rick Astley (RCA), Richard 'Popcorn'
Wylie (Motorcity), The Supremes (Motown), Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (UK Pye), The Magnificent Men (Capitol), The Outsiders (Capitol)
BALL OF CONFUSION (THAT'S WHAT THE WORLD IS TODAY)
(NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1970) #2 R&B; #3 Pop; UK #7
Other versions include:
Duran Duran (Capitol), Love & Rockets (RCA), Tina Turner (Capitol), Edwin Starr (Gordy), The Undisputed Truth (Gordy), Go West (Chrysalis); Scientific Americans (Roir) BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1966) #1 R&B; #3 Pop; UK #18
Other versions include:
The Miracles (Tamla); Aswad (Island); The Persuasions (A&M);
Herman Brood (Ariola America)
CLOUD NINE (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1968) #2 R&B; #6 Pop; UK #15 in '69
Mongo Santamaria (Columbia: 1969) #32 Pop
Other versions include:
Marvin Gaye (Tamla); Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers (Fantasy); Edwin Starr (Gordy); Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul); The Mar-Keys (Stax)
DON'T LET HIM TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Four Tops (Motown: 1969) #25 R&B; #45 Pop
Other versions include:
Jimmy Ruffin (Soul); The Temptations (Gordy);
Also recorded as DON'T LET HER TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME
by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul) DON'T LET THE JONESES GET YOU DOWN (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1969) #2 R&B; #20 Pop
DON'T YOU MISS ME A LITTLE BIT BABY
(NW/Barrett Strong/Rodger Penzabene/Carl Christiansen)
Jimmy Ruffin (Soul: 1967) #27 R&B; #68 Pop
Other versions include:
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul); Marvin Gaye (Tamla)
THE END OF OUR ROAD (NW/Barrett Strong/Rodger Penzabene)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1968) #5 R&B; #15 Pop
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1970) #7 R&B; #40 Pop
Other versions include:
The Staple Singers (Stax); The Temptations (Gordy)
EVERYBODY NEEDS LOVE (NW/Eddie Holland)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1967) #3 R&B; #39 Pop
Other versions include:
Mary Wells (Motown); Maxine Brown (Wand); The Miracles (Tamla); Jimmy Ruffin (Soul); The Temptations (Gordy)
FRIENDSHIP TRAIN (NW/Barrett Strong)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1969) #2 R&B; #17 Pop
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy); Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers (Fantasy); The Undisputed Truth (Gordy)
FUNKY MUSIC SHO NUFF TURNS ME ON (NW/Barrett Strong)
Edwin Starr (Gordy: 1971) #6 R&B; #64 Pop
The Temptations (Gordy: 1972) #27 R&B
Yvonne Fair (Motown: 1974) #32 R&B
Other versions include:
Patti LaBelle (Epic)
GIRL (WHY YOU WANNA MAKE ME BLUE) (NW/Eddie Holland)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1964) #26 R&B; #26 Pop
GONNA GIVE HER ALL THE LOVE I'VE GOT (NW/Barrett Strong)
Jimmy Ruffin (Soul: 1967) #14 R&B; #29 Pop; UK #26
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1970) #26 R&B; #67 Pop
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy); James & Bobby Purify (Casablanca); R.Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)
HE WAS REALLY SAYIN' SOMETHIN'
(NW/Eddie Holland/William Stevenson)
The Velvelettes (V.I.P: 1965) #21 R&B; #64 Pop
As: REALLY SAYIN' SOMETHIN':
Bananarama & The Fun Boy Three (Deram: 1982) UK #5
Other versions include:
The Marvelettes (Tamla); Shalamar (Solar)
HELP YOURSELF (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1974) #19 R&B; #63 Pop
HEY GIRL (I LIKE YOUR STYLE) (NW)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1973) #2 R&B; #35 Pop
HIGHER THAN HIGH (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1975) #77 R&B
HOW CAN I FORGET (NW/Barrett Strong)
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1970) #18 R&B; #41 Pop
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy)
HUM ALONG AND DANCE (NW/Barrett Strong)
Rare Earth (Rare Earth: 1973) #95 R&B
Other versions include:
The Jackson 5 (Motown); The Temptations (Gordy)
I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1969) #1 R&B; #1 Pop; UK #13 in '70
Al Green (Hi: 1970) #11 R&B; #60 Pop
Other versions include:
Annie Lennox (Arista); Jose Feliciano (RCA); Mongo Santamaria (Columbia); The Satintones (Motorcity); Woody Herman & His Orchestra (Cadet); The Jayboys (Trojan); Savoy Brown (Parrot)
I COULD NEVER LOVE ANOTHER (AFTER LOVING YOU)
