THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

777-The Temptations-Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me.)

1971-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.32.Nothing wrong with some healthy fantasising.

‘Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me,’) was co-written by the Motown songwriting team of Norman Whitfield (1940-2008,) with lyrics by Barrett Strong, who was also the co-writer, and vocalist on Motown’s first million seller,’Money (That’ What I Want,’) recorded in 1959.

This song was originally written in the late 1960’s, but kept in the vaults due to The Temptations change in musical style.In the early, to mid 60’s they had been very successful recording Soul, and R&B, but when Whitfield (see also best songs 911-569-533-480-346 and 233) took charge in 1968, he wanted to experiment with ‘Psychedelic Soul,’ inspired by groups such as Sly and the Family Stone, and Funkadelic. At first this new style proved very successful, with hits such as ‘Cloud Nine,’ and ‘Psychedelic Shack,’ but by 1971 sales were starting to decline, with both the band, and their fans wanting a return to the more ‘Soulful’ days.

‘Just My Imagination’ certainly satisfied the fan base, giving The Temptations the third of what would eventually be four Billboard Number 1 singles. The song is not your conventional love song in any shape or form.The narrator imagines a relationship with a woman he sees walking past his window everyday, but he is clever enough to realise that his fantasy’s are fiction, in fact the woman doesn’t even know he exists.

This was the last song on which Eddie Kendricks (see also best songs 491) sang lead vocal, as he left shortly afterwards to start his solo career.It was also the last performance for fellow group member Paul Williams who sang the ‘Every night on my knees I pray,’ line, as he was suffering from ill health, and would pass away in 1973, at the age of 34.

‘Each day through my window, I watch her as she passes by, I say to myself, you’re such a lucky guy.’