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Adding local short description: "Song by the Temptations", overriding Wikidata description "original song written and composed by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong; first recorded by The Temptations"
 
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{{Short description|Song by the Temptations}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = I Can't Get Next to You
| name = I Can't Get Next to You
| Cover = Tempts-cant-get-next-1969.jpg
| cover = Tempts-cant-get-next-1969.jpg
| Artist = [[The Temptations]]
| alt =
| Album = [[Puzzle People]]
| type = single
| B-side = "Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)"
| artist = [[the Temptations]]
| Released = July 30, 1969
| album = [[Puzzle People]]
| Format = 7" single
| B-side = Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)
| Recorded = [[Hitsville USA]] (Studio A); June 23, June 24, June 27, June 30, July 2, and July 3, 1969
| released = July 30, 1969
| Genre = [[Funk]], [[psychedelic soul]]
| recorded = [[Hitsville USA]] (Studio A); June 23, June 24, June 27, June 30, July 2, and July 3, 1969
| Length = 2:51
| studio =
| Label = [[Motown|Gordy]]<br><small>G 7093</small>
| venue =
| Writer = [[Norman Whitfield]] <br /> [[Barrett Strong]]
| genre = [[Funk]], [[psychedelic soul]]
| Producer = Norman Whitfield
| length = 2:51
Platinum ([[RIAA]])
| label = [[Motown|Gordy]]<br><small>G 7093</small>
| Last single = "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" <br />(1969)
| writer = {{hlist|[[Norman Whitfield]]|[[Barrett Strong]]}}
| This single = "'''I Can't Get Next to You'''"<br />(1969)
| producer = Norman Whitfield
| Next single = "[[The Weight]]"<br />(1969)

| prev_title = Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = [[The Weight]]
| next_year = 1969
}}
}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox song
| Name = I Can't Get Next to You
| name = I Can't Get Next to You
| cover = I_Can't_Get_Next_to_You_-_Al_Green.jpg
| Artist = [[Al Green]]
| Album = [[Al Green Gets Next to You]]
| alt =
| Released = 1970
| type = single
| Format = 7" single
| artist = [[Al Green]]
| album = [[Al Green Gets Next to You]]
| Recorded = [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; 1970
| released = November 1970
| Genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| recorded = [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; 1970
| Length = 3:48
| studio =
| Label = [[Hi Records|Hi]]<br><small>2182</small>
| venue =
| Writer = [[Norman Whitfield]] <br /> [[Barrett Strong]]
| genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| Producer = [[Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell]]
| length = 3:48
| Last single = "Right Now, Right Now" <br />(1970)
| label = [[Hi Records|Hi]]<br><small>2182</small>
| This single = "'''I Can't Get Next to You'''"<br />(1970)
| writer = [[Norman Whitfield]] <br /> [[Barrett Strong]]
| Next single = "Driving Wheel"<br />(1971)
| producer = [[Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell]]
| prev_title = Right Now, Right Now
| prev_year = 1970
| next_title = Driving Wheel
| next_year = 1971
}}
}}


"'''I Can't Get Next to You'''" is a 1969 number-one [[Single (music)|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 Hot 100|''Billboard'' Top Pop Singles]] chart for two weeks in 1969, from October 18 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 [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Billboard Top R&B Singles]] for five weeks,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=571}}</ref> from October 4 to November 1, replacing "[[Oh, What a Night (The Dells song)|Oh, What a Night]]" by [[The Dells]], and replaced by another Motown song, "[[Baby I'm For Real]]" by [[The Originals (band)|The Originals]].
"'''I Can't Get Next to You'''" is a 1969 No. 1 [[Single (music)|single]] recorded by [[the Temptations]] and written by [[Norman Whitfield]] and [[Barrett Strong]] for the Gordy ([[Motown]]) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Top Pop Singles]] chart for two weeks in 1969, from October 18 to October 25, replacing "[[Sugar, Sugar]]" by [[the Archies]] and replaced by "[[Suspicious Minds]]" by [[Elvis Presley]]. The single was also a No. 1 hit on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|''Billboard'' Top R&B Singles]] for five weeks,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=571}}</ref> from October 4 to November 1, replacing "[[Oh, What a Night (The Dells song)|Oh, What a Night]]" by [[the Dells]], and replaced by another Motown song, "[[Baby I'm For Real]]" by [[The Originals (band)|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 [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1969|No. 3 song for 1969]].
The single was the second of the Temptations' four No. 1 hits on the [[United States]] pop charts, and was also one of the best-selling singles the group released. ''Billboard'' ranked it as the [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1969|No. 3 song for 1969]].


