A 1966 single written by Norman Whitfield (above) with Edward Holland. It sounds more, to me at least, like one of the classic Holland, Dozier, Holland tracks that were the mainstay of early Motown, than the more
The track was supposed to be a one-off collaboration between Whitfield (as producer) and the Temptations, who were seen as Smokey Robinson's Group. It was recoded with David Ruffin on lead vocals and Whitfield arranged the song just out of the singer's usual range. Ruffin had to strain through numerous takes to reach the high notes and thus added a special edge to the vocal. Ruffin wasn't pleased and this set the stage for a difficult relationship between producer and group.
The track was brought to the regular Motown "Quality Control" meeting on the same day as a Smokey Robinson produced Temptations track, Get Ready. Motown chief Gordy Berry went for the Robinson song, describing Whitfield's effort as unfinished, and so Get Ready was the next single released by The Temptations.
While it was was a big R&B hit, Get Ready failed to make the top 20 in the Pop Charts and as a result Ain't too Proud to Beg was released shortly afterwards. It reached 13 in the pop charts.
Two more big hits for the Temptations under Whitfield and the band were seen as his. He continued to use the technique of forceing Motown singers to sing at the edge of their range, understanding the emotional accent it gave to the music. Perhaps most notably on Marvin Gaye's version of Heard It Through the Grapevine.
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