"Power", from the album of the same name, hit number 11 on the R&B charts but failed to chart in the Top 40. The Temptations ‎– 1990. The group recorded one album during Edwards's third tenure, Together Again, released in late 1987. Books ... allmusic bbc music page discogs imdb lyrics musicmoz rateyourmusic.com wikidata wikipedia. Complete your The Temptations collection. The Temptations' new lineup, consisting of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Theo Peoples, and newcomers Harry McGilberry and Terry Weeks, toured throughout 1997, and was featured in the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXII in early 1998, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Motown. During this period, the group toured with Quiet Elegance as their back-up singers. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the Vinyl release of "Motown Winners' Circle No. He was replaced by new member Terry Weeks, who had served as his sub. Bryant continued to perform in a number of other local groups, and died at the age of 36 in Flagler County, Florida, of liver cirrhosis on October 26, 1975.[17]. The earliest Temptations recordings backed by Motown's stalwart studio band, the Funk Brothers, reflect the influence of producers Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and featured a cohesive blend of black rhythm and blues along with elements of white pop music that later came to be known as the Motown Sound. The group settled in Detroit where they changed their name to the Primes under the direction of Milton Jenkins. By 1967, David Ruffin had begun demanding special treatment as lead singer, riding to and from gigs in a private mink-lined limousine with his then-girlfriend, Motown singer Tammi Terrell, instead of in the group limousine used by the other four Temptations. Style: Soul, Funk, Psychedelic. It reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. In 2017, Billboard named the Temptations the most successful R&B act of all time, beating out Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Michael Jackson. The five performed on Motown 25 and released the direct to video The Temptations: Live in Concert (filmed at Harrah's Atlantic City). The most famous of these, the Temptation Walk, or Temptation Strut, was adapted from similar moves by the Flamingos and the Vibrations, from those two sources, Atkins and Williams crafted the resulting signature dance routine. The Temptations waited nearly ten years to work with '70s hit-making producer Thom Bell. The Temptations are an American vocal group who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. On Saturday August 17, 2013, the Temptations were officially inducted into the R&B Music Hall of Fame at the inaugural ceremony held at the Waetejen Auditorium on the campus of Cleveland State University. Their music has earned three Grammy Awards. CDs Vinyl. Actually, it isn't by the Temptations, even though that's the name you'll find on the spine of the CD. Late 1972 saw the release of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a magnum opus written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield. "The Temptations: Otis tells the group's tale". [1] The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Eventually the label and the group decided against it. "Come On" became a local hit, and the Warwick Records label picked the record up for national distribution. All Temptations albums until 1987 were on the Gordy label except for the four Supremes/Temptations collaborative albums, which were released on Motown, and the two Atlantic Records releases. Damon Harris was fired from the group during the recording of A Song for You, as his behavior and work ethic were deemed unprofessional,[37] and his replacement was Washington, D.C. native Glenn Leonard, formerly of the Unifics. However, the Primes disbanded in 1960 after Kell Osborne moved to California. "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. [citation needed]. [27][29] For most shows, save for his solo numbers, Williams danced and lip-synced on stage to parts sung live by Street into an offstage mic behind a curtain. Copyrights owned by Motown Records (1981). By 1958, Williams was the leader of a vocal group named Otis Williams and the Siberians. However, this lineup did not last, as Davis was diagnosed with lung cancer[44] and left shortly after completing the album. As a result, David Ruffin was brought in as his replacement in January 1964. In 1989, The Temptations released the album Special, which included the soulful singles "Special" and "Soul to Soul". Reunion ‎(LP, … 9, 32. aka Otis Williams & the Distants, Otis Williams & the Siberians, For the earlier vocal group of "Barbara" fame, see. Two of the Whitfield-Strong-Penzabene collaborations, "I Wish It Would Rain" and "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", became hits in early 1968 after the suicide of Roger Penzabene in December 1967. Temptations recordings of the mid 1970s focused significantly on the influences of funk music from artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly and the Family Stone, and members of both acts contributed significantly to material recorded by the group during this period. I'm Here is the first single released in promotion for The Temptations Grammy Award Winning CD "Ear-Resistible". (An updated version of the book was published in 2002.). Bo Henderson was fired from the group in 2003, prompting a wrongful termination lawsuit.