Track Listing

1. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - Norman Whitfield, The Temptations, Paul Riser
2. I Can't Get Next To You
3. Psychedelic Shack
4. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) - Norman Whitfield, The Temptations, Paul Riser
5. Runaway Child, Running Wild
6. You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth
7. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)
8. Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down
9. Message From A Black Man
10. Law Of The Land
11. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On
12. Smiling Faces Sometimes
13. Shakey Ground - Jeffrey Bowen, The Temptations, Berry Gordy Jr.
14. You've Got My Soul On Fire
15. Happy People - Jeffrey Bowen, The Temptations
16. Masterpiece
17. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
18. Cloud Nine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11981 in Music
• Released on: 2000-02-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 83 minutes

Customer Reviews

Motown funk
The Tempts made their name singing Smokey's 3 minute love songs, with leads shared between Eddie Kendricks falsetto and the rougher sound of David Ruffin, but always with superb harmonies (listen to the acappella versions of their early hits for a real vocal treat), but things were changing for the group, Motown and the world at large. Motown were catching flak for their refusal to overtly support the Civil Rights movement (there were songs that did, but subtly, for example "Dancing In The Street" ) and the Temptations were changing David Ruffin for the ex Contour Dennis Edwards. At the same time, they asked Norman Whitfield their sometime producer, for a more contemporary sound. This album is the story of that sound.

Whitfield ushered in a much harder Funk influenced production, resulting in the album Cloud Nine in 1968, the title track for which seemed much more in tune with the times, complete with its drug references and its downbeat message. (1968 was the year of Martin Luther Kings assassination). It was a huge hit, despite any reservation Berry Gordy and the Group's traditional audience may have had.

And so the path was set, and from that album onwards, the Temptations output become more and more production led. On this collection, you have all the most significant Whitfield/Temptations collaborations. After Cloud Nine, the sound developed on albums such as "Puzzle People" and "Psychedelic Shack". Each of those albums included echoes of the Temptations vocal group origins but the Whitfield sound ruled, and 3 minute love songs became increasingly rare.

Ironically, the giant hit "Just My Imagination" returned to the vocal group tradition, but the release of the "All Directions" album in 1972 confirmed Whitfield as one of the most innovative and creative writer/producers around. And the reason for that was "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", surely one of the most risky tracks ever released by Motown. Unfortunately you only get the edited version here - good but not great

The relationship petered out in 1975, following the release of the "Song For You album, as personnel changes (Eddie Kendricks left in 1971) and the advent of Disco began to take effect. Whitfield left Motown, followed by his other Motown protegees The undisputed truth, to start the Whifield label (which would also feature Rose Royce)

So this is the story of the second phase of the Temptations, featuring tracks from the aforementioned albums, and it's a shame it doesn't feature the full length tracks for the full experience - but you'll still get some of the best Soul ever released and it's well worth your money if you are at all interested in Soul and Motown - and it might prompt you to get the albums for real thing

Great funk from Motown
This a fantastic compilation of the Temptations' more interesting music from the late 60s and early 70s, when Norman Whitfield became their producer and they put out such classics as Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Ball Of Confusion. There is some incredibly funky stuff on this album, especially Law Of The Land and Shakey Ground. Recommended to anyone that likes Sly & The Family Stone, P-Funk etc.

Fantastic Funky Music To Turn You On!
This album does exactly what is says on the tin - its funky, rock tinged Psychedelic soul at its best!

After a decade of mostly romantic smoochy songs, often written by Smokey Robinson, the Temps entered the 1970s with a bang!

Norman Whitfield took over the reins & tapped into the hippy & black power emotions running high at the time & the Temps turned out some of their very best work.

The lead singer for many of these hits was Dennis Edwards, who's voice was better suited to the more political lyrics than it was to earlier Temps hits such as "Just My Imagination"

This album contains most of the Temps best work in this field & for under £3 is an absolute bargain!

1) Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - not the full length version but long enough to capture the mood of the song.
2) Psychedelic Shack - title sums it up.
3) Runaway Child, Running Wild - catchy plea to young kids not to run away from home.
4) Message From A Black Man - impassioned plea for racial equality added to a growing belief that black people would take what was rightfully their's - No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now".
5) Law Of The Land - my favourite track - great bass, moody piano & strings with outstanding vocals topping it all off.
6) Funky Music Show Nuff Turns Me On - sums up the whole thing although actually a pretty poor sounding live cut but still a great song.
8) Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) - great song but depressing to see how many of the lyrics written then still apply today - "Politicians say more taxes will solve everything" Right Gordon!
9) Cloud Nine - song of despair in the ghetto but moves along like an express train.

Not a bad track on the album, most featuring high tenor topping over deeper tenor & baritone, with wah wah guitars, dramatic strings, jazzy, often muted brass & thumping bass lines with socio/politico comment.

All delivered with great production (Whitfield) & arrangements (Paul Riser)

100% recommended!