Track Listing

1. Cloud 9
2. Runaway Child Running Wild
3. Psychedelic Shack
4. I Can't Get Next To You
5. Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down
6. Message From A Black Man
7. Slave
8. You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth
9. Hum Along And Dance
10. Take A Stroll Thru Your Mind
11. War
12. Friendship Train
13. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
14. Smiling Faces Sometimes
15. Ungena Za Ulimengu
16. Love Can Be Anything
17. Take A Look Around
18. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
19. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
20. Do Your Thing
21. Masterpiece
22. Plastic Man
23. Ain't No Justice
24. 1990

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68247 in Music
• Released on: 2003-06-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Box set, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

CD Description
Things were changing on the musical landscape in the late 1960s, and the Temptations--stalwarts of Motown's golden age of matching suits, choreographed moves, and songs about innocent romance--were changing too. Though the group's Motown albums from this era are a mixed bag (their new progressive aesthetic was paired with songs hearkening back to the group's mid-'60s sound), Britain's Spectrum Records provides the invaluable service of compiling the best of the Tempts late-'60 and early-'70s "psychedelic soul" material on one set.
The spectacular, driving "Cloud Nine" kicks things off, andthe 24-track, two-disc set doesn't let up from there. "Cloud Nine", like much of the group's music of this period, features a longer, open song structure with heavy percussive grooves, distorted, echoing guitars, and vocal call and response. Fans will no doubt recognise the churning "Ball of Confusion" and the amazingly atmospheric "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", but fine lesser-known singles are here too, the driving, funky "I Can't Get Next to You" and 1973's "Masterpiece" among them. Producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield helped evolve the group's music, and this set is a showcase for his achievements, as well as for the group's stellar performances. This is an essential purchase for any fan of forward-looking funk and soul.

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 accappella versions of their 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, and although some were single releases, the bulk are album tracks. After Cloud Nine, (2 tracks here) the sound developed on albums such as "Puzzle People" (3 tracks) and "Psychedelic Shack" (5 tracks). 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.

Some background might be useful - Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye had released new albums, taking Soul in new directions, Isaac Hayes was being ever more grand after the success of the epic "Hot Buttered Soul", and Sly Stone had captured the spirit of the times with his "Riot.." album. Into this changing musical landscape, Whitfield sent an 11 minute track, with vocals that lasted for only around 4 of those. As stunning as those vocals were, it was the production that made everyone sit up and take notice - bassline, piano, strings all combining to stunning effect - the full album track is on this collection.

From the peak of "Papa..", it was an inevitable downhill journey, and although there were still highlights, the tracks that followed failed to answer the critics who said that the Temptations played second fiddle to the production. The relationship petered out in 1975, as personnel changes (Eddie Kendricks left in 1971) and the advent of Disco began to take effect.

So this is the story of the second phase of the Temptations, and features all the full length album tracks for the full experience - you'll get 2 CD's worth of some of the best Soul ever released and it's well worth your money if you are at all interested in Soul and Motown

Motown & The Temptations come of age
Forget other compilations of the same name, for this is the definitive collection of the Temptations psychedelic recordings. Spread over two cd's this collection contains soul music history, at a time when the Temptations were trying to distance themselves away from the shackles of the Motown(pop)sound. Their leading writer and producer at the time - Mr Norman Whitfield - was having visions of his own, and together they would take the whole Motown sound thing to another level. Although label boss Berry Gordy Jr was not happy with this new direction, when the successes started flowing he was happy to bank the proceeds.
The year is 1967 and the psychedelic scene is at it's peak the group's lead singer David Ruffin has just been voted out, and his replacment is ex-contours singer Dennis Edwards, with this new line up Norman Whitfield decides to take the group on a new musical adventure. The first single released is "Cloud Nine" which for obvious reasons was very conterversial back in 1967.
Included here are not just all the hit's of this magical period, like "Psychedelic Shack" & "Can't get next to you", but also tracks that would define the temptations well into the seventies with the classic's "Ball of Confusion" & "Masterpiece" not forgetting grammy winner "Papa was a rolling stone". Also this collection of original recordings gives a fantastic insight into the mind of Norman whifield, who would later bring a new group - "The Undisputed Truth" to Motown, to re-record many of these tracks with a much heavier & funkier feel, but that's another story.
This cd is not only a greatest hit's package of this period, but also a rare chance to hear many classic gems that have just been forgotten and left as original vinyl album tracks.
So hear what is undoubtedly the foundation blocks of a new grown up Motown, and the blocks that fellow label artist like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder would step up to deliver their classic albums.