"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
Single by The Temptations from the album Gettin' Ready
Released	May 3, 1966
Format	7" single
Recorded	Hitsville USA (Studio A); January 4 and January 11, 1966
Genre	Soul
Length	2:35
Label	Gordy G 7057
Writer	Norman Whitfield Edward Holland, Jr.
Producer	Norman Whitfield
The Temptations singles chronology
"Get Ready" (1966) "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966) "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966)

"Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" is also the name of a 1991 TLC single.

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for eight non-consecutive weeks. The song's success, in the wake of the relative underperformance of the previous Temptations single, "Get Ready", resulted in Norman Whitfield replacing Smokey Robinson, producer of "Get Ready", as The Temptations' main producer. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... Gettin Ready is a 1966 album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Hitsville U.S.A. was the nickname given to Motown Records first headquarters. ... is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (born in Harlem, New York in 1943) was a songwriter and producer for Berry Gordys Motown label during the 1960s. ... Edward Holland, Jr. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Get Ready (disambiguation). ... Beauty Is Only Skin Deep was a big hit for The Temptations, wrote by Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland. ... Aint 2 Proud 2 Beg is TLCs debut single from their debut album, Ooooooohhh. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... Motown Records, Inc. ... Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (born in Harlem, New York in 1943) was a songwriter and producer for Berry Gordys Motown label during the 1960s. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... For other uses, see Get Ready (disambiguation). ... William Smokey Robinson, Jr. ...

History

Norman Whitfield vs. Smokey Robinson

Motown had a policy that the producer who had the biggest hits on a particular artist was assigned as the main producer for that artist, and was given preference when singles were selected for release by Motown's Quality Control department. By 1966, Motown artist, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson had by that default earned creative control over The Temptations, after a string of hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "My Girl", and "Since I Lost My Baby". William Smokey Robinson, Jr. ... The Way You Do the Things You Do is a 1964 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. ... My Girl. ...

Norman Whitfield, an up-and-coming songwriter and producer at Motown who'd had some success with Marvin Gaye and The Velvelettes, had worked with the Temptations on singles such as "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (1964), and coveted Robinson's role as their producer. Finally creating an instrumental track he thought would make it, Whitfield enlisted lyricist Edward Holland, Jr. (of Holland-Dozier-Holland fame) to write lyrics to Whitfield's instrumental. Although Holland didn't think Whitfield had a chance of stealing Robinson's act (especially since Robinson was Motown CEO Berry Gordy's best friend), he contributed his services to the song, resulting in "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (born in Harlem, New York in 1943) was a songwriter and producer for Berry Gordys Motown label during the 1960s. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... The Velvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Motown label. ... Edward Holland, Jr. ... Holland-Dozier-Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. ... Berry Gordy, Jr. ...

The song's lyrics feature its narrator pleading for a second chance with his departing lover, opening with the determined statement "I know you wanna leave me/but I refuse to let you go." The narrator goes on to state that he "ain't too proud to beg" or "plead" his lover to stay. The Temptations were pleased with the composition, feeling that the song's blues-inspired melody and James Brown-esque horn stabs would help to update their sound. David Ruffin was tapped to sing lead on the song, and Whitfield submitted the mix to Motown's Quality Control department. Blues music redirects here. ... For other persons named James Brown, see James Brown (disambiguation). ... David Ruffin (Davis Eli Ruffin) (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer most famous for his work as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968. ...

Creating the final version

On Friday mornings at Motown's Hitsville USA offices, the creative team held Quality Control meetings, at which potential single releases were voted for or against release. To Whitfield's disappointment, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" failed twice to make it through Motown's Friday morning Quality Control meetings, with Berry Gordy commenting that the song was good, but "needed more story". For the third recorded version of "Ain't Too Proud", Whitfield had David Ruffin's lead vocal arranged just above his actual vocal range. As a result, the singer was forced to strain through numerous takes in order to get out all of the song's high notes. By the end of the "Ain't Too Proud" recording session, recalls Temptation Otis Williams, Ruiffin was "drowning in sweat and his glasses were all over his face".^[1] Hitsville U.S.A. was the nickname given to Motown Records first headquarters. ... Otis Williams (born Otis Miles, Jr. ...

