# The Way You Do the Things You Do

"The Way You Do the Things You Do" is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, the single was the Temptations' first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking in the Top 20 at number eleven; it also went to number one on the Cash Box R&B chart. The song has been an American Top 40 hit in four successive decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. A version by Hall & Oates featuring Temptation members Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986. A cover version by British reggae band UB40 hit number six in the U.S. in 1990.

## Personnel

* Lead vocals by Eddie Kendricks
* Background vocals by Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams
* Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
** Bass: James Jamerson
** Drums: Richard "Pistol" Allen
** Guitar: Eddie Willis
** Piano: Earl Van Dyke
** Tenor saxophone solo: Henry Cosby

### Chart history

| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 11 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 10 |
| US Cash Box R&B Singles Chart | 1 |
| Canada CHUM Chart Top 50 | 43 |

## Rita Coolidge version

Rita Coolidge covered "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and it was released in 1978 as the third single from her most successful album, Anytime...Anywhere. In the U.S., the single reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 20 on the Record World Singles Chart and number 18 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also reached number 16 in Canada. It is ranked as the 151st biggest Canadian hit of 1978.

### Chart performance
#### Weekly charts

| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 16 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 9 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 18 |

#### Year-end charts

| Chart (1978) | Position |
| Canada | 151 |

## Hall & Oates version

In 1985, a live version (part of a medley with "My Girl") was released by Hall & Oates featuring David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, number 40 on the R&B chart, and number 24 on the pop chart. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award.

### Reception

John Leland at Spin said, "This record is pretty wonderful and it's definitely better than most H & O or Temps fare, but it also bores me in ways it shouldn't. If there was any emoting going on in the performance, it didn't translate onto wax."

## UB40 version

"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 majority of European countries (in July 1990 in France), and was featured in the Ridley Scott–Michael Douglas film Black Rain.

### Track listings
#### 7"-Single

* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
* "Splugen" (4:41)

#### CD-Single

* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:03)
* "Splugen" (4:41)

#### CD-Maxi

* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Jazzy Club Mix) (6:11)
* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (Paradise Mix) (4:07)
* "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (3:00)
* "Splugen" (4:42)

### Charts

| Chart (1990–1992) | Peak position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 78 |
| Canada (RPM) | 42 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 15 |
| France (SNEP) | 11 |
| Germany (GfK) | 53 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 26 |
| United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) | 49 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 21 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 63 |
| Year-end chart (1991–1992) | Rank |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 71 |

### Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| France (SNEP) | Silver | 200,000$^*$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. |||