The Temptations – The Kings of Soul and R&B
November 4, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Here’s one of the most successful groups from Motown Records back in the 60’s and still hot until this very moment, which appear so gorgeously with their tailored suits and well choreographed dance.
Their songs usually are categorized as soul, funk, doo-woop, disco, and R&B. If you haven’t heard any of their songs, then probably now is the time. Members of the bands include: Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams, from the Primes, and Otis Williams, Elbridge “Al” Bryant, and Melvin Franklin; from the Distants. They are the original group member, of which they were named as the Elgins, but were renamed after Berry Gordy signed them for Motown Records. David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards are both two lead singers of the group named “the classic five’ has been replaced. Their music has given them the chance to be on the top billboard charts and several Grammy Awards, including the awards given for the album producers and songwriters.
The Temptations made a great leap of their career. They were quite acquainted with some of the best Motown Artists listed in today’s legends. Most of their inspirations were from songwriter, Smokey Robinson, Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, and The Supremes. Their notable song which was co-wrote by Smokey Robinson, “The Way You Do the Things You Do” with Eddie Kendricks as the lead vocals. It was the foremost hit from the group followed by the pop-hit “My Girl” which became their identity song to date.
Over the course of their success, a lot of changes had emerged. Drugs, alcohol and different personal interest happened all throughout the success of the Temptations.
When David Ruffin gained more wanting for his personal interest over the Temptations’ group image and financial standing, it was then the group decided to replace him by Dennis Edwards who was hired after Ruffin got fired. Edwards had benchmarked the album with the collaboration with Dianna Ross and the Supremes. The group then started to experiment with the funk to psychedelic genre, following the likes of Sly and the Family Stone popularly known for their song “Everyday People”. Some more friction had caused a lot of changing over the set or line up of the group. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams had been replaced by Richard Street and Damon Harris. Before leaving the group though, he was able to record the song “Just My Imagination” with Paul Williams, and before the song hit the number one charts, Kendricks had finalized his exit from the group.
Through the years of their music, their repertoire had changed on their different musical style. From the hit Motown sound, to psychedelic and cinematic soul, and from funk to disco, up to AC or Adult contemporary music which actually based on R&B style on which they continue to use.
As for today, almost all the original members of the group had died and already Otis Williams remains the sole surviving member from the original line-up. The Temptations however, continues to sing and from the year 2000, a Grammy winning album had emerged, entitled “Ear-resistable”, which was highly accepted and loved by many. And in 2001, they were able to record the album ‘Awesome’, followed by ‘Legacy’ in 2004 where G.C. Cameron joined the group, under the same label Motown. The Temptations music is one of the best, and I know that it’s just right to put them up on a pedestal or hall of fame on which they already got so far.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
They know they did their thing! So sorry for your loss. Their songs are in my memories as well. For a while after my loss I could not hear those songs without crying, but later I understood they were tears of joy for the memories. Stay up Brother.
The Temptations It’s a shame great vocal harmonies like this don’t exist anymore. I mean not a false note between them, nowadays you can barely find one decent singer. LONG LIVE THE TEMPTATIONS!!
The Temptations i love and live for this kind of music! eddie has an amazing voice. i wish todays music was like this. PLEASE BRING THE CLASSICS BACK!
Tyson had been a songwriter at Atlantic during the Temptations’ time there, and co-wrote several songs on the album Hear to Tempt You.
The lives and careers of The Temptations were one of several inspirations for Robert Townsend’s 1991 film about a 1960s Motown-esque male group, The Five Heartbeats.
The Temptations’ songs depended upon the individual members’ interaction as a group; unlike many other R&B groups, each member of the Temptations was a lead singer of some capacity.
The supergroup would alter their style several times over the years following their first Motown hit, adapting to the popular styles of the day while retaining their signature visual and vocal styles.
Like most Motown groups, melisma and other complicated vocalization techniques were eschewed by the Temptations for a more direct, yet obviously gospel-rooted vocal approach, to make the songs more palatable for white audiences.
The lives and careers of The Temptations were one of several inspirations for Robert Townsend’s 1991 film about a 1960s Motown-esque male group, The Five Heartbeats.
The success of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” led Whitfield to create more elongated, operatic pieces, including the Top 10 hit “Masterpiece” (1973) and several of the tracks on the resulting Masterpiece album.
The Temptations – The Kings of Soul and R&B!…
Here’s one of the most successful groups from Motown Records back in the 60’s and still hot until this very moment, which appear so gorgeously with their tailored suits and well choreographed dance. Their songs usually are categorized as soul, funk…