By this point, both the Temptations and Whitfield were confident they had a major hit on their hands. However, both "Ain't Too Proud" and "Get Ready", a Temptations track produced by Smokey Robinson with Eddie Kendricks, turned up at the same Quality Control meeting. Since Robinson was the Temptations' main producer, his song was released and Whitfield's was shelved. Cornelius Grant, the Temptations' road guitarist, band director, and songwriter, recalled that after that decision was made, "it was as if the veins jumped out of Norman's neck." Whitfield was less than pleased at the Quality Control department's decision, and stated plainly that "never again am I gonna lose out on a release like that".^[2]. As a compromise, Gordy promised Whitfield that "Ain't Too Proud" would be the next single if "Get Ready" failed to reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Pop Chart. For other uses, see Get Ready (disambiguation). ... Eddie Kendricks (born Edward James Kendrick, December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992) was an American singer and songwriter. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ...

Release and success

"Get Ready" reached number-one on the Billboard R&B charts, but only number 29 on the pop charts. As promised, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" was released as the next single. It also reached number one on the R&B charts, but made it into the top twenty at number thirteen. "Ain't Too Proud" replaced Sam & Dave's "Hold On! I'm a Comin'" as the R&B number-one single during the week of June 18, 1966, and held the position for four weeks until being replaced by Ray Charles' "Let's Go Get Stoned" during the week of July 16. The following week, Ain't Too Proud returned to the number-one position, where it remained for four more weeks until being replaced the week of August 20 by another Motown single, Stevie Wonder's cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, formerly known as Top Soul Singles, Top Black Singles, and Top R&B Singles (before the hip-hop term was added in the late 1990s), is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. ... Samuel David Moore (b. ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... For the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see Ray Charles (composer). ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... Blowin in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan, and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. ...

The Temptations had been on tour during all of the office politics involving the release of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and only learned about the record being a hit when they were contacted by Motown an hour before an August 20, 1966 performance on American Bandstand and ordered to perform it. Temptation Paul Williams quickly devised a dance routine for the song, and the group lip-synched the song for the American Bandstand viewing audience. is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand American Bandstand was a long-running dance music television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989. ... Paul Williams (July 2, 1939 – August 17, 1973) was an American second tenor/baritone singer. ... Lip synchronization is the synchronization of audio signals (sometimes with corresponding video signals) so that there is no noticeable lack of simultaneity between them. ...

Much of the song's success, according to the Temptations themselves, is due to Whitfield's production, which was leaner and hit harder than Robinson's smoother style, and also to David Ruffin's pained lead vocal. The tactic of having Ruffin record above his register worked well enough that Whitfield went on to use it on later Temtpations records such as "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You", and also did the same to Marvin Gaye when he recorded his now-famous version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Beauty Is Only Skin Deep was a big hit for The Temptations, wrote by Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland. ... (I Know) Im Losing You is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... I Heard It through the Grapevine is a R&B/soul song written by Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. ...

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"
Single by The Rolling Stones from the album It's Only Rock'N'Roll
Released	October 25, 1974
Format	7" single
Recorded	Musicland Studios, Munich; November 1973
Genre	Rock
Length	3:31
Label	Rolling Stones
Producer	The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"It's Only Rock'n Roll (But I Like It)" (1974) "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1974) "Fool to Cry" (1976)

Image File history File links Cover of the 1974 The Rolling Stones single Aint Too Proud to Beg/Dance Little Sister. This image is the cover of an album or single. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... 1974 album by The Rolling Stones, the last of which to feature lead guitarist Mick Taylor, and the first to give production credit to The Glimmer Twins, a. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Rolling Stones Records is the record label formed by The Rolling Stones in 1970, after their recording contract with Decca Records expired. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Its Only Rockn Roll (But I Like It) is the lead single off of English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones 1974 album Its Only Rockn Roll. ... Fool to Cry is a song by English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones off of their 1976 album Black and Blue. ...

Epilogue

After Whitfield produced two more R&B number-one hits in a row for the Temptations ("Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You"), he was appointed the Temptations' new main producer. As he had told Grant, Whitfield maintained an iron grip on his creative control over The Temptations' material: he refused to let Holland-Dozier-Holland work with the group (save for two album tracks), and no more of Smokey Robinson's Temptations productions were issued as singles. The only other producer allowed to produce a Temptations single while Whitfield was the group's main producer was his own protégé, Frank Wilson, who provided the group with "All I Need" in 1967 and four duets with Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1968 and 1969. By 1970, however, Whitfield himself became the Temptations' only producer, until the Temptations had him replaced in 1974. Frank Wilson is an African-American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records. ... Reissue album cover showing The Supremes in 1966. ...

