The Way You Do the Things You Do

The UB40 version of The Way You Do the Things You Do, released in 1990, became a hit for the English band. This song, originally a 1964 track by The Temptations, was included on their ninth album, Labour of Love II. The album itself is notable, as it is the second work by the band dedicated to cover versions, following the style of Labour of Love from 1983. Within Labour of Love II, The Way You Do the Things You Do reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the album featured two other hits that made the Top Ten of that chart: Here I Am (Come and Take Me) and Kingston Town.

The journey of this song is interesting. It was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, members of The Miracles, and marked the first single by The Temptations to enter the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the Top 20. Over the decades, from the 60s to the 90s, the song has appeared in the US Top 40. Even a collaboration between Hall & Oates and members of The Temptations, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin, was nominated for a Grammy award in 1986. The version by Rita Coolidge in 1978 also had its moment, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 in Canada. UB40, formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, have stood out for their focus on reggae and dub, and this track is a clear example of how they adapted a soul classic to their own sound.