The applause that starts the song, which is cut short by [[Dennis Edwards]]' spoken "Hold it, hold it, listen" line, was sampled in another Temptations song "[[Psychedelic Shack (song)|Psychedelic Shack]]."
The applause that starts the song, which is cut short by [[Dennis Edwards]]' spoken "Hold it, hold it, listen" line, was sampled in another Temptations song "[[Psychedelic Shack (song)|Psychedelic Shack]]".


==Overview==
==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|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart and the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|''Billboard'' Top R&B Singles]] chart. 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.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Green's cover, the title track of his 1971 LP ''[[Al Green Gets Next to You]]'', reached number sixty on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number eleven on the R&B chart.
"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 No. 1 hit on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart and the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|''Billboard'' Top R&B Singles]] chart. The song has been frequently covered, most notably a 1970 version by [[Al Green]], a slower-paced version without multi-lead vocals. Green's cover, the title track of his 1971 LP ''[[Al Green Gets Next to You]]'', reached No. 60 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and No. 11 on the R&B chart. [[Annie Lennox]] also covered the song on her 1995 album ''[[Medusa (Annie Lennox album)|Medusa]]''.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
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* Written by [[Norman Whitfield]] and [[Barrett Strong]]
* Written by [[Norman Whitfield]] and [[Barrett Strong]]
* Produced by Norman Whitfield
* Produced by Norman Whitfield
* Instrumentation by [[The Funk Brothers]].
* Instrumentation by [[the Funk Brothers]].


==Covers==
==Chart history==
{{col-begin|width=67%}}
In 1970, [[The Osmonds]] (with newly added youngest brother [[Donny Osmond|Donny]]) covered the song on their [[Osmonds (album)|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 (album)|Love Me for a Reason]]''.
{{col-2}}


===The Temptations===
In September 1971, the [[United Kingdom|British]] group [[Savoy Brown]] included a slower and bluesier version in their album ''[[Street Corner Talking]]''. It was based on the [[Al Green]] version that came out a month before on his album, ''[[Al Green Gets Next to You]]''.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1969)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6080&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6080.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6080|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1969-10-25 |access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Charts Company |url=http://Officialcharts.com |access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[R&B]]
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|U.S. [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>[http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19691025.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 25, 1969]</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|}
{{col-2}}


====Year-end charts====
In 1976, The [[Jess Roden]] Band included a version on their album ''Play It Dirty, Play It Class''.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1969)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Canada <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6104&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6104.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6104|title=RPM Top Singles of 1969|access-date=24 December 2017|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|website=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|date=17 July 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|44
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1969.htm Musicoutfitters.com]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
|US ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125055422/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|}


====All-time charts====
In 1993, the Brazilian blues band Big Allanbik, covered this song on their first release ''Blues Special Reserve''.
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1958-2018)
! Position
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|409
|}
{{col-end}}


===Al Green===
In 1995, [[Annie Lennox]] covered the song on her ''[[Medusa (Annie Lennox album)|Medusa]]'' album, with a slight lyrical alteration to reflect her gender.
{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-
In 2000, [[Westlife]] used the song for the medley part of their [[Where the Dreams Come True Tour]].
!Chart (1970–71)

