I Can't Get Next to You
"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, 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.
| "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)" | |||
| Released | July 30, 1969 | |||
| Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); June 23, June 24, June 27, June 30, July 2, and July 3, 1969 | |||
| Genre | Funk, psychedelic soul | |||
| Length | 2:51 | |||
| Label | Gordy G 7093 | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| The Temptations singles chronology | ||||
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| "I Can't Get Next to You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Al Green | ||||
| from the album Al Green Gets Next to You | ||||
| Released | November 1970 | |||
| Recorded | Memphis, Tennessee; 1970 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Hi 2182 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong | |||
| Producer(s) | Willie Mitchell | |||
| Al Green singles chronology | ||||
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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".