(NW/Barrett Strong/Rodger Penzabene)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1968) #1 R&B; #13 Pop; UK #47
Other versions include:
The Persuasions (Capitol); Brad Lundy (Trojan)
I GOTTA LET YOU GO (NW)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Gordy: 1970) #43 R&B
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (NW/Barrett Strong)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1967) #1 R&B; #2 Pop; UK #47
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1968) #1 R&B; #1 Pop; UK #1
Slits (Island: 1979) UK #60
Roger (Warner Bros: 1981) #1 R&B
Marvin Gaye (1986 re-release) UK #8
Other versions include:
The Miracles (Tamla); Earl Klugh (Blue Note); Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy); The Temptations (Gordy); The Flying Pickets (Virgin); Joe Cocker (Asylum); The Average White Band (Atlantic); Ike & Tina Turner (Minit); Frankie Gaye (Motorcity); Ella Fitzgerald (Reprise); Ronnie Milsap (RCA); The California Raisins (Priority); King Curtis (Atco); Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers (Gordy); The California Raisins (Priority)
(I KNOW) I'M LOSING YOU (NW/Eddie Holland/Cornelius Grant)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1966) #1 R&B; #8 Pop; UK #19
Rare Earth (Rare Earth: 1970) #20 R&B; #7 Pop
Rod Stewart & Faces (Mercury: 1971) #24 Pop
Uptown (Oak Lawn: 1987) #80 Pop
Other versions include:
The Commodores (Motown); The Jackson 5 (Motown); Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin (Broken)
I WISH IT WOULD RAIN (NW/Barrett Strong/Rodger Penzabene)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1968) #1 R&B; #4 Pop; UK #45
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1968) #15 R&B; #41 Pop
Other versions include:
Aretha Franklin (Arista); Bobby Womack (UA); Marvin Gaye (Tamla) Steve Harley (Capitol); Ike & Tina Turner (UA); Rod Stewart & The Faces (Mercury); O.B. McClinton (Stax); Willie Mitchell (Hi); Little Caesar (DGC)
I'M A FOOL FOR YOU (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1974) #39 R&B
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME (NW/William Stevenson)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1968) #9 R&B; #40 Pop
Yvonne Fair (Motown: 1976) #85 Pop; UK #5
Other versions include:
Kim Weston (Tamla); Adeva (Chrysalis)
IT'S SUMMER (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1971) #29 R&B; #51 Pop
Other versions include:
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul)
JUST MY IMAGINATION (RUNNING AWAY WITH ME) (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1971) #1 R&B; #1 Pop; UK #8
Lillo Thomas (Capitol: 1984) #79 R&B
Other versions include:
The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stone); Donald Byrd (Blue Note); The Undisputed Truth (Gordy); Ruby Turner with The Temptations (Jive); Take That (RCA)
LAW OF THE LAND (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1973) #40 R&B
The Temptations (Gordy: 1973) UK #41
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN (NW)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1974) #1 R&B; #27 Pop
(LONELINESS MADE ME REALIZE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED
(NW/Eddie Holland)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1967) #3 R&B; #14 Pop
Other versions include:
The Persuasions (Capitol)
MAMA I GOTTA BRAND NEW THING (DON'T SAY NO) (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1973) #46 R&B
Other versions include:
The Jackson 5 (Motown)
MASTERPIECE (NW)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1973) #1 R&B; #7 Pop
Other versions include:
Hammer (Capitol); Grover Washington Jr.(Motown)
MESSAGE FROM A BLACK MAN (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Whatnauts (A&I: 1970) #19 R&B
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy); Derrick Harriott (Trojan)
NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK (NW/William Stevenson)
The Velvelettes (V.I.P: 1964) #45 R&B; #45 Pop
Other versions include:
The Spinners (Motown); Dusty Springfield (Philips)
PAPA WAS A ROLLIN' STONE (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1972) #5 R&B; #1 Pop
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1972) #24 R&B; #63 Pop
Wolf (Constellation: 1983) #47 R&B; #55 Pop
Was (Not Was) (Chrysalis: 1990) #60 R&B
Other versions include:
George Michael (in a medley with Seal's "Killer" recorded live) (Hollywood); Run C&W (MCA); The Jackson 5 (Motown)
PLASTIC MAN (NW)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1973) #8 R&B; #40 Pop