[52]. However, on August 17, 1973, Williams died in Detroit at the age of 34 from a gunshot wound, his death ruled a suicide by the Wayne County coroner. Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks split the leads during this early period, with Al Bryant, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin occasionally singing lead, as they did on a song titled "Isn't She Pretty". The other four Temptations drew up legal documentation, officially firing Ruffin on June 27, 1968. For example, the hit version of their smash 1972 single "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was nearly seven minutes, featuring an instrumental intro that was almost two minutes, a rarity for songs of that era. [11] Between these releases, Albert "Mooch" Harrell replaced Pee-Wee Crawford. Often focusing on lyrics about the ghettos and inner cities of black America, these songs were heavily influenced by the work of singer-songwriters Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield. Williams and Romanowski (2002), pp. One of Motown's greatest and grittiest vocal groups of the '60s, and pioneers of psychedelic soul during the early '70s. Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey of respiratory problems and complications of lung cancer on the evening of Tuesday July 5, 2005. [55] He was replaced by Bruce Williamson, who first affiliated with the group a year earlier. Woodson's first lead on a single was 1984's "Treat Her Like a Lady", co-written by himself and Otis Williams, and co-produced by former Earth, Wind & Fire members Al McKay and Ralph Johnson. When Rock & Roll Was Young, Volume 8 TOP 25 Bestselling CD $ 3.98 on Sale. The Temptations. Lead vocalists are identified for each of the following singles. Citing his habitual tardiness, his emphasis of the instrumental tracks at the expense of their vocals on many of his productions, and the declining singles and albums sales as other sources of conflict, the group sought to change producers. Psychedelic Shack includes the original version of "War", later made famous by Edwin Starr. Reunion is a 1982 album by The Temptations for Gordy Records.The album was released during the 1982 Temptations Reunion tour, which reunited David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the Temptations after a decade-long absence. Read Full Biography. The Temptations: "Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine)" (1962), "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down" (1969), "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" (1970) / ", "Who are You (and What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)" (1976), "Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)" (1983), This page was last edited on 2 May 2021, at 17:16. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams returned to Alabama following the band's dissolution. Ribowsky, Mark (2010). On Lead: Melvin Franklin. Recordings made prior to 1966, such as "My Girl", were built around songs with simple, direct lyrics supported by an R&B rhythm section with orchestral strings and horns added for pop appeal. In 1974, after Whitfield was dismissed as the producer for the Temptations, the group altered its sound to accommodate a balance of both up-tempo dance material as well as ballads. Released on the eve of their 50th anniversary, Still Here is the Temptations' first album of original material since 2004’s Legacy.The group’s handful of attempts to relate to younger listeners fall flat. With their distinct harmonies, choreography, & flashy wardrobe, the group was highly influential in the evolution R&B and soul music. Following its release, Glenn Leonard was let go and replaced by Ron Tyson, who was with the Philadelphia groups the Ethics and Love Committee. By the early 1990s, bass Melvin Franklin began missing performances due to failing health and Ray Davis, former bass man of Parliament-Funkadelic, began touring as a fill-in during 1993. The song was used to anchor the 1970 Greatest Hits II LP. Discover more music, concerts, videos, … Edwards and Ruffin were good friends, and at first, Ruffin went along with the changing of the guard and encouraged Edwards. Both Kendricks and Williams then agreed that Kendricks would be leaving the group. [75] They received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2013. This collection … Listen to music from The Temptations. The Temptations then consisted of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin; the success that followed the group resulted in what would, in later years, be frequently referred to as the "Classic Five" lineup. The Temptations ‎– 1990. [48] The miniseries was a ratings success and was nominated for five Emmy Awards, with Allan Arkush winning for Best Direction;[49] it was subsequently rerun on the VH-1 cable television network and released to VHS and DVD. In 2017, The Temptations and Otis Williams' then-protégé, Kyle Maack, recorded a cover of "Treat Her Like a Lady" for Maack's Shaky Ground EP which also included two additional Temptations covers. 