Peak
1
Weeks
17
Score
4,050
Chart Year
1969
This was written by the Motown songwriters Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, and Whitfield produced the track. The duo also wrote the Temptations hit "Cloud Nine," which was released in 1968. Both songs were released after David Ruffin left the group, but while "Cloud Nine" had a Psychedelic sound and some pretty deep lyrics, "I Can't Get Next To You" is more typical Motown Soul, and finds The Temptations singing about the power of love, and how all their otherworldly powers mean nothing if they can't get the girl. All 5 of The Temptations trade verses on this song, and they all join in on the chorus. >> In 1970 Al Green recorded a slow version of this song which appeared on the album Al Green Gets Next To You. Other artists to record it include The Four Tops, Jose Feliciano, Annie Lennox, Edwin McCain, The Osmonds, Toto and Savoy Brown.
David: I... Melvin: Can turn a grey sky blue, uh... Melvin: I can make it rain, Whenever I want it to, huh! Paul: I can build a castle From a single grain of sand I can make a ship sail, huh, On dry land Dennis: But my life is incomplete And I'm so blue 'Cause I can't get next to you David: I can't get next to you David: Get next to you... I just can't get next to you Temptations: I can't get next to you babe, I can't get next to you, I... David: Can fly like a bird in the sky Eddie: Hey, I can buy anything That money can buy Temptations: Oh, I... Melvin: I can turn a river Into a ragin' fire Melvin: I can live forever, If I so desire Eddie: Unimportant, are all these things I can do 'Cause I can't get next to you Temptations: I can't get next to you Eddie: No matter what I do Temptations: I can't get next to you, babe Temptations: Wooo, oooh-oooh Wooo, oooh-oooh Chicka boom, chicka boom Chicka boom-boom-boom David: I can turn back the hands of time... You better believe I can Paul: I can make the seasons change Just by a wave of my hand Temptations: Oh, I... Eddie: I can change anything From old to new Paul: The things I want to do the most, I'm unable to do David: Unhappy am I With all the powers I possess Cause girl, you're the key to my happiness Temptations: Can't get next to you 'Cause I can't get... Temptations: Next to you Dennis: Can't you see these tears I'm crying, I can't get uh... Temptations: Next to you Dennis: Girl, it's you that I need... I gotta get... Temptations: Next to you Dennis: Can't you see these tears I'm cryin, I can't get... Temptations: Next to you Dennis: I, I, I, I, I can't get now... Temptations: Next to you Dennis: Girl, you blowin' my mind fade to end
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 16, 1969 | 84 | 42 |
| 2 | Aug 23, 1969 | 48 | 78 |
| 3 | Aug 30, 1969 | 30 | 96 |
| 4 | Sep 6, 1969 | 11 | 115 |
| 5 | Sep 13, 1969 | 10 | 116 |
| 6 | Sep 20, 1969 | 10 | 116 |
| 7 | Sep 27, 1969 | 6 | 120 |
| 8 | Oct 4, 1969 | 5 | 121 |
| 9 | Oct 11, 1969 | 4 | 122 |
| 10 | Oct 18, 1969 | 1 | 125 |
| 11 | Oct 25, 1969 | 1 | 125 |
| 12 | Nov 1, 1969 | 4 | 122 |
| 13 | Nov 8, 1969 | 4 | 122 |
| 14 | Nov 15, 1969 | 6 | 120 |
| 15 | Nov 22, 1969 | 10 | 116 |
| 16 | Nov 29, 1969 | 17 | 109 |
| 17 | Dec 6, 1969 | 31 | 95 |