Tag Archives: The Temptations

The Temptations: Puzzle People

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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

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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

Temptations: Gettin’ Ready

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Get 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:

  1. Little Miss Sweetness – Smokey Robinson
  2. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – Edward Holland, Jr., Norman Whitfield
  3. Get Ready – Smokey Robinson
  4. Lonely, Lonely Man Am I – Edward Holland, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
  5. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Janie Bradford, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  6. I’ve Been Good to You – Smokey Robinson
  7. It’s a Lonely World Without Your Love – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  8. Fading Away – Warren ‘Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers
  9. Who You Gonna Run To – Smokey Robinson
  10. You’re Not an Ordinary Girl – Warren ‘Pete’ Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White
  11. Not Now (I’ll Tell You Later) – Smokey Robinson, Otis Williams

 

The Temptations: Wish It Would Rain

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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:

  1. I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  2. Cindy – Smokey Robinson
  3. I Wish it Would Rain – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  4. Please Return Your Love to Me – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  5. Fan the Flame – Al Cleveland, Terry Johnson, Smokey Robinson
  6. He Who Picks a Rose – Edward Holland Jr., Emillio “Father” Smiley, Norman Whitfield
  7. Why Did You leave Me Darling – James Dean, Deke Richards
  8. I Truly, Truly Believe – George Gordy, Margaret Gordy, Allen Story
  9. This is My Beloved – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  10. Gonna Give Her All the Love I’ve Got – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  11. I’ve Passed This Way Before – James Dean, William Weatherspoon
  12. No Man Can Love Her Like I Do – Edward Holland, Norman Whitfield, Eddie Kendricks

 

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: 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