Tag Archives: Dennis Edwards

The Temptations: Power

On April 18, 1980, “Gordy” label released “Power”, the 24th Temptations (The) album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Golden Sound”, “Group IV Audio Inc”, “Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios”, “Jennifudy Studios”, and was produced by Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Teddy Randazzo and William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocal
  • Melvin Franklin – vocal
  • Glenn Leonard – vocal
  • Richard Street – vocal
  • Otis Williams – vocal
  • Paul M. Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin – guitar
  • Anthony Travaglini – guitar
  • David T. Walker – guitar
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • Earl Van Dyke – keyboards
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • “Ready” Freddie Washington – bass guitar
  • Nathan Watts – bass guitar
  • Quentin Dennard – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • John Arnold – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Gene Page – horn and string arrangements
  • Paul Riser – horn and string arrangements
  • McKinley Jackson – rhythm arrangements
  • Teddy Randazzo – arrangements
  • Barney Perkins – recording, mixing
  • Bob Robitaille – recording, mixing
  • Steve Williams – recording
  • Guy Costa – recording
  • Lawrence T. Horn – recording
  • Tony Autore – recording assistant
  • Bobby Brooks – recording assistant
  • Dave Mancini – recording assistant
  • Greg Orloff – recording assistant
  • Berry Gordy – mixing, executive producer
  • Paul Ring – mixing assistant
  • Mike Diehl – cover, design, illustration
  • Ginny Livingston – art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – photography
  • Ronald Wakefield – photography
  • Suzee Wendy Ikeda – project management

Track listing:

  1. Power – Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Jean Mayer
  2. Struck by Lightning Twice – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  3. Isn’t the Night Fantastic – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  4. How Can I Resist Your Love – Angelo Bond, William Weatherspoon
  5. Shadow of Your Love – Teddy Randazzo, Tony Travaglini
  6. Can’t You See Sweet Thing – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  7. Go for It – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  8. I’m Coming Home – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams

Dennis Edwards

On February 2, 2018, Dennis Edwards died aged 74. He was singer and musician (piano), member of The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dennis Edwards and the Fireballs, The Contours,  but was best known as lead singer in The Temptations. Edwards was leading vocal on some of the group’s biggest hits including “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Ball of Confusion” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. In the period between 1984 -1993, Edwards released three solo albums.

The Temptations: Puzzle People

puzzle-people

On September 23, 1969, “Gordy” label released “Puzzle People”,the eleventh  Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks – vocals
  • Paul Williams – vocals
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals
  • Otis Williams – vocals
  • Barrett Strong – yricist
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. I Can’t Get Next to You – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  2. Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Message From A Black Man – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  5. It’s Your Thing – Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley
  6. Little Green Apples – Bobby Russell
  7. You Don’t Love Me No More – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene
  8. Since I’ve Lost You – Norman Whitfield
  9. Running Away (Ain’t Gonna Help You) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  10. That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  11. Slave – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong

The Temptations: All Directions

Temptations - All Directions

On July 1972, “Gordy” label released “All Directions”, the 15th   Temptations (The) album. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Norman Whitfield. In 1973, for the song “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” The Temptations won “Grammy Awards” for “Best R&B Performance by a Group”; “Best R&B Instrumental Performance” and “Best R&B Song”

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocals
  • Damon Harris – vocals
  • Richard Street – vocals
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals
  • Otis Williams – vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  2. Run Charlie Run – Maurice King, Jan Forman
  3. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  4. Love Woke Me Up This Morning – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  5. I Ain’t Got Nothin’ – Maurice King, Evans King
  6. The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
  7. Mother Nature – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  8. Do Your Thing – Isaac Hayes

The Temptations: Sky’s the Limit

Sky is the limit

On April 22, 1971, “Gordy” label released “Sky’s the Limit”, the fourteenth  Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1970 – 1971, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards: vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks: vocals
  • Paul Williams: vocals
  • Melvin Franklin: vocals
  • Otis Williams: vocals
  • The Funk Brothers: instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, except where noted.

  1. Gonna Keep on Tryin’ (Till I Win Your Love)
  2. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
  3. I’m the Exception to the Rule
  4. Smiling Faces Sometimes
  5. Man
  6. Throw a Farewell Kiss – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland Jr.
  7. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)
  8. Love Can Be Anything (Can’t Nothing Be Love But Love)

 

The Temptations: Psychedelic Shack

Psychedelic-Shack

On March 6, 1970, “Gordy” label released “Psychedelic Shack”, the twelfth Temptations studio album. It was recorded November 1969 – February 1970, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards: vocals (tenor)
  • Eddie Kendricks: vocals (tenor/falsetto)
  • Paul Williams: vocals (tenor/baritone)
  • Melvin Franklin: vocals (bass)
  • Otis Williams: vocals (tenor/baritone)
  • The Funk Brothers: instrumentation
  • Jerry Long – arrangements
  • Paul Riser – arrangements
  • David Van de Pitte – arrangements
  • Russ Terrana – engineer
  • Norman Whitfield – mastering
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Hermon Weems – artwork
  • Pierre Bass – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.