PLEASE RETURN YOUR LOVE TO ME (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1968) #4 R&B; #26 Pop
Other versions include:
Rose Royce (Whitfield)
PRIDE AND JOY (NW/William Stevenson/Marvin Gaye)
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1963) #2 R&B; #10 Pop
Other versions include:
The Jackson 5 (Motown); Georgie Fame (Polydor)
PSYCHEDELIC SHACK (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1970) #2 R&B; #7 Pop; UK#33
Other versions include:
Jr. Walker & The All Stars (Soul)
RUN AWAY CHILD, RUNNING WILD (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1969) #1 R&B; #6 Pop
Other versions include:
The Persuasions (Capitol)
SAIL AWAY (NW/Angelo Bond)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1984) #13 R&B; #54 Pop
SAVE MY LOVE FOR A RAINY DAY (NW/Rodger Penzabene)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1971) #43 R&B
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy)
SMILING FACES SOMETIMES (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1971) #2 R&B; #3 Pop
Other versions include:
Bobbi Humphrey (Blue Note); Rare Earth (Rare Earth); The Tamlins (Island)
STOP THE WAR NOW (NW/Barrett Strong)
Edwin Starr (Gordy: 1971) #5 R&B; #26 Pop; UK#33
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy)
SUPERSTAR (REMEMBER HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU ARE)
(NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1971) #8 R&B; #18 Pop; UK #32 in '72
Other versions include:
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy)
TAKE A LOOK AROUND (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1972) #10 R&B; #30 Pop; UK#13
THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS (NW/Barrett Strong)
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1969) #2 R&B; #7 Pop
Other versions include:
The Commitments (MCA); Carl Graves (A&M) The Isley Brothers (Tamla); The Temptations (Gordy); Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul); Jimmy Nail (Virgin); The Uniques (Virgin)
TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY
(NW/Barrett Strong/Janie Bradford)
Marvin Gaye (Tamla: 1969) #1 R&B; #4 Pop; UK#5
The Billy Mitchell Group (Calla: 1969) #49 R&B
The Young Vandals (T-Neck: 1970) #46 R&B
Mardi Gras (Bell: 1972) UK #19
Orbit (Quality: 1984) #66 R&B
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy); Manhattan Transfer w/Phil Collins (Atlantic); Elkie Brooks (A&M)
TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA (NW/Eddie Holland)
The Marvelettes (Tamla: 1965) #15 R&B; #25 Pop
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (in a medley with "Three Little Fishes") (New Voice: 1967) #24 Pop
Other versions include:
Gwen Guthrie (Warner Bros.); The Young Rascals (Atlantic)
U + ME = LOVE (NW)
Funky Worm (Fon: 1989) UK #46
UFO'S (NW)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1975) #62 R&B
UNGENA ZA ULIMWENGU (UNITE THE WORLD) (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1970) #8 R&B; #33 Pop
WALK OUT THE DOOR IF YOU WANNA (NW)
Yvonne Fair (Motown: 1974) #60 R&B
WAR (NW/Barrett Strong)
Edwin Starr (Gordy: 1970) #3 R&B; #1 Pop; UK #3
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (Columbia: 1986) #8 Pop; UK #18
Edwin Starr (Weekend: 1993 re-recording) UK #69
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy) Frankie Goes To Hollywood (ZTT); Paul Weller (Polydor)
WHAT IT IS (NW/Barrett Strong)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1972) #35 R&B; #71 Pop
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy)
WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT (THAT'S MY HOME)
(NW/Barrett Strong/Marvin Gaye)
Paul Young (CBS: 1983) UK #1
Other versions include:
Marvin Gaye (Tamla); The Temptations (Gordy)
YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEAVEN AND HELL RIGHT HERE ON EARTH
(NW/Barrett Strong)
The Undisputed Truth (Gordy: 1972) #24 R&B; #72 Pop
Other versions include:
The Temptations (Gordy)
YOU NEED LOVE LIKE I DO (DON'T YOU) (NW/Barrett Strong)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul: 1970) #3 R&B; #25 Pop
Other versions include:
The Jackson 5 (Motown); The Temptations (Gordy)
YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING (NW/Rodger Penzabene/Cornelius Grant)
The Temptations (Gordy: 1967) #3 R&B; #6 Pop; UK#26
Other versions include:
Gladys Knight & The Pips (Soul)
YOU'VE GOT MY SOUL ON FIRE (NW)
Edwin Starr (Gordy: 1973) #40 R&B
The Temptations (Gordy: 1974) #8 R&B
Biography courtesy of Alan Warner |
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