Mr. Clean

Dirt sells.

A celebrity biography teeming with steamy inside tidbits certainly has a better chance of making the best-seller lists. But this fact didn’t sway the Temptations’ Otis Williams, whose book, “Temptations,” covers the history of the Motown Records rhythm-and-blues vocal quintet, which he founded 28 years ago.

Gutter-level gossip mongers will find this book positively saintly. “This is not sensational, smutty stuff,” insists Williams. I’m still working with these guys. I didn’t want to tell who was sleeping with who.”

In this book, written by Patricia Romanowski based on interviews with Williams, the group’s tumultuous history doesn’t really seem that tumultuous. You get the feeling there’s a seamier story lurking.

“Drugs and sex isn’t all there is to us or any group,” says Williams, 47, who was approached by Putnam to write this book. “There’s a lot of stories--clean stories--about us that people will find interesting.”

Some dirt is dished in Williams’ book, which came out a few days ago, including the drug and alcohol problems of the parade of singers who have passed though the group. Williams revealed that current member Dennis Edwards just finished a term in a drug rehab center. Also, Williams sets the record straight about his rumored ‘60s affair with Diana Ross.

But Williams doesn’t spill any gory details of the group’s infamous struggles with Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Hypothetical question: If Williams were out of the group and no longer part of Motown, would he have written a racier book?

Emphatic answer: “No.”