  1. Psychedelic Shack
  2. You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
  3. Hum Along and Dance
  4. Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind
  5. It’s Summer
  6. War
  7. You Need Love Like I Do (Don’t You)
  8. Friendship Train

The Temptations: Masterpiece

Temptations-masterpiece

On February 21, 1973, “Gordy” label released “Masterpiece”, the 16th   Temptations (The) album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards: vocals
  • Damon Harris: vocals
  • Richard Street: vocals
  • Melvin Franklin: vocals
  • Otis Williams: vocals
  • Melvin “Wah-Wah Watson” Ragin: guitar
  • Joe Messina: guitar
  • Paul Warren: guitar
  • Robert White: guitar
  • Eddie Willis: guitar
  • Robert Ward: guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke: piano, organ
  • Johnny Griffith: organ
  • Leroy Taylor: bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt: bass guitar
  • Eddie Watkins: bass guitar
  • Aaron Smith: drums
  • Richard “Pistol” Allen: drums
  • Uriel Jones: drums
  • Andrew Smith: drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown: bongos, congas
  • Jack Ashford: tambourine, maracas, sticks
  • Jack Brokensha: tympani, vibes, bells, gourd
  • Maurice Davis: trumpet
  • Ted Lucas: harmonica
  • Paul Riser: arranger
  • Des Strobel: design
  • Parvis Sadighian: sculpture (for album cover image)
  • Jim Britt: liner photo

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield.

  1. Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)
  2. Masterpiece
  3. Ma
  4. Law of the Land
  5. Plastic Man
  6. Hurry Tomorrow

The Temptations: Cloud Nine

cloud 9

On February 17, 1969, “Gordy” label released “Cloud Nine”, the ninth Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1968 – January 1969, and was produced by Norman Whitfield. This was first Temptations studio album to feature Dennis Edwards as the replacement for David Ruffin, and it marks the beginning of the Temptations’ psychedelia period, in a fusion genre referred to as “psychedelic soul.” In 1969, the album won The Temptations their first “Grammy Award”.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards– vocals (tenor)
  • Eddie Kendricks– vocals (tenor/falsetto)
  • Paul Williams– vocals (tenor/baritone)
  • Melvin Franklin– vocals (bass)
  • Otis Williams– vocals (tenor/baritone)
  • Ken Kim – art disrection
  • Chester Higgins – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  2. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  3. Run Away Child, Running Wild – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  4. Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing – Ben Raleigh, Dave Linden
  5. Hey Girl – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  6. Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  7. I Need Your Lovin’ – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  8. Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  9. I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield,Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks
  10. Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

The Temptations: 1990

Temptations-1990

On December 7, 1973, “Gordy” label released “1990”, the 17th  Temptations (The) album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards: vocals
  • Damon Harris: vocals
  • Richard Street: vocals
  • Melvin Franklin: vocals
  • Otis Williams: vocals
  • The Funk Brothers and Rose Royce: instrumentation
  • Kenji Brown – guitar
  • Eddie Hazel – guitar
  • Dennis Coffey – guitar
  • Wah – Wah Watson – guitar
  • Eddie Willis – guitar
  • Melvin ”Wah Wah” Ragin – guitar
  • Jack Ashford – tambourine
  • Earl Van Dyke – keyboards
  • Don Baldwin – keyboards, wind, synthesizer
  • Victor Nix – keyboards
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Leqyeint Jobe – bass
  • Billy “Bass” Nelson – bass
  • Ollie E. Brown – drums
  • Zachary Fraizer – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Henry Gamer Jr. – drums
  • Ed Green – drums
  • Bobbye Hall – congas
  • Terral ”Terry” Santiel – congas
  • Michael Moore – saxophone
  • Kenneth Copeland – trumpet
  • Fred Dunn – trumpet
  • George Bohanon – trombone
  • Don Baldwin – design
  • John Cabalka – design
  • Jim Britt – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield.

  1. Let Your Hair Down
  2. I Need You
  3. Heavenly
  4. You’ve Got My Soul on Fire
  5. Ain’t No Justice
  6. 1990
  7. Zoom