"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 number-one single recorded by The Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a number-one 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 number-one 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.
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 No. 3 song for 1969.
#FunFact - 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".
One of the more interesting parts of the story comes in 1982 when many of the group’s former members put aside years of bitterness and legal battles to reunite for the album Reunion and a tour. It had been over a decade since David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick, who sang many of their biggest hits, had performed with the group in any capacity. They joined forces with Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard and Richard Street to create a fierce seven-man version of the group.
This was just one year after Rick James used the Temptations as background vocals on his megahit “Super Freak,” and he repaid the favor by producing their leadoff single “Standing on the Top.” (He also happened to be cousins with Melvin Franklin.) It became their biggest hit in years, reaching Number Six on the R&B chart.
