The Temptations

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Song Review by Ed Hogan

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" was originally slated to be the first single from the Temptations' 1966 Gettin' Ready LP. But Motown wisely decided to capitalize on "The Duck" dance craze which resulted in the group having their second number one R&B (pop Top 30) smash, "Get Ready," which was written and produced by Smokey Robinson. Motown founder Berry Gordy kept his promise to songwriter/producer Norman Whitfield to release "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" as the follow-up. Co-written by Whitfield and Eddie Holland of Holland-Dozier-Holland, the up-tempo smash proved to be the Tempts' biggest selling single since "My Girl," staying atop the R&B charts for eight weeks and reaching number 13 pop in spring 1966. It also solidified David Ruffin as the group's most consistent, flexible, and compelling lead singer.

Appears On

Year	Artist/Album	Label	Time
1966	The Temptations Gettin' Ready	Motown	2:36
1966	The Temptations Greatest Hits, Vol. 1	Motown	2:32
1968	Various Artists 16 Original Big Hits, Vol. 7	Motown
1971	Various Artists Motown Story	Motown	0:00
1973	The Temptations Anthology [1973]	Motown	2:34
1975	Various Artists Disco Tech, Vol. 1 [Motown]
1980	The Temptations 20 Golden Greats	Motown
1982	The Temptations All the Million-Sellers	Motown	2:32
1983	The Temptations Songs That Inspired the Motown 25th	Motown	2:32
1983	Original Soundtrack The Big Chill [Original Soundtrack]	Motown	2:31
1985	Disney D-TV: Love Songs	Disney
1986	The Temptations 25th Anniversary	Motown
1986	The Temptations 25th Anniversary, Vol. 1	Motown / Universal	2:32
1989	Various Artists Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1966	Rhino
1989	Various Artists Classic Rock: 1966 - Shakin' All Over	Time / Life Music	2:34
1989	The Temptations Papa Was a Rolling Stone	Dynamic	2:50
1990	Various Artists 16 #1 Hits from the Late 60's	Motown	2:32
1990	Various Artists Good Feeling Music of the Big Chill, Vol. 3	Motown
1990	Jimmy Reed Compact Command Performances	Motown
1990	The Temptations Compact Command Performances: 17 Greatest Hits	Motown	2:32
1990	Various Artists Rhythm & Blues: 1966	Time / Life Music
1991	Various Artists Collection of 16 Big Hits, Vol. 7	Motown
1992	Various Artists Hitsville USA - The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971	Motown	2:34
1994	The Temptations Emperors of Soul	Motown	2:32
1994	Various Artists The R&B Box: 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues	Rhino / Warner Bros.
1995	The Temptations Anthology	Motown	2:32
1996	The Temptations The Best of the Temptations [Wise Buy]	Disky / Wise Buy	2:53
1996	Various Artists Tamla Motown: Early Classics	Karussell / Motown	2:33
1996	The Four Tops The Early Classics	Karussell	0:00
1997	The Temptations Motown's Greatest Hits	Motown	2:34
1997	The Temptations The Ultimate Collection	Motown	2:35
1998	Various Artists Soul Classics: Best of the 60's	Rebound Records	2:34
1998	The Temptations My Girl	Spectrum Music	2:33
1999	Various Artists DJ Don's Party Mix: Dance Party	Power Records (Fitness / Dance)	2:36
1999	The Temptations 20th Century Masters: The Millenium Collection: Best of the Temptations, Vol.1 - The '60s	Uptown / Universal	2:31
1999	The Temptations Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962-1968)	Motown	2:30
1999	Various Artists Cruizin' to Motown, Vol. 2	Thump Records	2:32
1999	The Temptations The Temptations Collection	Prism Leisure / Prism Platinum	2:51
2000	The Temptations Classic: The Universal Masters Collection	Motown	2:33
2000	Various Artists Disco Fever, Vol. 2 [Dressed to Kill]	Dressed To Kill	2:52
2000	Various Artists Music for Your Wedding Party	K-Tel Distribution	2:33
2000	Various Artists Motown: The Classic Years	Motown	2:34
2001	The Temptations At Their Very Best	Universal International	2:32
