Temptation Eyes Explained

"Temptation Eyes" is a 1970 hit song by The Grass Roots. It was released on their second compilation album, More Golden Grass.

Background

The song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. It spent 18 weeks on the charts, making it the band's single of greatest longevity, sustaining itself three weeks longer than their greatest hit, "Midnight Confessions".

Two versions exist. The original mono mix had its vocal chorus section double-tracked, while the chorus in the stereo mix uses one voice (single-tracked).

Grass Roots' lead singer Rob Grill would in 1991 cite "Temptation Eyes" as his personal favorite Grass Roots song.^[2]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1970–1971)	Peak position
Australia KMR	79
Canada RPM Top Singles[3]	22
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4]	15
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	16

Year-end charts

Cover versions

• Erica Smith covered "Temptation Eyes" on her 1989 Columbia Release Holiday LP, Produced by: Gary Spaniola.
• Blake Babies covered "Temptation Eyes" on their 1991 Innocence and Experience LP.
• The Replacements also performed the song for the Let It Be sessions in 1984. The song has shown up in bootleg form, and was later included on the deluxe edition of Let it Be.

Notes and References

1. Book: Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. Don. Breithaupt. Jeff. Breithaupt. October 15, 1996. Born To Be Mild: Soft Rock. 32. St. Martin's Griffin. 031214704X.
2. The Pantagraph (Bloomington IN) 2 August 1991 "Rock Bands Weather Winds of Changing Member Ships" by Dan Kraft p.C-1
3. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013. May 24, 2016.
4. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

   . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 354.

5. "Top Pop 100 Singles" Billboard December 25, 1971: TA-36