85–95. The Temptations, after a brief spell at Atlantic Records in the late 1970s, resigned with Motown, in 1980.In 1982, reunited with three of their former lead singers, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards, the group, now a seven-piece act, began a reunion tour. [58] Otis Williams, Dennis Edwards, and the children of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin attended the ceremony to accept the six Grammys given to the group for the occasion. At the same time, the group began to achieve a crossover success, catering to middle America with a pop standards album (The Temptations in a Mellow Mood, 1967), the success of which resulted in performances at the famous Copacabana in New York City along with dates at other similar supper clubs. A compact disc double album version was issued in 1986, including five additional tracks recorded between 1973 and 1984. The show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards at the 73rd Tony Awards and won for Best Choreography. This collection of songs leans more toward the pop format. Genre: Funk / Soul. [24] Ruffin repeated this stunt several times throughout the group's July tour run. [citation needed]. The new lineup recorded another album of soul covers, Back to Front,[56] released in October 2007. Kendricks rekindled his friendship with Ruffin, who persuaded him to go solo. Robinson's first work with the group was the Paul Williams-led "I Want a Love I Can See". [38], A number of producers, including Bowen, Brian Holland, James Anthony Carmichael, and even the Temptations themselves tried producing hits for the next three LPs, House Party (November 1975), Wings of Love (March 1976), and The Temptations Do the Temptations (August 1976). In addition, the Temptations themselves, after fighting Motown and Berry Gordy for creative control, began to write and produce some of their own material. 32–38. Hall & Oates performed "My Girl","The Way You Do The Things You Do" in Live with Ruffin and Kendrics. Later members of the group have included singers such as Richard Street, Damon Harris, Ron Tyson, and Ali-Ollie Woodson, with whom the group scored a late-period hit in 1984 with "Treat Her Like a Lady". Unlike Hayes and Mayfield however, the Temptations had no creative control over their recordings, and were in no way fond of the 12- and 13-minute-long songs being forced upon them by Whitfield, whose contributions were the focal point of Temptations albums such as Solid Rock, All Directions, and particularly Masterpiece. On the Gordy imprint, Eddie Kendricks sang lead on the Temptations' first charted single, "(You're My) Dream Come True", which peaked at number 22 on the R&B chart in 1962. The following album cuts all charted, but were not available as commercially issued singles. During this period, the various songwriting partners of Norman Whitfield included Roger Penzabene, Edward Holland, Jr., and Temptations road show manager and guitarist Cornelius Grant. Most of the Temptations, present and former, showed no ill feelings towards one another, although Otis Williams reported that Kendricks refused speak to him during the ceremony. The other members slowly became irritated and annoyed with Ruffin's behavior. "Cloud Nine", the centerpiece of the group's landmark Cloud Nine LP, was a Top 10 hit and won Motown its first Grammy Award, for Best R&B Vocal Group Performance of 1969. The vocal arrangements began to again focus primarily on one lead singer per track, although some leads were still being shared periodically. Enjoyed the show. [73], In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the Temptations number 67 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The group continued as a quartet for a short time before recruiting bass Harry McGilberry, a former member of the Futures. The Temptations discography The Temptations perform on The Ed … He then attempted a second solo career, scoring a hit with the 1984 single "Don't Look Any Further", a duet with Siedah Garrett. Kendricks was diagnosed with lung cancer soon after; he continued to perform until his death on October 5, 1992, in his native Birmingham. The group began tossing about ideas for a new name on the steps of the Hitsville U.S.A. studio. Special, Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968), 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. Williams and Romanowski (1988), pp. Subsequently, Barrett Strong became the sole collaborator of Norman Whitfield. 