My Girl by The Temptations is the Smokey Robinson song that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 6, 1965.
Gordy Records released it on December 21, 1964.
It was the group's first US chart-topper, with David Ruffin on lead.
Table of Contents
The Story Behind My Girl by The Temptations
An Answer to My Guy
Robinson conceived the song as a companion to "My Guy," the 1964 hit he wrote for Mary Wells, according to uDiscover Music.
It is believed his wife, Miracles member Claudette Robinson, inspired the lyrics.
Robinson later said it was "written with all the women in the world in mind," as quoted by Songfacts.
He wrote it with Ronald White, his bandmate in The Miracles.
A Song Meant for Someone Else
The Miracles were first in line to record it.
The Temptations persuaded Robinson to let them have it instead, and he rehearsed it with them for about a week.
He had a particular voice in mind: "I wanted to write something sweet for David Ruffin to sing," he said, as quoted by American Songwriter.
Ruffin had joined the group in January 1964, and Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams had sung most earlier leads.
After this record, Ruffin became the main lead singer.
Recording at Hitsville
The Sessions
According to Wikipedia, the group cut the song at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit on September 25, November 10 and November 17, 1964.
Robinson and White produced it.
The single runs 2:56 and the album version runs 2:45.
The B-side is "(Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby."
The Players
- James Jamerson of the Funk Brothers plays the famous bass line that opens the record.
- Robert White, a session guitarist and not the co-writer, plays the guitar riff.
- Earl Van Dyke on piano and Benny Benjamin on drums.
- Paul Riser arranged the horns and strings, with Detroit Symphony Orchestra players on the strings.
How It Charted
In the US
The record reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in the chart week of March 6, 1965, knocking out Gary Lewis & the Playboys' "This Diamond Ring."
It was the first Hot 100 No. 1 for the Gordy label.
It also topped the R&B chart.
It appears on the album The Temptations Sing Smokey, which topped the R&B albums chart.
In the UK
It stalled at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart at first.
A 1992 re-release, after the film My Girl, took it to No. 2.
| Measure | Detail | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | US pop peak, 1965 | No. 1 |
| Hot R&B | US R&B peak, 1965 | No. 1 |
| Cash Box Top 100 | US peak, 1965 | No. 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1964 to 1965 run | No. 43 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1992 re-release | No. 2 |
| Grammy Hall of Fame | Inducted 1998 | Honored |
| Rolling Stone | 500 Greatest Songs of All Time | No. 88 (2004), No. 43 (2021) |
Cash Box called it "a pulsating, shuffle-wobble ballad."
The RIAA has certified it seven times Platinum in the US.
Legacy and Covers
Covers and Screen Time
Otis Redding recorded it in 1965 for Otis Blue, and his version reached No. 11 in the UK.
uDiscover counts more than 150 recordings in all.
Suave took a 1988 version to No. 20 on the Hot 100.
The Library of Congress added the original to the National Recording Registry in 2017.
The 1991 film My Girl, with Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky, took its title from the song.
Where It Fits
The single came out in late 1964 and climbed to the top in 1965, as the Motown boom that began in 1964 rolled on.
You can find it on our list of the best 60s songs.
The full story of the group is in our Temptations biography, and the label's wider sound is covered in the Motown, Soul & R&B hub.
For another Motown chart-topper of the era, read our Baby Love story.
FAQ
Who wrote My Girl?
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White of The Miracles wrote it.
They also produced it.
Who sang lead on My Girl?
David Ruffin sang lead.
It was the first Temptations single with him out front.
When did My Girl come out?
Gordy Records released it on December 21, 1964.
Its B-side is "(Talking 'Bout) Nobody But My Baby," and it appears on the album The Temptations Sing Smokey.
Did My Girl hit No. 1?
Yes, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 6, 1965.
It also topped the R&B chart, and it was the first Hot 100 No. 1 for The Temptations.
Who played on My Girl?
The Funk Brothers played the track: James Jamerson on bass, Robert White on guitar, Earl Van Dyke on piano and Benny Benjamin on drums.
Paul Riser arranged the strings and horns.
A sweet song for a gruff voice turned into a standard.
Wikipedia's entry on the song covers its history and charts in more depth.
Press play above and hear why My Girl by The Temptations still sounds like sunshine.