Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

About Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" is a 1964 song, that became a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield, the song was a number three pop hit and a number one R&B hit in the United States. Norman Whitfield recorded the song's instrumental track in 1964, two years before he got together with Eddie Holland to have lyrics written for the song. Several artists recorded "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" before the Temptations, including David Ruffin's older brother Jimmy Ruffin, and The Miracles, who were actually the first to record it in 1964, but their version was not released as a single. It was later included on their 1966 Away We a Go-Go album. It was chosen as a single by Billie Jean Brown, head of Motown's quality control department. The group appealed the decision to Motown head Berry Gordy, who preferred it to the group's choice. The record proved much more successful than the group members expected: "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" was an R&B number-one hit, the Temptations' fifth, and reached number-three on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. It was also a hit in the United Kingdom, making it to #18 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1966.  more »