Artist Name: Temptations

Year Inducted: 2023

Details

Category: Legendary Songs

 "I Can't Get Next To You" (N. Whitfield, B. Strong) - Temptations; Gordy label, # 1 Billboard Hot 100, # 1 Billboard R&B - 1969. Inducted 2023.

“I Can’t Get Next To You” was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. The single was a # 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1969, replacing “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. It spent a total of 17 weeks on the charts, the longest time for any Temptations’ single. 

It was the second of the Temptations four # 1 hits on the Hot 100, and it was also one of the best-selling singles the group released. Billboard ranked it as the # 3 song for all of 1969.

“I Can’t Get Next To You” was also a # 1 hit on the Billboard R&B chart for five weeks, replacing “Oh, What A Night” by the Dells. The applause that starts the song, which is cut short by Dennis Edwards’ spoken “Hold it, hold it, listen” line, was sampled in the Temptations’ song “Psychedelic Shack” in 1970.

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dde4p6OBU