Tag Archives: The Temptations

Stevie Wonder: Up-Tight

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On May 4, 1966, “Motown” label released “Up-Tight”, the fifth Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded 1962 – 1966, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Henry Cosby, Willam “Mickey” Stevenson, Clarence Paul, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – lead and harmony vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
  • Clarence Paul – co-lead vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – co-lead vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Lawrence Payton, Renaldo “Obie” Benson – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Pat Lewis – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Temptations – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Love a Go Go – Beth Beatty, Ernie Shelby
  2. Hold Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  3. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
  4. Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, William Stevenson
  5. Teach Me Tonight – Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul
  6. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder (as Stevie Judkins), Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  7. Ain’t That Asking for Trouble – Sylvia Moy, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  8. I Want My Baby Back – Harvey Fuqua, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
  9. Pretty Little Angel – Gene De Paul, Mike Valvano, Stevie Wonder
  10. Music Talk – Ted Hull, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. Contract on Love – Janie Bradford, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  12. With a Child’s Heart – Vicki Basemore, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy

Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations: Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations

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On November 6, 1968, “Motown” label released “Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations”, album by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations. It was recorded May – September 1968, and was produced by  Frank Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland, Henry Cosby, Terry “Buzzy” Johnson, Nickolas Ashford and Deke Richards.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross & The Supremes – vocals
  • The Temptations – vocals
  • Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong, Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – horns, strings
  • Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Try It Baby – Berry Gordy
  2. I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Ross
  5. This Guy’s in Love With You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Funky Broadway – Arlester Christian
  7. I’ll Try Something New – Smokey Robinson
  8. A Place in the Sun – Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
  9. Sweet Inspiration – Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
  10. Then – Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore
  11. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh

The Temptations: Power

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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

The Temptations: Temptin’ Temptations

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On November 1, 1965, “Gordy” label released “The Temptin’ Temptations”, the third Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1964 – 1965, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals (baritone, tenor, falsetto)
  • Eddie Kendricks – vocals (tenor, falsetto)
  • Paul Williams – vocals (baritone)
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals (bass)
  • Otis Williams – vocals (tenor, baritone)
  • The Andantes – additional backing vocals
  • Jimmy Ruffin – additional backing vocals
  • Smokey Robinson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Since I Lost My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore
  2. The Girl’s Alright with Me – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr., Eddie Kendricks
  3. Just Another Lonely Night – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers
  5. You’ve Got to Earn It – Smokey Robinson, Cornelius Grant
  6. Everybody Needs Love – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  7. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  8. Don’t Look Back – Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White
  9. I Gotta Know Now – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  10. Born to Love You – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  11. I’ll Be in Trouble – Smokey Robinson
  12. You’re the One I Need – Smokey Robinson

Barrett Strong

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On January 29, 2023, Barrett Strong died aged 81. He was singer and songwriter, the performer who had the first hit for Berry Gordy’s label “Tamla Records”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Strong was best known for his work as a songwriter, especially in association with the producer Norman Whitfield. In mid 1960s he became “Motown Records” writer lyricist, and together with Whitfield, they wrote some of the best known soul and funk classics of all times, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; “War” by Edwin Starr; “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” by Marvin Gaye; “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth; “Cloud Nine”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, by The Temptations. In 1973, Strong received “Grammy Award for Best R&B Song” for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. As leader, Strong released four albums.

Melvin Ragin

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On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).

David Williams

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On March 6, 2009, David Williams died aged 58. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), vocalist, song writer and music producer, known as a prominent and most in demand session guitarist. He worked with The Dells, The Temptations, Madonna, Michael Jackson,  Chanson, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Allen, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Shalamar, Go West, ABC, Boz Scaggs, Karen Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Julian Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Chaka Khan, Paul Hardcastle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Diana Ross, the Crusaders, Andraé Crouch, Eddie Murphy, Herbie Hancock, Peter Cetera, Whitney Houston and Monkey Business. As leader he released two albums.

Damon Harris

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On February 18, 2013, Otis Robert Harris Jr. aka Damon Harris died aged 62. He was singer, founding member of the Temptations tribute band The Young Tempts (a.k.a. The Young Vandals), later performed under the name Impact, but was best known as member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1975.

Gene Page

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On August 24, 1998, Eugene Edgar Page Jr. aka Gene Page, died aged 58. He was a conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer, one of the most successful arrangers and conductors from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, who worked on more than 200 Platinum and gold records. He created specific sound in the arrangements, and work with numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson, The Jackson 5, Jefferson Starship, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Helen Reddy, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Donna Loren, Martha and The Vandellas, Cher, Barry White, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, and Dionne Warwick. Page released four solo albums and composed soundtracks for few movies.