This is a list of songs written by Norman Whitfield , either as a sole writer or with others
Year | Song [1] | Original artist [1] | Co-writer(s) with Whitfield [1] | U.S. Pop [2] | U.S. R&B [3] | UK Singles Chart [4] | Other charting versions, [1] and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | "Pride and Joy" | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye , William "Mickey" Stevenson | 10 | 2 | - | |
"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye, Barrett Strong | - | - | - | 1983: Paul Young, #70 pop, #1 UK | |
1964 | "The Girl's Alright with Me" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. , Eddie Kendricks | - | 39 | - | 1980: Masterpiece, #81 R&B |
"Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. | 26 | 11 | - | ||
"Needle in a Haystack" | The Velvelettes | William "Mickey" Stevenson | 45 | 31 | - | ||
"Too Many Fish in the Sea" | The Marvelettes | Eddie Holland Jr. | 25 | 5 | - | 1966: Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, #24 pop | |
1965 | "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" | The Velvelettes | Eddie Holland Jr., William "Mickey" Stevenson | 64 | 21 | - | 1982: Bananarama, #5 UK |
"Everybody Needs Love" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. | - | - | - | 1967: Gladys Knight & the Pips, #39 pop, #3 R&B | |
1966 | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. | 13 | 1 | 21 | 1974: The Rolling Stones, #17 pop 1989: Rick Astley, #89 pop |
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. | 3 | 1 | 18 | 1989: Aswad, #31 UK | |
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr., Cornelius Grant | 8 | 1 | 19 | 1970: Rare Earth, #7 pop, #20 R&B 1971: Rod Stewart and the Faces, #24 pop 1986: Uptown, #87 pop | |
1967 | "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" | Jimmy Ruffin | Barrett Strong | 29 | 14 | 26 | 1969: Marvin Gaye (#67 pop, #27 R&B) |
"Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby" | Jimmy Ruffin | Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene | 68 | 27 | - | ||
"You're My Everything" | The Temptations | Cornelius Grant, Rodger Penzabene | 6 | 3 | - | ||
"(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need " | The Temptations | Eddie Holland Jr. | 14 | 3 | - | ||
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Barrett Strong | 2 | 1 | 47 | 1968: King Curtis & The Kingpins, #83 pop 1968: Marvin Gaye, #1 pop, #1 R&B, #1 UK 1974: Marvin Gaye, #53 UK (reissue) 1976: Creedence Clearwater Revival, #43 pop 1981: Roger, #79 pop, #1 R&B 1986: Edwin Starr, #83 UK 1986: Marvin Gaye, #8 UK (reissue) 1988: The California Raisins, #84 pop | |
1968 | "I Wish It Would Rain" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene | 4 | 1 | 45 | 1968: Gladys Knight & the Pips, #41 pop, #15 R&B 1973: The Faces, #8 UK |
"The End of Our Road" | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene | 15 | 5 | - | 1970: Marvin Gaye, #40 pop, #7 R&B | |
"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene | 13 | 1 | 47 | ||
"It Should Have Been Me" | Gladys Knight & the Pips | William "Mickey" Stevenson | 14 | 3 | - | 1976: Yvonne Fair, #85 pop, #5 UK 1991: Adeva, #48 UK | |
"Please Return Your Love to Me" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 26 | 4 | - | ||
"Cloud Nine" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 6 | 2 | 15 | 1969: Mongo Santamaria, #32 pop, #33 R&B | |
1969 | "Runaway Child, Running Wild" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 6 | 1 | - | |
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" | Marvin Gaye | Barrett Strong, Janie Bradford | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1969: The Billy Mitchell Group, #49 R&B 1970: The Young Vandals, #46 R&B 1972: Mardi Gras, #19 UK | |
"Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 20 | 2 | - | ||
"I Can't Get Next to You" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1970: Al Green, #60 pop, #11 R&B | |
"Message from a Black Man" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | - | - | - | 1970: The Whatnauts, #99 pop, #19 R&B | |
"That's the Way Love Is" | Marvin Gaye | Barrett Strong | 7 | 2 | - | ||
"Friendship Train" | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Barrett Strong | 17 | 2 | - | ||
"Don't Let Him Take Your Love from Me" | The Four Tops | Barrett Strong | 45 | 25 | - | ||
1970 | "How Can I Forget" | Marvin Gaye | Barrett Strong | 41 | 18 | - | |
"Psychedelic Shack" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 7 | 2 | 33 | ||
"You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Barrett Strong | 25 | 3 | - | 2000: Tom Jones and Heather Small, #24 UK | |
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today) " | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 3 | 2 | 7 | ||
"War" | Edwin Starr | Barrett Strong | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1986: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (live), #8 pop, #18 UK | |
"Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 33 | 8 | - | ||
"I Gotta Let You Go" | Martha Reeves and the Vandellas | 93 | 43 | - | |||
"Stop the War Now" | Edwin Starr | Barrett Strong | 26 | 5 | 33 | ||
1971 | "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1984: Lillo Thomas, #79 R&B 1998: The McGanns, #59 UK 2008: Boyz II Men, #83 R&B |
"Save My Love for a Rainy Day" | The Undisputed Truth | Rodger Penzabene | - | 43 | - | ||
"Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On" | Edwin Starr | Barrett Strong | 64 | 6 | - | 1972: The Temptations, #27 R&B 1974: Yvonne Fair, #32 R&B 2000: The Utah Saints, #23 UK | |
"Smiling Faces Sometimes " | The Undisputed Truth | Barrett Strong | 3 | 2 | - | ||
"It's Summer" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 51 | 29 | - | ||
"Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) " | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 18 | 8 | 32 | ||
"You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth " | The Undisputed Truth | Barrett Strong | 72 | 24 | - | ||
1972 | "What It Is" | The Undisputed Truth | Barrett Strong | 71 | 35 | - | |
"Take a Look Around" | The Temptations | Barrett Strong | 30 | 10 | 13 | ||
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | The Undisputed Truth | Barrett Strong | 63 | 24 | - | 1972: The Temptations, #1 pop, #5 R&B, #14 UK 1982: Wolf, #55 pop, #47 R&B 1987: The Temptations (remix) #31 UK 1990: Was (Not Was), #60 R&B, #12 UK | |
1973 | "Masterpiece" | The Temptations | 7 | 1 | 53 | ||
"Mama I Got a Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)" | The Undisputed Truth | 46 | 46 | - | |||
"Law of the Land" | The Undisputed Truth | - | 40 | - | 1973: The Temptations, #41 UK | ||
"The Plastic Man" | The Temptations | 40 | 8 | - | |||
"Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) " | The Temptations | 35 | 2 | - | |||
"Hum Along and Dance" | Rare Earth | Barrett Strong | - | 95 | - | ||
"You've Got My Soul on Fire" | Edwin Starr | - | 40 | 54 | |||
"Let Your Hair Down" | The Temptations | 27 | 1 | - | |||
1974 | "Heavenly" | The Temptations | 43 | 8 | - | ||
"You've Got My Soul on Fire" | The Temptations | 74 | 8 | - | |||
"Help Yourself" | The Undisputed Truth | 63 | 19 | - | |||
"I'm a Fool for You" | The Undisputed Truth | - | 39 | - | |||
"Walk Out the Door If You Wanna" | Yvonne Fair | - | 60 | - | |||
1975 | "UFO's" | The Undisputed Truth | - | 62 | - | ||
"Love Ain't No Toy" | Yvonne Fair | - | 96 | - | 1987: Amii Stewart, #99 UK | ||
"Higher Than High" | The Undisputed Truth | - | 77 | - | |||
1976 | "Car Wash" | Rose Royce | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1988: Rose Royce, #20 UK (reissue) 1998: Rose Royce, #18 UK (reissue) | |
"You Gotta Believe" | The Pointer Sisters | - | 14 | - | |||
1977 | "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" | Rose Royce | - | - | 44 | ||
"You + Me = Love" | The Undisputed Truth | 48 | 37 | 43 | 1989: The Funky Worm, "U + Me = Love", #46 UK | ||
"Let's Go Down to the Disco" | The Undisputed Truth | 68 | - | ||||
"I Wanna Get Next to You" | Rose Royce | 10 | 3 | 14 | 1998: Christión, #32 R&B | ||
"I'm Going Down" | Rose Royce | 70 | 10 | - | 1995: Mary J. Blige, #22 pop, #13 R&B, #12 UK | ||
"Do Your Dance" | Rose Royce | Dwight Turner | 39 | 4 | 30 | ||
"Ooh Boy" | Rose Royce | 72 | 3 | - | 1980: Rose Royce, #46 UK (reissue) | ||
1978 | "All American Funkathon" | Willie Hutch | Willie Hutch | - | 62 | - | |
"Theme Song from Which Way Is Up?" | Stargard | 21 | 1 | 19 | |||
"It Makes You Feel Like Dancin'" | Rose Royce | - | - | 15 | |||
"What You Waiting For" | Stargard | - | 4 | 39 | |||
1979 | "First Come, First Serve" | Rose Royce | - | 65 | - | ||
"Show Time" | The Undisputed Truth | - | 55 | - | |||
"I'm in Love (And I Love the Feeling)" | Rose Royce | - | 5 | 51 | |||
1980 | "Pop Your Fingers" | Rose Royce | - | 60 | - | ||
1981 | "Golden Touch" | Rose Royce | Mark Kenoly , Walter Downing | - | 56 | - | |
"High on the Boogie" | Stargard | - | 70 | - | |||
"R.R. Express" | Rose Royce | - | - | 52 | |||
1982 | "1990" | Dr. America | - | 51 | - | ||
1983 | "Ready for Some Action " | June Pointer | - | 28 | - | ||
"Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy) " | The Temptations | Angelo Bond | - | 67 | - | ||
1984 | "Sail Away" | The Temptations | Angelo Bond | 54 | 13 | - | |
1989 | "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka " | The Gap Band | William Bryant II | - | 14 | 63 | |
"Get Ready" is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by The Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970. It is significant for being the last song Robinson wrote and produced for the Temptations, due to a deal Berry Gordy made with Norman Whitfield, that if "Get Ready" did not meet with the expected degree of success, then Whitfield's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", would get the next release, which resulted in Whitfield more or less replacing Robinson as the group's producer.
