The Temptations – Doyle’s Space: Music Hall of Fame

The Temptations originated in Detroit, Michigan, and were formed in 1960. Initially named “The Elgins,” the group was a merger of two Detroit-based vocal groups, The Primes (which included Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams) and The Distants (which included Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge “Al” Bryant). They eventually signed with Motown Records and changed their name to The Temptations in 1961.

The Primes were a Detroit-based vocal trio formed in the late 1950s, consisting of Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Kell Osborne. Managed by Milton Jenkins, The Primes became known for their smooth harmonies, sharp choreography, and polished stage performances, which earned them a local following in Detroit’s vibrant music scene.

Their sound was characterized by doo-wop and early R&B influences. Although they did not make any significant recordings, their performances left a lasting impact. The Distants were a Detroit-based vocal group formed in 1959, originally consisting of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Richard Street, Elbridge “Al” Bryant, and James “Pee-Wee” Crawford.

Managed by Johnnie Mae Matthews, The Distants were known for their soulful harmonies and R&B sound. They recorded a few singles, including “Come On” and “All Right,” which enjoyed moderate local success. Despite their talent and potential,

The Distants struggled to achieve significant commercial success. In 1960, after Crawford and Street left the group, Williams, Franklin, and Bryant joined forces with Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams from The Primes to form The Temptations, a union that would propel them to international fame under the Motown label.

The Temptations have undergone numerous lineup changes throughout their career. Some of the notable members over the years include:

Original lineup (1960-1963): Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Elbridge “Al” Bryant
Classic Five Era (1964-1968): Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin
Subsequent key members: Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Damon Harris, Glenn Leonard, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Ron Tyson

The “Classic Five” lineup, consisting of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin, is widely regarded as the most successful and influential period for The Temptations. This era produced some of their biggest hits,

including “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “I Wish It Would Rain.” David Ruffin’s tenure with The Temptations ended in 1968 due to his increasing personal and professional issues. He was replaced by Dennis Edwards, whose powerful voice helped the group transition into the “psychedelic soul” era. During the late 1960s and early 1970s,

LPs Gordy

Meet the Temptations (1964)
The Temptations Sing Smokey (1965 R&B #1)
The Temptin’ Temptations (1965 R&B #1)
Gettin’ Ready (1966 R&B #1)
The Temptations with a Lot o’ Soul (1967 R&B #1)
The Temptations in a Mellow Mood (1967 R&B #1)
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain (1968 R&B #1)

Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968 R&B #1)
Cloud Nine (1969 R&B #1)
Together (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) (1969)
Puzzle People (1969 R&B #1)
Psychedelic Shack (1970 R&B #1)
The Temptations Christmas Card (1970)

Sky’s the Limit (1971)
Solid Rock (1972 R&B #1)
All Directions (1972 R&B #1)
Masterpiece (1973 R&B #1)
1990 (1973 R&B #1)
A Song for You (1975 R&B #1)
House Party (1975)
Wings of Love (1976)
The Temptations Do The Temptations (1976)

The Temptations, under the production of Norman Whitfield, began experimenting with a new sound known as “psychedelic soul.” This period included hits like “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” showcasing a more socially conscious and experimental approach to their music.

Eddie Kendricks, known for his falsetto voice, left the group in 1971 to pursue a solo career. Paul Williams, struggling with health issues, also left around the same time and tragically passed away in 1973. Their departures marked the end of an era for the group.

LPs Atlantic

Hear to Tempt You (1977)
Bare Back (1978)

Lps Gordy

Power (1980)
Give Love at Christmas (1980)
The Temptations (1981)
Reunion (1982)
Surface Thrills (1983)
Back to Basics (1983)
Truly for You (1984)
Touch Me (1985)
To Be Continued… (1986)

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, The Temptations shifted towards a more adult contemporary sound, which included the hit single “Treat Her Like a Lady.” This period saw the inclusion of new members such as Ali-Ollie Woodson and Ron Tyson. In the early 1980s, The Temptations briefly returned to Motown and reunited with former members,

including Dennis Edwards and David Ruffin, for a reunion tour and album. This period rekindled interest in the group and solidified their legacy in the music industry.

