I love the Temptations

The Tempts weren't Lp artists like Stevie Wonder, and Stevie has also been a bigger influence on pop music, not just in r&b and pop, but rap (sampled quite a bit) and rock. It's even more so with Marvin Gaye, who's tragic death may have contributed to his legend.

Diana's top 40 popularity and to a certain extent Smokey's has had a little bit more longevity than the Tempts, and Smokey also has his songwriting to bolster his reputation.

Still, I don't think the Temptations have been shortchanged. When I was a kid, I knew the Temptations a lot more than Marvin Gaye, and for a while, the California Raisins certainly bolstered their popularity (that's how I learned most of their hits).

 

In the Miller's Analogy Test, "Motown" is to "Pop Singles" as "Blue Note" is to "Jazz Albums" -- a guarantee of quality.

I wonder how many people bought those company's products simply because they saw the label and figured , "Well, I know this'll be good."

 

I think the Velvets have always enjoyed a pretty fair collegiate following.

 

Ken (or anyone)-

Are you knowledgable enough about the most recent Temptations albums (say, those put out in the last eight to ten years)? I know For Lovers Only has a huge following, but any guidance on how to best navigate the rest (e.g. Phoenix Rising, Awesome, etc.) is sincerely appreciated. I've been meaning to dive into this late period work more, but am also concerned about potentially spotty material and/or questionable production. Just pop for all the individual albums? Wait for some kind of comp? Pass entirely?

 

I think the real reason producer Norman Whitfield (or more likely Berry Gordy) wanted the group to do multi-leads is because they didn't want to risk creating another super-ego like David Ruffin. In fact, I think I read that somewhere.

Also, starting in 1966 with "Cloud Nine", Whitfield was allowed to experiment with the group, as soul music and tastes were changing. That song was Motown's first venture into socially relevant message music. But, what got all the attention two years later? Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Love Child". In the late 60s and early 70s, the Temptations were like the O'Jays of the 70s.

Anyway, I like both phases of the Temps. In 1980, they would deliver their very last powerful, socially or politically relevant single, "Power", produced and written by Berry Gordy. It was screamin' soul expertly performed! After that, the only performer left to carry the torch was Rick James.

 

I guess you never heard their albums like "Phychedelic Shack", "1990", Puzzle People", or "Masterpiece". People wore those albums smooth back in the day!

 

But, by 1969, you could really tell the difference between the styles! Individuality was the thing of the day, and artists everywhere were rebelling against the record companies and producers and were struggling to seek their own identity. I agree that Gordy wanted to keep people anonymous, but he changed his tune when he put Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, and Smokey Robinson out in front of their groups, and picked up the Jackson Five. The key to marketing them was to identify Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie, and Michael.

 

Cool.
How about It's Growing

 

The Ultimate Collection with an upwards facing shot of the group lined up in a row is an excellent sounding compilation. Everything prior to Papa is in glorious, nicely mastered mono. Everything the “seriously casual” fan would want is in here and sounds great. For me, this is the best collection of Motown hits from a singular act during the sixties and into the very early seventies.

 

My favourite Tamla Motown group.

 

Looks like there’s more than one version with this title. Any other way to identify it? Thanks.

 

Definitely. From early to late music are all good. Another good are the commodores music especially the "machine gun" I just wished they added more bass lines but the SQ is just perfect!

 

Yes, I too love the Temptations! As a kid I had a rough copy of greatest hits I would put in a stack on the record changer. I wished I had a second copy so I could hear both sides without having to flip it like I did for The Best Of Cream.