!Peak<br />position
In 2002, [[Toto (band)|Toto]] covered the song on their album ''[[Through the Looking Glass (Toto album)|Through the Looking Glass]]''. In the same year, [[*NSYNC]] also covered a portion of the song on their ''Celebrity'' arena tour as part of a three-song Temptations medley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy9sVxD97gM|title=NSYNC Temptations Medley|date=9 May 2007|accessdate=9 November 2017|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-

|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
In 2006, San Francisco band [[Thee More Shallows]] covered the song on their EP, ''[[Monkey vs. Shark]]''.
| style="text-align:center;"|60

|-
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.
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[R&B]]
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
|U.S. [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>[http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19701219.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 19, 1970]</ref>
|align="center"|70
|-
|}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 76: Line 140:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|al-green|i-cant-get-next-to-you}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = "[[Sugar, Sugar]]" by [[The Archies]]
| title = [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] [[List of number-one hits (United States)|number one single]] (The Temptations version)
| years = October 18, 1969 (two weeks)
| after = "[[Suspicious Minds]]" by [[Elvis Presley]]
}}
{{succession box
| before = "[[Oh, What a Night (The Dells song)|Oh, What a Night]]" by [[The Dells]]
| title = [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Billboard's Best Selling Soul Singles]] [[List of number-one R&B hits (United States)|number one single]]
| years = October 4 - November 1, 1969
| after = "[[Baby, I'm for Real]]" by [[The Originals (band)|The Originals]]
}}
{{s-end}}


{{The Temptations}}
{{The Temptations}}
{{The Temptations singles}}
{{The Temptations singles}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:I Can't Get Next To You}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:I Can't Get Next To You}}
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[[Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles]]
[[Category:Psychedelic soul songs]]
[[Category:Psychedelic soul songs]]
[[Category:1969 songs]]
[[Category:1969 songs]]

Latest revision as of 11:54, 18 June 2024

"I Can't Get Next to You"
Single by the Temptations
from the album Puzzle People
B-side"Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You)"
ReleasedJuly 30, 1969
RecordedHitsville USA (Studio A); June 23, June 24, June 27, June 30, July 2, and July 3, 1969
GenreFunk, psychedelic soul
Length2:51
LabelGordy
G 7093
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
The Temptations singles chronology
"Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down"
(1969) 		"I Can't Get Next to You"
(1969) 		"The Weight"
(1969)
"I Can't Get Next to You"
Single by Al Green
from the album Al Green Gets Next to You
ReleasedNovember 1970
RecordedMemphis, Tennessee; 1970
GenreSoul
Length3:48
LabelHi
2182
Songwriter(s)Norman Whitfield
Barrett Strong
Producer(s)Willie Mitchell
Al Green singles chronology
"Right Now, Right Now"
(1970) 		"I Can't Get Next to You"
(1970) 		"Driving Wheel"
(1971)

"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 No. 1 single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Top Pop Singles chart for two weeks in 1969, from October 18 to October 25, replacing "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies and replaced by "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley. The single was also a No. 1 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 No. 1 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.

The applause that starts the song, which is cut short by Dennis Edwards' spoken "Hold it, hold it, listen" line, was sampled in another Temptations song "Psychedelic Shack".

Overview[edit]

"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 No. 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart. The song has been frequently covered, most notably a 1970 version by Al Green, a slower-paced version without multi-lead vocals. Green's cover, the title track of his 1971 LP Al Green Gets Next to You, reached No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 11 on the R&B chart. Annie Lennox also covered the song on her 1995 album Medusa.

Personnel[edit]

Chart history[edit]

Al Green[edit]

Chart (1970–71) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[10] 60
U.S. Billboard R&B 11
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[11] 70

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 571.
  2. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-10-25. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  3. ^ "Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  5. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 25, 1969
  6. ^ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada. RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  7. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  8. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  9. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  10. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 19, 1970
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