"I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 No. 1 single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 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 No. 1 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.
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.
"Smiling Faces Sometimes" is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label. It was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Producer Norman Whitfield had the song re-recorded by the Undisputed Truth the same year, resulting in a number-three Billboard Hot 100 position for the group. "Smiling Faces" was the only Top 40 single released by the Undisputed Truth, and was included on their debut album The Undisputed Truth.
"Masterpiece" is a 1973 soul single written by Norman Whitfield and performed by American vocal group The Temptations.
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" is a 1964 song, written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield. Norman Whitfield recorded the song's instrumental track. Two years later, Whitfield got together with Eddie Holland to have lyrics written for the song.
"He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' is a soul song written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964. The song is notable in both a 1964 version by American Motown girl group the Velvelettes, and a 1982 hit version by British girl group Bananarama.
"The End of Our Road" is a single written by Roger Penzabene, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1967. Originally recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips and issued as a single in 1968, the Pips' version of the song, became another top forty hit for the family group as it peaked at number fifteen on the pop singles chart and number five on the R&B singles chart.
"Rose Marie" is a popular song from the musical or operetta of the same name. The music was written by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, the lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, In the original Broadway production in 1924, the song was performed by Dennis King and Arthur Deagon, as the characters Jim Kenyon and Sergeant Malone.
"Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" was a hit song by R&B female vocal group Stargard. The song was written by Norman Whitfield and produced by Mark Davis. It was the main theme from the soundtrack to the Richard Pryor movie, Which Way Is Up? It was also included on the group's self-titled debut album. It spent two weeks at number one on the R&B charts in February, 1978 and peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single also peaked at number twelve on the disco charts.
"All I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. It is the group's first single to be produced by Norman Whitfield's protégé Frank Wilson. Written by Wilson, Edward Holland, Jr. and R. Dean Taylor, the single was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 8; it was also a number-two hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
"Let Your Hair Down" is a 1973 single by American vocal group The Temptations. The track appeared on the Temptations 1973 album, 1990.
"How Can I Forget" was originally recorded as a love ballad by Motown group The Temptations in 1968 and was re-recorded in a psychedelic soul/funk styling by fellow Motown artist, Marvin Gaye in 1969. His version, released on Motown's first subsidiary, Tamla, became a modest hit that almost reached the Top 40 of the pop charts while peaking at number-eighteen on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart in 1970. Marvin's recording was featured on his That's the Way Love Is album. The song is also notable for being one of the shortest recordings for both The Tempts and for Gaye; recorded when most songs are over three minutes, its length is just under two.
"Still Water (Love)" is a 1970 hit single written by Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson for the Motown singing group Four Tops. The B-side was "Still Water (Peace)" and both songs appear on the 1970 album Still Waters Run Deep.
"I Wanna Get Next to You" is a 1976 soul single written, composed and produced by American songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield, and most famously sung by American R&B band Rose Royce. It is the third official single from the Car Wash soundtrack. The song has also become a staple on oldies radio and on adult contemporary stations.
"Happy People" is a 1974 single by The Temptations, co-written by Lionel Richie. It was the first single from the A Song For You album. In the United States, the single went to #1 on the R&B chart and #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Happy People" also peaked at #11 on the disco/dance chart. The single was the first Temptations release without the guidance of Norman Whitfield since 1966.
"It Should Have Been Me" is a 1963 song written by William "Mickey" Stevenson and Norman Whitfield for Kim Weston. It has been performed by Yvonne Fair, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Adeva among others. Knight's version peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. Fair had her only hit single with her recording of the song in 1976, reaching number 5 in the UK, number 85 in the US and number 10 in Australia.
"Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me" is a song and single by American group, Gladys Knight & the Pips written by Barrett Strong, Cornelius Grant and Rodger Penzabene. It was produced by Norman Whitfield.