On December 23, 1992, Edward Earl “Eddie” Hazel died aged 42. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with The Temptations, George Clinton, Axiom Funk and Bootsy Collins, but was best known as lead guitarist of Parliament and Funkadelic. In 1997, he was posthumous inducteed in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, together with fifteen other members of Parliament and Funkadelic.
Tag Archives: The Temptations
The Temptations: 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:
- I Can’t Get Next to You – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- Message From A Black Man – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- It’s Your Thing – Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley
- Little Green Apples – Bobby Russell
- You Don’t Love Me No More – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene
- Since I’ve Lost You – Norman Whitfield
- Running Away (Ain’t Gonna Help You) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- Slave – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
The 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:
- Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Run Charlie Run – Maurice King, Jan Forman
- Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Love Woke Me Up This Morning – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
- I Ain’t Got Nothin’ – Maurice King, Evans King
- The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
- Mother Nature – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
- Do Your Thing – Isaac Hayes
Temptations: Gettin’ Ready
On June 15, 1966, “Gordy” label released “Gettin’ Ready”, the fourth Temptations studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, Robert Staunton
and Robert Walker. This is band’s first album with Norman Whitfield as main producer, replacing Smokey Robinson on this position.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin – vocals
- Eddie Kendricks – vocals
- Paul Williams – vocals
- Melvin Franklin – vocals
- Otis Williams – vocals
- Elbridge “Al” Bryant – vocals
- The Supremes – backing vocals
- The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra: instrumentation
Track listing:
- Little Miss Sweetness – Smokey Robinson
- Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – Edward Holland, Jr., Norman Whitfield
- Get Ready – Smokey Robinson
- Lonely, Lonely Man Am I – Edward Holland, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
- Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Janie Bradford, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I’ve Been Good to You – Smokey Robinson
- It’s a Lonely World Without Your Love – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
- Fading Away – Warren ‘Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers
- Who You Gonna Run To – Smokey Robinson
- You’re Not an Ordinary Girl – Warren ‘Pete’ Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White
- Not Now (I’ll Tell You Later) – Smokey Robinson, Otis Williams
The Temptations: Wish It Would Rain
On April 29, 1968, “Gordy” label released “The Temptations Wish It Would Rain”, the seventh Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1967-1968, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson and Henry Cosby. It was the band’s final release with the original line-up: David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. “The Temptations Wish It Would Rain” is also band’s last album to feature Smokey Robinson as producer.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin: vocals
- Eddie Kendricks: vocals
- Paul Williams: vocals
- Melvin Franklin: vocals
- Otis Williams: vocals
Track listing:
- I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Cindy – Smokey Robinson
- I Wish it Would Rain – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Please Return Your Love to Me – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Fan the Flame – Al Cleveland, Terry Johnson, Smokey Robinson
- He Who Picks a Rose – Edward Holland Jr., Emillio “Father” Smiley, Norman Whitfield
- Why Did You leave Me Darling – James Dean, Deke Richards
- I Truly, Truly Believe – George Gordy, Margaret Gordy, Allen Story
- This is My Beloved – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
- Gonna Give Her All the Love I’ve Got – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I’ve Passed This Way Before – James Dean, William Weatherspoon
- No Man Can Love Her Like I Do – Edward Holland, Norman Whitfield, Eddie Kendricks
The Temptations: Sky’s 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.
- Gonna Keep on Tryin’ (Till I Win Your Love)
- Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
- I’m the Exception to the Rule
- Smiling Faces Sometimes
- Man
- Throw a Farewell Kiss – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland Jr.
- Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)
- Love Can Be Anything (Can’t Nothing Be Love But Love)
The Temptations: 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.
- Psychedelic Shack
- You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
- Hum Along and Dance
- Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind
- It’s Summer
- War
- You Need Love Like I Do (Don’t You)
- Friendship Train
Richard Street
On February 27, 2013, Richard Allen Street died aged 70. He was singer, best known as member of The Temptations (1971 to 1993).
Melvin Franklin
On February 23, 1995, David Melvin English aka Melvin Franklin, nicknamed Blue died aged 52. He was singer (bass vocal), best known as member of the The Temptations (1960 to 1994).
The Temptations: Cloud Nine
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:
- Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Run Away Child, Running Wild – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing – Ben Raleigh, Dave Linden
- Hey Girl – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
- Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Need Your Lovin’ – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield,Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks
- Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
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