30, 40–41. Meanwhile, Edwards (who also had his share of lead vocals on the Back to Basics album) was again fired in 1984, for missing rehearsals or showing up hungover. Overview. Edwards' first album with the Temptations was Live at the Copa, recorded at the group's return to the Copacabana nightclub. [9] Shortly after its release, the group changed its name to The El Domingoes. When the Billboard R&B singles chart was reinstated on January 30, 1965, the Temptations' "My Girl" was the first #1 hit on the new chart. The album also features then-current Temptations Dennis Edwards, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, and founding members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin. [44] Franklin died after suffering a brain seizure at the age of 52 on February 23, 1995, and Davis was named his official replacement. One more album, Surface Thrills, released in 1983, featured a sharp departure in the group's sound by incorporating elements of then-current rock. American vocal group known for their success with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The … Three classic Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The following four singles were released by Atlantic Records. [31] Otis Williams and Franklin strongly opposed this idea, and regular group infighting between Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Franklin grew from this disagreement. [7], After Waller left the group in 1957, the remaining trio left Birmingham to break into the music business. [61] At the time of his death, Street was in the process of writing a book regarding his time with the Temptations entitled Ball of Confusion: My Life as a Temptin' Temptation. However, producer Smokey Robinson saw potential in the "mellow yet gruff" voice of David Ruffin, and thought that if he could write the perfect song for his lead, then the group could have a Top 10 hit.[18]. [50], The lawsuits were consolidated, and the judges ruled in favor of the defendants, and the ruling was upheld when the plaintiffs appealed in 2001. Otis Williams happily agreed, and Kendricks and Paul Williams moved back to Detroit to join the new group. With their distinct harmonies, choreography, & flashy wardrobe, the group was highly influential in the evolution R&B and soul music. After his doctor declared a few weeks later that he was unable to continue performing due to medical reasons, Paul Williams quit the Temptations in May. This article presents the discography of Motown group The Temptations. [16] Though Ruffin's brother, Jimmy was also considered for the slot, David was selected following his performance with them in 1963. Whitfield and arranger/conductor Paul Riser won the award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for the instrumental version on the B-side, and Whitfield and Barrett Strong won the songwriting Grammy for Best R&B Song. During a local Detroit performance, Ruffin joined the group onstage and impressed the group with his vocal talent and dancing skills. The Temptations Christmas Card is a 1970 Christmas album by The Temptations for the Gordy label.The album was released on October 30, 1970. The Temptations debuted the first of a number of collaborations with Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1968. Shortly afterward, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" and several pre-David Ruffin singles were compiled into the group's first album, Meet the Temptations, released in early 1964. Kendricks was already seen as a "matinee idol" in the Detroit area, while Williams was well received for his baritone vocals.[7]. The Supremes may have moved more product, but it was the Temptations who showed that a Motown act could do anything they set their pitch-perfect pipes to. [22] The next day, Dennis Edwards, a singer formerly of the Contours that Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams already had pegged as a potential Ruffin replacement,[23] was hired to take Ruffin's place. It's also the group's first holiday release, it features each Temptation leading on various popular Christmas standards and original Christmas songs. First half of the CD is more of a Funkadelic groove and the 2nd is a more classic romantic listing. Reunion ‎(LP, … In 1998, the Temptations returned with Phoenix Rising.Their history was also the subject of a televised mini-series, The Temptations, based on Williams' autobiography. The following singles were released on Motown's Gordy label except for "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" and "Law of the Land", released on Tamla-Motown in the United Kingdom. Who else but the Temptations could release the