LPs Motown

Together Again (1987)
Special (1989)
Milestone (1991)
For Lovers Only (1995)
Phoenix Rising (1998)
Ear-Resistible (2000)
Awesome (2001)
Legacy (2004)

New Door Records

Reflections (2006)
Back To Front (2007)

10/30 International UME Direct

Still Here (2010)
All The Time (2018)
Temptations (2022)

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, The Temptations continued to record and perform, despite numerous lineup changes. They adapted to contemporary sounds while maintaining their classic style. Key albums from this period include “Power” (1980), “Reunion” (1982), and “For Lovers Only” (1995).

The 1990s saw the release of a successful TV miniseries, “The Temptations,” which chronicled the group’s history and struggles. The series received critical acclaim and introduced The Temptations’ story to a new generation of fans. The Temptations have continued to perform and release new music into the 21st century. Despite the passing of key members such as Melvin Franklin (1995) and Otis Williams being the sole surviving original member, the group has maintained its presence in the music industry. Albums like “Phoenix Rising” (1998) and “Still Here” (2010) demonstrate their enduring appeal.

Singles

We’ve covered some of their 43 studio albums, now let’s take a look at some of their 109 singles. “Oh, Mother of Mine” is a 1961 song that was released as a Miracle label single. It was the group’s debut single for Motown, after signing with them in January of that year. It was the first of six singles released from their debut album.

Their first charting single appeared on their first two albums, 1964’s Meet The Temptations and 1965’s The Temptations Sing Smokey. “The Way You Do the Things You Do” is a 1964 hit single by the Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers,

the single was the Temptations’ first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 11, number 1 on the R&B chart and on Cashbox. In 1964, a song written and produced by the Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, became the Temptations’ first U.S. number 1 single, and is currently their signature song.

1960s

“Oh Mother of Mine” (1961)
“Check Yourself” (1961)
“(You’re My) Dream Come True” (1962)
“Mind Over Matter (I’m Gonna Make You Mine)” (credited as The Pirates) (1962)
“Paradise” (1962)
“I Want a Love I Can See” (1962)
“Farewell My Love” (1962)
“The Way You Do the Things You Do” (1964)
“I’ll Be in Trouble” (1964)
“The Girl’s Alright with Me” (B-side of “I’ll Be In Trouble” ) (1964)
“Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)” (1964)
“My Girl” (1964)
“It’s Growing” (1965)
“Since I Lost My Baby” (1965)
“You’ve Got to Earn It” (B-side of “Since I Lost My Baby”) (1965)
“My Baby” (1965)
“Don’t Look Back” (B-side of “My Baby”) (1965)
“Get Ready” (1966)
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (1966)
“Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” (1966)
“(I Know) I’m Losing You” (1966)
“All I Need” (1967)
“You’re My Everything” (1967)
“I’ve Been Good to You” (B-side of “You’re My Everything”) (1967)
“(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need” (1967)
“I Wish It Would Rain” (1968)
“I Truly, Truly Believe” (B-side of “I Wish It Would Rain”) (1968)
“I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (1968)
“Please Return Your Love to Me” (1968)
“Cloud Nine” (1968)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1968)
“Silent Night” (B-side of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) (1968)
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations) (1969)
“Runaway Child, Running Wild” (1969)
“I’ll Try Something New” (Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations) (1969)
“Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down” (1969)
“I Second That Emotion” (Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations) (1969)
“I Can’t Get Next to You” (1969)
“The Weight” (Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations) (1969)

“I Can’t Get Next to You” was their second Billboard Top Pop Singles chart, number 1 single written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The single was also a number 1 hit on the Billboard Top R&B Singles for five weeks. The applause that starts the song, which is cut short by Dennis Edwards’ spoken

“Hold it, hold it, listen” line, was sampled in another Temptations song “Psychedelic Shack”. This single, one of my all-time favorites, reached #7 , number 2 on the R&B chart. “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” reached number 3, number 2 on the R&B. Both of thes were released in 1970.

