The Way You Do the Things You Do

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the Top 20 at number eleven; it also went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart.^[1] The song has been an American Top 40 hit in four successive decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. A version by Hall & Oates featuring Temptation members Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986.^[2] A cover version by British reggae band UB40 hit number six in the U.S. in 1990.

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Side A of the Australian single
Single by The Temptations
from the album Meet the Temptations and The Temptations Sing Smokey
B-side	"Just Let Me Know"
Released	January 23, 1964
Studio	Hitsville USA (Studio A)
Length	2:42
Label	Gordy
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson
The Temptations singles chronology
"Farewell My Love" (1963) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964) "I'll Be in Trouble" (1964)

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks
• Background vocals by Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams
• Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers^[3]
  • Bass: James Jamerson
  • Drums: Richard "Pistol" Allen
  • Guitar: Eddie Willis
  • Piano: Earl Van Dyke
  • Tenor saxophone solo: Henry Cosby

Chart history

Chart (1964)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[4]	11
US Cash Box Top 100 [5]	10
US Cash Box R&B Singles Chart	1
Canada CHUM Chart Top 50 [6]	43

Rita Coolidge version

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Single by Rita Coolidge
from the album Anytime...Anywhere
B-side	"I Feel the Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)"
Released	June 1978
Length	3:35
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers
Producer(s)	David Anderle
Rita Coolidge singles chronology
"We're All Alone" (1977) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1978) "You" (1978)

Rita Coolidge covered "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and it was released in 1978 as the third single from her most successful album, Anytime...Anywhere. In the U.S., the single reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 20 on the Record World Singles Chart and number 18 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also reached number 16 in Canada. It is ranked as the 151st biggest Canadian hit of 1978.^[7]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles [8]	16
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[9]	13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	20
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[10]	9
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	18

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
Canada [11]	151

Hall & Oates version

In 1985, a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") was released by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, number 40 on the R&B chart^[12] and number 24 on Radio & Records.^[13] The single was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[2]

Reception

John Leland at Spin said, "This record is pretty wonderful and it's definitely better than most H & O or Temps fare, but it also bores me in ways it shouldn't. If there was any emoting going on in the performance, it didn't translate onto wax."^[14]

UB40 version

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"
Single by UB40
from the album Labour of Love II
B-side	"Splugen"
Released	1990
Genre	Reggae[15]
Length	3:03
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers
Producer(s)	UB40
UB40 singles chronology
"Wear You to the Ball" (1990) "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1990) "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (1990)

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered by the English reggae band UB40. It was released as the sixth single from their ninth album, Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1990 in the majority of European countries.

Track listings

7-inch single

1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
2. "Splugen" (4:41)

CD single

1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
2. "Splugen" (4:41)

Maxi-CD

1. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Jazzy Club mix) (6:11)
2. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Paradise mix) (4:07)
3. "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:00)
4. "Splugen" (4:42)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990–1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[16]	78
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17]	37
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18]	42
France (SNEP)[19]	11
Germany (GfK)[20]	53
Ireland (IRMA)[21]	26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22]	11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23]	15
UK Singles (OCC)[24]	49
US Billboard Hot 100[25]	6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[26]	21

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[16]	63

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100[27]	71

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[28]	Silver	200,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.