Ain’t To Proud To Beg. The Temptations.
When I was growing up I loved The Temptations, thought they were cool dudes, here’s a story about one of my favourite singles of theirs. At Motown Records on Friday mornings the creative staff assembled for the Quality Control meetings where potential single releases were voted on, for or against. This song failed twice to get through those meetings, Berry Gordy commented ‘It’s good but needs more story.’ The third time this song went into the meeting, after being rearranged and re-vocaled it came up against The Temptations other possible single release ‘Get Ready’ produced by Smokey Robinson. The vote went for ‘Get Ready’ which made ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ producer and writer Norman Whitfield furious. Gordy in trying to keep the peace said ‘If Get Ready does not become a top twenty single on the U.S.A pop chart, then ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ will be the next Temptations single.’ ‘Get Ready’ although a Number 1 RnB single only achieved a Number 29 position on the pop chart. Gordy true to his word released ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ as The Temptations next single, again a Number 1 RnB single it became a Number 13 hit single on the U.S.A. pop chart, as a result of it’s success, Whitfield replaced Robinson as The Temptations main producer.