The Temptations later performed a similar song, All I Need, which also focused upon a man begging his lover not to leave him, albeit for different reasons.

Cover versions and other uses

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" has been frequently covered since its 1966 introduction, with versions by Rick Astley, Willie Bobo, Count Basie and his Orchestra, J. J. Jackson, The J. Evans Band, and others. The most famous and successful cover is a 1974 version by The Rolling Stones for their album It's Only Rock'N'Roll in 1974. Like the Temptations' original, the Rolling Stones' version was also a Top 20 hit, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Pop Charts. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Willie Bobo (February 28, 1934 - September 15, 1983, real name: William Correa) was an American jazz percussionist. ... William Count Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. ... There are two oft-confused American show business personalities known as J. J. Jackson. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... 1974 album by The Rolling Stones, the last of which to feature lead guitarist Mick Taylor, and the first to give production credit to The Glimmer Twins, a. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

The Temptations' original version of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is also notable for its use in a dance sequence in the 1983 film The Big Chill. A scene in the film finds a group of aging baby boomers tossing out any and all memorabilia of their 1960s adolescences; however, they are unable to part with their copy of The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", of which they put on the record player and to which they proceed to dance around the kitchen. The Big Chill can refer to: The Big Chill (music festival) The Big Chill (movie) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For the video game, see Baby Boomer (video game). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ...

The song sets the dinner clean-up scene in The Big Chill. Kevin Kline's character remarks there "is no other music," than 1960s music, "not in my house" during a music discussion. The Big Chill can refer to: The Big Chill (music festival) The Big Chill (movie) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Credits

Temptations version

• Lead vocals by David Ruffin
• Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and Otis Williams
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers.

David Ruffin (Davis Eli Ruffin) (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer most famous for his work as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968. ... Eddie Kendricks (born Edward James Kendrick, December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992) was an American singer and songwriter. ... Melvin Franklin (David Melvin English) (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) was an American bass singer, best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1961 to 1994. ... Paul Williams (July 2, 1939 – August 17, 1973) was an American second tenor/baritone singer. ... Otis Williams (born Otis Miles, Jr. ... The Funk Brothers was the nickname given to a group of Detroit, Michigan session musicians who performed on the backing tracks to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. ...

Lyrics

I know you wanna leave me, But I refuse to let you go If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy, I don't mind cause you mean that much to me

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin Please don't leave me girl, don't you go Ain't to proud to plead, baby, baby Please don't leave me, girl, don't you go

Now I heard a cryin' man, Is half a man with no sense of pride But if I have to cry to keep you, I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side

Ain't to proud to beg, sweet darlin Please don't leave me girl, don't you go Ain't to proud to plead, baby, baby Please don't leave me girl, don't you go

If I have to sleep on your doorstep All night and day just to keep you from walkin' away Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand Because I want to keep you any way I can

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin' Please don't leave me girl, don't you go Ain't to proud to plead, baby, baby Please don't leave me girl, don't you go

Now I've gotta love so deep in the pit of my heart And each day it grows more and more I'm not ashamed to come and plead to you baby If pleadin' keeps you from walkin' out that door

Ain't too proud to beg, you know it sweet darlin' Please don't leave me girl, don't you go Ain't to proud to plead, baby, baby Please don't leave me girl, don't you go Baby, baby, baby, baby (sweet darling)

Sample

Popular Culture

• The song is played at the beginning of Eddie Murphy's "Raw" in a reinactment by his "younger sister (played by Tatiana Ali)".
• The song is briefly sung in the movie "Remember The Titans" by a caucasian football player who is sharing what he has in common with some of his African-American teamates.
• The song was famously used in The Big Chill during a dance sequence in the kitchen.

The Big Chill is a 1983 film that tells the story of several University of Michigan college friends who reunite after many years for the funeral of one of their friends who commits suicide. ...

Notes

1. ^  Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia, Temptations.
2. ^  Weinger, Harry, "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day".

References

• Posner, Gerald (2002). Motown : Music, Money, Sex, and Power. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-50062-6.
• Weinger, Harry (1994). "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day". The Temptations: Emperors of Soul [CD Box Set]. New York: Motown Record Co., L.P.
• Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN 0-8154-1218-5.