2001	Various Artists The Classic Rhythm & Blues Collection, Vol. 3: 1966-1969	Time / Life Music	2:33
2001	The Temptations Original Lead Singers of the Temptations	Eagle Records	2:51
2001	Various Artists 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Motown 1960s, Vol. 2	Motown	2:34
2001	Various Artists Motown Gold	Universal Distribution	2:33
2001	Various Artists A Year in Your Life: 1966, Vol. 2	Definitive	2:33
2001	The Temptations The Best of the Temptations: New Recordings of Their Greatest Hits	K-Tel Distribution	2:48
2002	The Temptations My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations	Motown	2:33
2002	The Temptations Get Ready	Disky	2:53
2002	Soul Diggaz Soul: For Your Precious Love	Digimode Entertainment	2:50
2003	Various Artists Best of Soul 60s	Madacy Distribution / Madacy	2:32
2003	Various Artists The Motown Story, Vol. 1: The Sixties	Motown	3:14
2004	Various Artists Motown Number 1's	Motown / UTV	2:32
2005	The Temptations Gold	Motown	2:33
2005	Various Artists Motown Classics: Gold	Motown	2:34
2005	Various Artists The Motown Box	Shout! Factory	2:43
2006	The Temptations Legends	Universal International	2:33
2006	Various Artists Chronicles: Music Inspired by the Big Chill [Box Set]	Hip-O	2:33
2006	Various Artists The Shadows of Love: Jon Savage's Intense Tamla 1966-1968	UMVD	2:31
2006	Various Artists The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6	Motown	2:33
2007	Various Artists Motown Number 1's, Vol. 1	Motown	2:33
2007	The Temptations Number 1's: The Temptations	Motown	2:33
2008	The Temptations Classic Soul Hits	Universal Distribution	2:34
2008	The Temptations Playlist Plus	Motown	2:32
2008	Various Artists Playlist Plus: Motown 50th Anniversary	Motown	2:33
2008	The Temptations Favorites	Motown / Universal Music	2:32
2008	The Temptations The Definitive Collection	Motown / Universal Distribution	2:33
2008	The Temptations Christmas & Hits Duos	Motown	2:34
2008	Various Artists Motown 50 Fanthology	Universal	0:00
2008	Various Artists Motown: The Complete No. 1's	Motown	0:00
2008	Various Artists Don't Quit Music: Motown Workout	Hip-O / Universal / Universal Music	0:00
2008	Various Artists Motown Legacy: The Songs of Norman Whitfield	Universal	2:33
2008	Various Artists Songs for the Car	Hip-O	2:34
2009	The Temptations Classic	Motown / Universal Distribution	2:33
2009	Various Artists Motortown Review	Time / Life Music	2:33
2009	Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1966	Bear Family Records	2:32
2010	Various Artists Mod Mania	Universal Distribution	2:32
2010	Various Artists Total Motown	Spectrum Music	2:33
2010	The Temptations Icon	Motown	2:32
2010	The Temptations Icon 2	Motown	2:32
2011	The Temptations 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1961-1971	Motown	2:33
2012	Various Artists '60s Music Revolution	Time / Life Music	2:32
2013	Various Artists Motown the Musical: 100 Originals	Cobalt Helladisc / Universal Music	2:33
2017	Various Artists The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick - The Soundtrack	Universal	2:32
	Various Artists '60s Music Revolution: Magic Carpet Ride	Time / Life Music	2:32
	Various Artists 202 Motown Songs: The Complete #1's	Island / Def Jam / Universal Music	2:32
	Various Artists Body By Jake: Motown Workout	Body By Jake	2:30
	Various Artists Greatest 64 Motown Hits	Motown	2:33
	Various Artists Hits of the 60s [Delta]	Delta Music Group	2:49
	Various Artists Motown 50 [Universal Mexico 2]	Universal Music	2:32
	Various Artists Motown Unreleased: 1966	Motown / Uni / Universal	2:40
	Various Artists Soul of the '60s	Time Life	2:32
	The Temptations The Best of the Temptations: Green Series	Strategic Marketing	2:33
	Various Artists The Big Chill: 15th Anniversary	Motown / Uni	2:34

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The Temptations

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Song Review by Ed Hogan

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