peerless teen love ballad "My Girl" and the cinematic, psychedelic funk of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"? Although it was well-received and nominated for several Emmy Awards, numerous parties, including David Ruffin's family, filed lawsuits. The Temptations originally hired Ricky Owens, from the Los Angeles-based vocal group the Vibrations, to replace Kendricks. "As a matter of fact, this album churned out seven chart hit singles -- or rather, they were included on this collection, as singles wagged the album dog back in those days. On June 19, 2020, it was announced that Mario Corbino was the new member of the group replacing Larry Braggs. Kendricks lobbied strongly in 1970 to have the Temptations go on "strike" –- no performances, no recordings – until Berry Gordy and the Motown staff were be willing to go over all group finances with independent accountants. [24], In a story recounted several times by Dennis Edwards,[23] (rebutted by Otis Williams and Temptations road manager Don Foster),[25] after several of these stunts, the positive audience reactions and a remorseful Ruffin's pleas to be let back into the act convinced the other Temptations to do so. Bowen's first LP with the Temptations was January 1975's A Song for You, which included a cover of the titular Leon Russell tune (popularized with soul audiences by Donny Hathaway), along with the pop Top 40/R&B number-one hits "Happy People" (featuring the Commodores as the instrumentalists) and "Shakey Ground" (featuring instrumentation by Parliament-Funkadelic's Eddie Hazel along with Billy Bass Nelson). I'm Here is the first single released in promotion for The Temptations Grammy Award Winning CD "Ear-Resistible". Peoples was fired from the group before the release of Phoenix Rising because of issues with drug addiction,[47] and was replaced by Barrington "Bo" Henderson. [57], The Temptations received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on February 9, 2013. Already impressed with some of the members after hearing session work, Berry Gordy agreed to sign the group to the Motown imprint, Miracle. Thirty-seven of their singles reached the Billboard Top 40 in the US, with four of them reaching #1. Paul Williams, who suffered from sickle-cell disease, fell into depression because of the stress of touring and personal issues. After the success of "My Girl", Ruffin sang lead on the next three singles: "It's Growing", "Since I Lost My Baby", and "My Baby", which all made it to the Top 20 in 1965. Featuring five male vocalists and dancers (save for brief periods with fewer or more members), the group formed in 1960 in Detroit under the name the Elgins. At other shows, and during most of the second half of 1970, Street substituted for Williams on stage when he was too sick to go on.[30]. After "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", Whitfield stopped working with Barrett Strong, and began writing the Temptations' material on his own. The Temptations were ranked at number 68 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time. 178–82. It reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. Reunion ‎(LP, Album) Gordy 6008GL US 1982. The Temptations er ei kjent vokalgruppe fra USA med repertoar innen rhythm and blues, doo-wop, funk, disco og soul.Gruppa, som stort sett har vært en kvintett, blei stifta i 1961 og har altså nå (2009) eksistert i nærmere femti år – riktig nok med skiftende besetning.Det er bare Otis Williams av de opprinnelige medlemmene som fortsatt er i live. on Broadway (aired November 12, 1969). Style: Soul, Funk, Psychedelic. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. Later that year, the Temptations asked to be released from their Motown contract, and moved to another Universal label, New Door Records. Formed in 1960 in Detroit, Michigan under the name The Elgins (not to be confused with the other Motown act with the same name), they changed their name to The Temptations before … This 1989 release marked the return of lead singer Ali "Ollie" Woodson after the third departure of Dennis Edwards.In many respects, Special is a business-as-usual, mid- to late-'80s Temptations release. With the raspy-voiced Woodson, the group had a more cohesive sound and polish. [74] The Temptations were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005. For a brief time, the group almost had their name changed to the Pirates, and recorded the songs "Mind Over Matter" and "I'll Love You Till I Die" under that name. Michigan, Southern Division. The Primes soon became well known around the Detroit area for their meticulous performances. [49], The Temptations were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. The Temptations' first two singles, "Oh Mother of Mine" and "Check Yourself", with Paul Williams on lead, were released on Miracle before Gordy closed the label down and reassigned the band to his latest imprint, Gordy Records.