Tag Archives: Melvin Franklin

The Temptations: Sky’s the Limit

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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