Just Let Me Know
Encyclopedia
"Just Let Me Know" is a song recorded in late 1963
by The Temptations
for the Gordy (Motown) label and is the B-side
to the 1964
hit single "The Way You Do the Things You Do
". Ironically, both songs competed with each other and with the H-D-H production, "A Tear From A Woman's Eyes
", for the A-side
; the latter song would be shelved for several years after losing the spot. It was recorded just mere days before the firing of original member Elbridge "Al" Bryant.
In the song, the narrator tells his former love how much he misses her and that if she wants him back to tell him and he came to her "as fast as he can." Two versions of this song was released, both of which was led by group's baritone
singer (and front man) Paul Williams
. The 1st pressing used a more soulful take with only Williams as lead; this version also appears on mono copies of their debut album, Meet the Temptations
, as well as the box set "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 4: 1964." The 2nd pressing had a much smoother take, and featured Bryant with a few lead parts on the choruses (singing the line "straight to you" the first two times on the song – while the group sings it the remaining times). This version was also released on the stereo LP and compact disc
editions of Meet the Temptations
. Around the time the song was recorded Bryant had become restless, uncooperative and sometimes volatile. He'd miss concerts and recording sessions, had now preferred his day job as a milkman
to performing, and been arguing and fighting with his fellow group members. By the time this single came out Bryant was fired and replaced by David Ruffin
.
Despite being a B-side, "Just Let Me Know" was given just as big a promotion as it's A-side, the Eddie Kendricks
-led "The Way You Do the Things You Do", which was a Top 20 Pop hit. Although the song did not chart nationally, it was a strong regional hit in many areas of the country. Due to the success of the A-side, Williams would be prevented from getting any more leads on the group's remaining A-sides (with the exception of group/multi-leads during the late 60's).
1963 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles start a 5-day tour in Scotland to support the release of their new single, "Love Me Do".*January 4 – At Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Dalida receives a Juke Box Global Oscar for the year's most-played artist on juke boxes....
by The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
for the Gordy (Motown) label and is the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to the 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
hit single "The Way You Do the Things You Do
The Way You Do the Things You Do
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single...
". Ironically, both songs competed with each other and with the H-D-H production, "A Tear From A Woman's Eyes
A Tear from a Woman's Eyes
"A Tear from a Woman’s Eye" is a 1964 song written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, and recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It competed with several songs, including "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "Just Let Me Know" in an effort to become...
", for the A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
; the latter song would be shelved for several years after losing the spot. It was recorded just mere days before the firing of original member Elbridge "Al" Bryant.
In the song, the narrator tells his former love how much he misses her and that if she wants him back to tell him and he came to her "as fast as he can." Two versions of this song was released, both of which was led by group's baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
singer (and front man) Paul Williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
. The 1st pressing used a more soulful take with only Williams as lead; this version also appears on mono copies of their debut album, Meet the Temptations
Meet the Temptations
Meet the Temptations is the 1964 debut album by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It includes most of the group's early singles except for the first, "Oh Mother of Mine", and its b-side, "Romance Without Finance" ; as well as the single "Mind Over Matter" , in which the group is...
, as well as the box set "The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 4: 1964." The 2nd pressing had a much smoother take, and featured Bryant with a few lead parts on the choruses (singing the line "straight to you" the first two times on the song – while the group sings it the remaining times). This version was also released on the stereo LP and compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
editions of Meet the Temptations
Meet the Temptations
Meet the Temptations is the 1964 debut album by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It includes most of the group's early singles except for the first, "Oh Mother of Mine", and its b-side, "Romance Without Finance" ; as well as the single "Mind Over Matter" , in which the group is...
. Around the time the song was recorded Bryant had become restless, uncooperative and sometimes volatile. He'd miss concerts and recording sessions, had now preferred his day job as a milkman
Milkman
A milkman is a person, traditionally male, who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. Milk deliveries frequently occur in the morning and it is not uncommon for milkmen to deliver products other than milk such as eggs, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt or soft drinks...
to performing, and been arguing and fighting with his fellow group members. By the time this single came out Bryant was fired and replaced by David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
.
Despite being a B-side, "Just Let Me Know" was given just as big a promotion as it's A-side, the Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
-led "The Way You Do the Things You Do", which was a Top 20 Pop hit. Although the song did not chart nationally, it was a strong regional hit in many areas of the country. Due to the success of the A-side, Williams would be prevented from getting any more leads on the group's remaining A-sides (with the exception of group/multi-leads during the late 60's).
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (The Temptations)Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
and Al BryantElbridge BryantElbridge "Al" Bryant was an American tenor singer, and one of the founding members of Motown singing group The Temptations.-Early life and career:...
(2nd version only) - Background vocals by Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
, Melvin FranklinMelvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
, Al Bryant, and Otis WilliamsOtis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform... - Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...