Their third number 1 was the 1971 “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”. Today, “Just My Imagination” is considered one of the Temptations’ signature songs, and is notable for recalling the sound of the group’s 1960s recordings. It is also the final Temptations single to feature founding members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.

1970s

“Psychedelic Shack” (1970)
“Why (Must We Fall in Love)” (1970)
“Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” (1970)
“Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)” (1970)
“Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” (1971)
“It’s Summer” (1971)
“Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)” (1971)
“Take a Look Around” (1972)
“Mother Nature” (1972)
“Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On” (B-side of “Mother Nature”) (1972)
“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (1972)
“Masterpiece” (1973)
“Plastic Man” (1973)
“Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)” (1973)
“Law of the Land” (1973)
“Let Your Hair Down” (1973)
“Heavenly” (1974)
“You’ve Got My Soul on Fire” (1974)
“Happy People” (instrumentation by The Commodores) (1974)
“Shakey Ground” (instrumentation by The Eddie Hazel Band) (1975)
“Glasshouse” (1975)
“Keep Holdin’ On” (1976)
“Up the Creek (Without a Paddle)” (1976)
“Who Are You (And What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life)” (1976)
“In a Lifetime” (1977)
“Think for Yourself” (1978)
“Bare Back” (1978)
“Ever Ready Love” (1978)

“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” rose to number one on the U.S. pop charts and number five on the U.S. R&B charts, becoming the Temptations’ final pop number-one hit. The song, the anchor of the 1972 Temptations album All Directions, won three 1973 Grammys: its A-side won for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group;

its B-side, the instrumental backing by the Funk Brothers without the Temptations’ vocals, won for Best R&B Instrumental (awarded to Whitfield and arranger/conductor Paul Riser); and Whitfield and Barrett Strong won for Best R&B Song as the song’s composers. In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Beginning with an extended instrumental introduction (3:53 in length), each of the three verses in the Temptations’s version is separated by extended musical passages, in which Whitfield brings various instrumental textures in and out of the mix. A seven-minute edited version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” was released as a single in September 1972. The album version is 12:04 not 11:45 as stated on the record label.

1980s

“Power” (1980)
“Struck by Lightning Twice” (1980)
“Take Me Away” (1980)
“Aiming at Your Heart” (1981)
“Oh What a Night” (1981)
“Standing on the Top” (featuring Rick James) (1982)
“More on the Inside” (1982)
“Love on My Mind Tonight” (1983)
“Miss Busy Body (Get Your Body Busy)” (1983)
“Sail Away” (1983)
“Treat Her Like a Lady” (1984)
“My Love Is True (Truly for You)” (1985)
“How Can You Say That It’s Over” (1985)
“Do You Really Love Your Baby” (1985)
“Touch Me” (1986)
“A Fine Mess” (1986)
“I’m Fascinated” (1986)
“Lady Soul” (1986)
“To Be Continued…” (1986)
“Someone” (1987)
“I Wonder Who She’s Seeing Now” (1987)
“Look What You Started” (1987)
“Do You Wanna Go with Me” (1988)
“All I Want from You” (1989)
“Special” (1989)

1990s

“Soul to Soul” (1990)
“The Motown Song” (Rod Stewart ft. the Temptations) (1991)
“The Jones” (1991)
“Hoops of Fire” (1992)
“Error of Our Ways” (1994)

The Temptations also have 4 live albums, 15 compilation albums and 5 soundtrack albums. The Temptations have had a profound influence on a wide array of singers and bands across various genres, thanks to their distinctive harmonies, choreography, and pioneering approach to soul and R&B music. Artists like Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5

cited The Temptations as a major influence, particularly in their vocal arrangements and stage performances. The Temptations’ impact is also evident in the works of Boyz II Men, who have often credited the group as an inspiration for their smooth harmonies and intricate vocal stylings.

Contemporary R&B groups like New Edition and Jodeci have also drawn heavily from The Temptations’ legacy. Beyond R&B, rock bands such as The Rolling Stones covered The Temptations’ hit “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” showcasing the group’s crossover appeal and enduring legacy in music.

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech). View all posts by Doyle